Born in and raised in Storuman and Tärnaby, former World Cupalpine racer Ingemar Stenmark grew up to become one of the most admired and respected athletes in the history of Sweden.
Ingemar Stenmark
Being born in 1956 Ingemar joins a group of prominent athletes called “the 56:ers”, alongside former tennis champion Björn Borg and ice hockey-legend Börje Salming among others.
Stenmark began skiing at the age of five and had his first national victory just three years later. He made his World Cup debut in 1973 and took an impressive 86 gold medals, wich is more than any other alpine skier has won – until 2022, when Mikaela Shiffrin beat the rekord (and was congratulated by her idol, Ingemar Stenmark).
Medals
World Cup wins: 46 giant slalom, 40 slalom.
Olympic medals: gold in Lake Placid 1980 (giant slalom and slalom), bronze in Innsbruck 1976 (giant slalom).
World Championships: gold in 1978 (giant slalom and slalom), gold in 1982 (slalom), silver in 1982 (giant slalom).
Swedish championships: 4 wins giant slalom, 5 wins slalom.
Fair Play-award in 1976
Fun facts
When Ingemar retired he moved to Monaco (1986-2006) with former wife Ann Uvhagen. In 2016 he got re-married to Tarja Olli, with whom he had his second child (a daughter, born 2008).
At the age of 40 Stenmark was a fit as ever as he participated in the Swedish Superstars championship (1996) – which he of course won 1996. In 2011 he also won a similar competition and tv-produktion called “Mästarnas mästare”.
Four years later (2015) Ingemar teamed up with professional dancer Cecilia Ehrling in the Swedish version of “Dancing with the Stars” (in Swedish “Let’s Dance”) – where he of course won.
Mrs Swede 