Petra Majdič

Petra Majdič
Petra Majdic competing at Tour De Ski 2010
Full name Petra Majdič
Born (1979-12-22) December 22, 1979
Ljubljana, Slovenia, Yugoslavia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Ski club ŠD Atrans Trojane
World Cup career
Seasons 1999–2011
Individual wins 24
Indiv. podiums 47
Overall titles 0 – (2nd in 2008-09)
Discipline titles 3 – (3 SP)
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing  Slovenia
Olympic Games
2010 Vancouver Individual sprint
World Championships
2007 Sapporo Individual sprint
2011 Oslo Individual sprint
Updated on 28 January 2018.

Petra Majdič (born 22 December 1979 in Ljubljana) is a Slovenian former cross-country skier. Her best results came in classic style races. She won twenty-four World Cup races, twenty in sprint races, but she also won a marathon (30 km race) in Trondheim in 2009.[1] She is the first Slovenian cross-country skier to win the World Cup race, the first to get a medal at the World Championships and the first to get an Olympic medal. With 20 wins, Majdič is the second-most successful sprinter in FIS Cross-Country World Cup history and with 24 wins in total she's the fourth-most successful World Cup competitor of all time.

Career

She first appeared in World Cup on 9 January 1999 in Nové Město, where she ended 10 km classic as 69th. In 2000, she won her first point in Falun with 30th place in 10 km freestyle. She showed talent for sprint events a year later in Asiago, where she earned her first podium for a 3rd-place finish in 1.5 km freestyle sprint. But real breakthrough came late for Majdič; after achieving two more podium finishes in 2002, she struggled for four years to make a major progress. Cross-country skiing was a marginal sport in Slovenia at that time and she was often frustrated about her training conditions and especially about her skis. As a skier from outside the World Cup elite and from a low-ranked country, she was unable to get the same quality skis as her competitors. The only way forward was even more hard work, as only top results could provide her with a chance to get equal terms with others. Her first victory came at the end of successful 2006 season in 1 km classic sprint of Drammen. First win, 3rd place in 45 km classic marathon of Mora and 9th place overall put Majdič in the spotlight for the first time, after so many years of hard work and little payback. She was recognized as the best female athlete in Slovenia and in the 2007 season she was finally able to compete on top skis and with an excellent support team, including a new coach and ski service team. She won three races and grabbed three more podium finishes to end season as 4th overall, 2nd in sprint and 8th in distance. Additionally, she earned a silver in the individual sprint at the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. In the 2008 season, Majdič won her first World Cup title for sprints. In the 2009 season, she profiled herself as a serial winner, winning first four sprints of the season and eight sprints all together, but modified World Cup Finale rules prevented her from winning the World Cup overall. She won her second World Cup title for sprints, however, with a record 879 points and a record 409 points margin ahead of second-placed Arianna Follis.

2010 Winter Olympics

During the warm-up for the 1.4 kilometre classic sprint on 17 February in the 2010 Olympics she skied off-course, down a bank, into a 3 m (10 ft) deep gully where she crashed on rocks breaking both ski poles, a ski tip, and sustained four broken ribs along with a pneumothorax.[2][3][4] The start time for her qualifying round was pushed back, but she collapsed in pain after qualifying and was taken to hospital to be x-rayed. The ultrasound failed to show the rib fractures. Thus, she returned to the course and, despite the agonizing pain, won her quarterfinal and just got through the semifinal as a lucky loser. During the semifinal, one of the broken ribs pierced her lung, collapsing it. Despite this and the excruciating pain, she finished third to win the bronze medal in the final, the first individual Winter Olympic medal for Slovenia in 16 years.[5] She earned the highest praise from other skiers, staff and the media for her amazing bravery as she attended the medal giving ceremony with a tube in her chest to relieve pneumothorax.[6] She said at the press conference afterward "Today, this is not a bronze. This is a gold with little diamonds on it".[7]

