Halvard Hanevold

Born on 3 December 1969 in Asker, Norway, Halvard Hanevold is a former biathlete with a long successful career. Hanevold made his World Cup debut on 8 March 1992. His first Olympic Games were in 1994 in Lillehammer. He was 46th in the 20 km Individual and 7th in the relay. One year later at the 1995 World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva, Hanevold won the gold medal with the team. That was the only discipline he took part in. His big breakthrough occurred during the 1997-1998 season. On 15 January 1998, Hanevold won his first World Cup race - the 20 km Individual in Antholz-Anterselva. Next month he was part of the Norwegian team that represent their country at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. On 11 February 1998, Hanevold won his first Olympic medal - gold in the 20 km Individual. And later a silver in the relay event. In the other disciplines he competed only in the 10 km sprint where finished 8th. At the end of the season, Hanevold was at the prestigious 4th position in the overall. After the Olympics, at the very beginning of the new season 1998-1999, he won a gold medal in the relay at the 1998 World Championships in Pokljuka and placed 13th in the pursuit. Later, on 12 March 1999, Hanevold won the 10 km sprint in Holmenkollen. He concluded the season in the Top 10 at number 5. The 1999-2000 has been another success in his career. Hanevold made two World Cup victories. In January 2000 in Ruhpolding he won the 12.5 km pursuit and in March, the Individual in Lahti. During the 1999 World Championships in Kontiolahti, Hanevold claimed the bronze medal with the relay team. For the first time in his career, he competed in all races at a World Championship. Placed 37th in the Individual, 13th in both the sprint and pursuit and 17th in the mass start. Next year at the 2000 World Championships in Holmenkollen, Hanevold won the silver medal in the relay. In the other disciplines finished 10th in the Individual, 12th in the sprint, 5th in the pursuit and 10th in the mass start. In spite of all the achievements, medals and podiums, Hanevold didn't make an individual victory on the World Cup tour since the 2000. The 2001 World Championships in Pokljuka proved to be another success. He won two bronze medals in the sprint and with the relay. Placed 44th in the Individual and 9th in the pursuit and mass start. At the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Hanevold added another gold Olympic medal with the relay to his collection. In the other disciplines was 5th in the Individual, 13th in the sprint and 8th in the pursuit. During the 2002-2003 season, Hanevold won a gold medal in the 20 km Individual and a silver medal in the pursuit at the 2003 World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk. He was twice 4th in the sprint and relay; 8th in the mass start. In 2003-2004 Halvard Hanevold made two World Cup victories. He won the mass start in Pokljuka and the sprint in Ruhpolding. At the 2004 World Championships tin Oberhof took the silver medal in the relay. Placed 38th in the Individual, 18th in the sprint, 5th in the pursuit and mass start. During the following World Championships in 2005 in Hochfilzen, Hanevold won a gold medal in the relay, came 30th in the Individual and 11th in the mass start. The 2005-2006 was an Olympic season. Hanevold took part in the Games in Turin in 2006 and won two medals. He claimed the bronze in the Individual and the silver in the sprint. Was twice 5th in the pursuit and the relay; 7th in the mass start. That season Hanevold made a victory in the 15 km mass start in Oberhof. The season concluded at number 7 in the overall. After this exhausting but remarkably successful season, in December 2006 at the World Championships in Pokljuka, the unstoppable Hanevold won a silver medal in the mixed relay. This was his first medal for the new biathlon type of race that entered the schedule. He didn't start in any other disciplines. At the 2007 World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva, Hanevold claimed the silver in the relay. He came 10th in the Individual, 23rd in the sprint, 20th in the pursuit and 18th in the mass start. The next year, 2008, the World Championships were held in Östersund. Amazing, Hanevold won two silver medals - in the sprint and in the relay. His last World Championships were the ones in 2009 in Pyeongchang. Many said that it was time for Hanevold to end his long career but the Norwegian proved them all wrong by winning two medals. He won the bronze in the sprint and the gold in the relay. Placed 6th in the pursuit and 13th in the mass start. The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were indeed his last. Halvard Hanevold was part of that outstanding relay alongside Ole Einar Bjørndalen and then youngsters Emil Hegle Svendsen and Tarjei Bø to win the gold medal. In the other disciplines Hanevold finished 24th in the sprint, 17th in the pursuit and 19th in the relay. After the Games, Halvard Hanevold officially retired from the sport with a total of 9 individual of all 33 victories, 40 individual of all 97 podiums and two discipline titles for the Individual in 1997-1998 and 2002-2003.