Espen Bredesen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameEspen Odd•Bredesen
Used nameEspen•Bredesen
Born2 February 1968 in Oslo, Oslo (NOR)
Measurements176 cm / 60 kg
AffiliationsOppsal Idrettsforening/Team Marikollen
NOC Norway
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Ski jumper Espen Bredesen, born and raised in Oslo, had his national breakthrough in 1991, when he was Norwegian champion in both normal and big hill. But his first Olympic Games, Albertville 1992, was a disaster for Bredesen. He had just changed his technique from classical to V-style, and ended up last on the normal hill and next-to-last on the big hill. But Bredesen came back strongly. At the 1993 World Championships in Falun he won on the big hill, in addition to winning another gold in the team event. He ended the season with three victories in the World Cup. His success continued in 1994, winning the opening World Cup event in Planica, after which he was the overall winner of the Four Hills Tournament, climbing to the top of the rostrum both at Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Bischofshofen. At the 1994 Lillehammer Games, Bredesen won gold on the normal hill in addition to a silver medal on the big hill. He was the overall World Cup winner in 1994, the peak of his career. He produced a world record when he jumped 209 m at Planica in March 1994, which he surpassed three years later, jumping 210 m again in Planica.

In the autumn 1994 Bredesen had a severe neck injury during trampoline training, and this injury affected him for the rest of his career. His last World Cup win came at Falun in 1995. He won nine national championships titles in the period 1991-98, and ended his career by placing 19th in the 2000 Norwegian championships on the normal hill. Bredesen later worked as an expert ski jumping commentator for Norwegian TV.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1992 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) NOR Espen Bredesen
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 58
Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 57
Large Hill, Team, Men (Olympic) Norway 7
1994 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) NOR Espen Bredesen
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
Large Hill, Team, Men (Olympic) Norway 4
1998 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) NOR Espen Bredesen
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 36

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1994 Winter Olympics 20 February 1994 Ski Jumping (Skiing) Large Hill, Individual, Men Jump #1 135.5 1
1994 Winter Olympics 25 February 1994 Ski Jumping (Skiing) Normal Hill, Individual, Men Jump #2 104.0 1

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1998 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony NOR Espen Bredesen

Special Notes