Two days after the race she was awarded with the Golden Order for Services by the President of Slovenia Danilo Türk.[8][9] On February 26 it was announced that Petra Majdič and Joannie Rochette are the two Olympians to receive the Terry Fox Award, the purpose of which is to honour an Olympian, who touched the world with courage, humility and extraordinary athletic abilities at the 2010 Games.[10][11]

After an inspiring Olympic performance, anecdotal factoids had appeared amongst her supporters, all including Majdič herself and Chuck Norris, a typical one being "When Chuck Norris can't go on, Petra Majdič perseveres!".[12]

On 11 January 2011, she was proclaimed the Slovenian Woman of the Year for 2010. The award is conferred each year by the readers of Jana, oldest women's magazine in Slovenia.[13]

2011 comeback

Due to extent of her injury, many wrote Majdič off, while some were convinced that she will retire. Her coach Ivan Hudač persuaded her to continue with career for at least another year and after a successful preparation period she was fit enough to start the 2010–11 season along with other top skiers. It took Majdič only two World Cup races to get back to the podium, she was second in 1.2 km classic sprint of Kuusamo. She was unable to win any races in November and December, but raised her form and won three races in January. She moved on to win a bronze medal in freestyle sprint of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo. She won yet another World Cup sprint in March, her twenty-fourth career win and third in Stockholm. With that win Majdič clinched her third Sprint title.[14]

She retired from competitive skiing on 20 March 2011, wearing the "Goodbye, I love you" sign on her backside.[15] Justyna Kowalczyk also appeared with a "Goodbye Petra" sign on her head during that same race.[16]

World Cup results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[17]

Season titles

  • 3 titles – (3 sprint)
Season
Discipline
2008Sprint
2009Sprint
2011Sprint

Individual podiums

  • 24 victories – (16 WC, 8 SWC)
  • 47 podiums – (30 WC, 17 SWC)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1 2000–01 1 February 2001Italy Asiago, Italy1.5 km Sprint FWorld Cup3rd
2 2005–06 5 February 2006Switzerland Davos, Switzerland10 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
34 March 2006Sweden Mora, Sweden45 km Mass Start CWorld Cup3rd
49 March 2006Norway Drammen, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
52006–0725 November 2006Finland Kuusamo, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
613 December 2006Italy Cogne, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
73 January 2007Germany Oberstdorf, Germany10 km Individual CStage World Cup1st
814 March 2007Norway Drammen, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
917 March 2007Norway Oslo, Norway30 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
1021 March 2007Sweden Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
112007–081 December 2007Finland Kuusamo, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1223 January 2008Canada Canmore, Canada1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1310 February 2008Estonia Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1427 February 2008Sweden Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
155 March 2008Norway Drammen, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
162008–0929 November 2008Finland Kuusamo, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1714 December 2008Switzerland Davos, Switzerland1.4 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
1820 December 2008Germany Düsseldorf, Germany0.8 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
1927 December 2008Germany Oberhof, Germany2.8 km Individual FStage World Cup3rd
2029 December 2008Czech Republic Prague, Czech Republic1.3 km Sprint FStage World Cup3rd
211 January 2009Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic1.2 km Sprint FStage World Cup2nd
223 January 2009Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km Mass Start CStage World Cup2nd
2327 December 2008
– 4 January 2009		GermanyCzech RepublicItaly Tour de SkiOverall StandingsWorld Cup3rd
2425 January 2009Estonia Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
2513 February 2009Italy Valdidentro, Italy1.4 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
2614 February 2009Italy Valdidentro, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
277 March 2009Finland Lahti, Finland1.2 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
2812 March 2009Norway Trondheim, Norway1.4 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
2914 March 2009Norway Trondheim, Norway30 km Mass Start CWorld Cup1st
3012 March 2009Sweden Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st
31 2009–10 28 November 2009Finland Kuusamo, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
3213 December 2009Switzerland Davos, Switzerland1.0 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
3319 December 2009Slovenia Rogla, Slovenia1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup3rd
341 January 2010Germany Oberhof, Germany2.8 km Individual FStage World Cup1st
353 January 2010Germany Oberhof, Germany1.6 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st
366 January 2010Italy Cortina–Toblach, Italy16 km Pursuit FStage World Cup2nd
377 January 2010Italy Cortina–Toblach, Italy5 km Individual CStage World Cup3rd
383 January 2010Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km Mass Start CStage World Cup1st
391–10 January 2010GermanyCzech RepublicItaly Tour de SkiOverall StandingsWorld Cup2nd
4017 January 2010Estonia Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CStage World Cup2nd
41 2010–11 26 November 2010Finland Kuusamo, Finland1.2 km Sprint CStage World Cup2nd
4227 November 2010Finland Kuusamo, Finland5 km Individual CStage World Cup3rd
432 January 2011Germany Oberstdorf, Germany1.2 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st
445 January 2011Italy Toblach, Italy1.3 km Sprint FStage World Cup1st
4523 January 2011Estonia Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
4613 March 2011Finland Lahti, Finland1.4 km Sprint CWorld Cup3rd
4716 March 2011Sweden Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st

World Cup standings

Season Sprint Distance Tour De Ski Overall
1999/2000---69.
2000/0124.--34.
2001/029.--14.
2002/0322.--14.
2003/0432.21.-23.
2004/0511.18.-13.
2005/0612.10.-9.
2006/072.8.6.4.
2007/081.14.18.5.
2008/091.5.3.2.
2009/10*3.8.2.3.
2010/111.13.6.6.
  • *due to injury at Olympics she missed a big part of the season

Olympic games results

Country City Date Discipline Result
USASalt Lake City 200212. February10 km8.
15. FebruaryPursuit 2 x 7,5 km7.
21. FebruaryRelay 4 x 5 km9.
24. February30 km12.
ItalyTorino 200612. FebruaryPursuit 2 x 7,5 km11.
16. February10 km6.
22. FebruarySprint – free8.
24. February30 km14.
CanadaVancouver 201017. FebruarySprint – classic3.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Archived February 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/310031,majdic-won-olympic-medal-with-four-broken-ribs-and-damaged-lung.html
  3. ↑ "Olympic notebook: Slovenian Majdic skied to bronze with 4 broken ribs". Goerie.com, 2010-02-20. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Archived March 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Epstein, David, "The Truth About Pain: It's in Your Head", Sports Illustrated, 8 August 2011, pp. 58–66.
  6. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100325163625/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Storybook+finish+hurts/2585884/story.html. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "Bjoergen wins 1st gold in cross-country sprint". Sify.com. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  8. ↑ "STA: OLYMPICS: President Decorates Olympic Medalist Majdic". Sta.si. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  9. ↑ "Majdic to be honoured by Slovenia for her Olympic exploits". Monsters and Critics. 2010-02-19. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  10. ↑ The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/27/sports/AP-OLY-Terry-Fox-Award.html?_r=1. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ "vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics | Olympic Videos, Photos, News". Vancouver2010.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  12. ↑ "Ko Chuck Norris ne zmore več, Petra Majdič vztraja!". Delo.si. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  13. ↑ "Cross-Country Skier Majdic Gets Women's Magazine Award". Slovenian Press Agency. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  14. ↑ Eurosport. "Majdic claims sprint crown in Stockholm – Yahoo! Eurosport". Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  15. ↑ "Pri Majdičevi je bil adrenalin včasih že na meji kolapsa :: Prvi interaktivni multimedijski portal, MMC RTV Slovenija". Rtvslo.si. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  16. ↑ "World Cup Finale: A Victory Lap for Bjørgen « NordicXplained". Nordicxplained.wordpress.com. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  17. ↑ "Athlete : MAJDIC Petra". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.