THE WORLD PORTAL

Norway got 21th position in the Beijing Olympics.They won 3 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals. They won 10 medals in total. This nation managed to win four more medals than their last outing in the 2004 Athens games. There are 85 competitors from Norway. Ruth Kasirye was the flag bearer. They participated in Athletics, Canoeing, swimming, handball, rowing,etc. They won gold medals for Handball, Javelin Throw,and rowing. Norwegian athletes have won international championship medals in a wide range of sports, including cross-country skiing, boxing, wrestling, speed-skating etc. Norway’s national handball team won the gold medal for the women’s tournament in this summer Olympics. Thorkildsen set a new Olympic record in javelin throw in Beijing. Football is the popular sports in Norway. The football association is founded in 1902. Some of the medalists of the Beijing Olympics from Norway are listed below.

1.Andreas Thorkildsen

The world junioer record holder Andreas Thorkildsen won the gold medal for javelin throw at the Beijing Olympics 2008. He also won European championships in athletics . He was the leader in the world ranking in the javelin throw and currently he is in the second position. He won a gold medal for the same event in 2004 Olympics. He set a new Olympic record in the title with 90.57 meters . By defending the Olympic gold Thorkildsen is now only one of four javelin throwers in Olympic history who have managed to win their event at two consecutive Olympics. He was born in Kristiansand, Norway. His father was also a javelin thrower ,achieving a personal best throw of 71.64m. His mother became a national champion in the 100m hurdles in 1972. He start his career at the age of 11. His first coach was his father . He established several national boy’s records as a teenager. In Beijing Olympics he dominated throughout the competition, leading it from his first throw and making the two longest throws in the competition .

2.Grimsboe Kari Aalvik, Nyberg Katja, Aamodt Ragnhild …(Women’s national handball team)

The Norways National handball team won the gold medal for the team handball in 2008 Beijing Olympics. The team provide a huge thrill with their 34-27 victory over Russia in the final match. Norway’s handball team won a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney match. The Norwegian team dominated the final handball match from the opening whistle. It was a particularly satisfying victory for coach Marit Breivik, who enjoyed winning her first Olympic medal. It was the first gold medal for the women’s handball of Norway. Russia scored five of the last six goals of the first half to pull within 18-13, but Norway came out strong in the second half and ended any chance of a comeback. Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth paced Norway with nine goals on 10 shots in the win. Norway has been one among the world famous in women’s handball from the 1986 World Championship where the team won a bronze medal. After that the country won three European Women’s Handball Championships, and one World Women’s Handball Championship. It is the most successful team in the European Championships, having won three golds, two silvers, and one bronze out of seven tournaments.

3.Olaf Tufte

A Norwegian competition rower Olaf Tufte won the gold medal for singles sculls at 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also won gold medal at the 2004 Olympics for the same event. In 2000 Sydney Olympics he won a silver medal for double sculls together with Fredrik Bekken. He has won gold medals at world championships in 2001 and 2003. He also won the 2002, 2005,2007 world championships. He is a member of Horten Roklubb, one of the most successful rowing-clubs in Norway . He grabbed the gold in the men’s single sculls in a time of 6:59.83min defeating the Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic by 0.8 seconds. Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand received the bronze medal. He was born in Tonsberg, Norway. He started rowing at age 14 and during Norway’s long, cold and dark winter he skis cross-country to stay in shape. When not rowing, he earns a living growing cereals at the family farm and he also works as a firefighter.

4.Nina Solheim

A Norwegian taekwondo practitioner Nina Solheim won the silver medal women’s 67kg class at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She also competed in 2004 summer Olympics at Athens. But she lost in the quarter final against Wei Lou of China after injuring her knee. She has won several tournaments in taekwondo. She wons a bronze medal from the World Championship in Korea 2001 and a gold medal in middleweight (-72kg) at the 2006 World Cup in Thailand. She was born in South Korea. She and her twin sister Mona were adopted by Norwegian parents. She also won European championships with a bronze medal in 2006 and 2008. Maria Espinoza of Mexico won the gold medal and Natalia Falavigna of Brazil won the bronze medal.

5.Alexander Dale Oen

A Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale Oen won the silver medal for the 100m breaststroke in the Beijing Olympics 2008.He practiced in the Vestkantsvommerne club. He won gold at the 2008 European championships. It made him the first Norwegian male to win medal at international long course championships. In the European short course Championships in 2005 he swam the 100 m breaststroke in 59.05 seconds, placing fourth and he became the first Norwegian to swim this distance in less than 1 minute. At the 2006 European Championships in Helsinki,he grabbed bronze behind two Ukrainians in the 100m breaststroke in a new personal best of 58.70. He also won silver medal in the 2006 European championships(Lc). Kosuke Kitajima of Japan won the gold medal for the 100m breaststroke in Beijing Olympics by defeating Alexander Dale Oen.

6.Tore Brovold

Tore Brovold , a Norwegian sport shooter won the silver medal for skeet at the Beijing Olympics 2008.In 1997 when he was only 7 years old he started his career as a shooter. He started with Skeet in 1996.He won a gold medal at the 2005 ISSF World championships for the skeet team.He also won bronze medals for the skeet in 2006 Zagreb World championships also. Vincent Hancock of USA won the gold medal for this event.Anthony Terras of France won the bronze medal.The Men’s skeet event at the 2008 Olympic Games took place at the Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field.The event consisted of two rounds a qualifier and a final. In the qualifier, each shooter fired 5 sets of 25 shots in the set order of skeet shooting.

7.Kjersti Platzer

A Norwegian race walker Kjersti Platzer won several records.She won a silver medal for the 20km walk at the Beijing Olympics 2008.She also won a silver medal for the same event in 2000 Sydney Olympics also.She finished in 12 th place in the 2004 Athens Olympics.In the 2007 World championships she finished in the fourth place.She was born in Os, Hordaland and she is the older sister of Erik Tysse.She finished the race within a time of 1:27:07.Olga Kaniskina of Russia won the gold medal .Elisa Rigaudo of Italy won the bronze medal.She practiced in IL Norna Salhus club.

8.Eirik Veras Larsen

Norwegian kayak paddler in flat water races, Eirik Veras Larsen won five world championship gold medals.He won the silver medal for the K-1 1000M event in the Beijing Olympics 2008.He also won a gold medal for the event K-1 1000m and a bronze medal for K-2 1000m events in 2004 Athens Olympics.He has also won world championships for the K1 1000 m event in 2002, and three world championships together with Nils Olav Fjeldheim for K2 1000 m in 2001 and the marathon event in 2001 and 2002. They were also European K2 1000m champions three times in 2000, 2001 and 2004.In the individual 1000m, he was European champion in 2004 and 2005. At the 2005 World Championships in Zagreb he won his second world K1 1000 m title .In the individual 1000m he held a world record of 3:24:920 in 2004 Duisburg.

9.Sara Nordenstam

A Norwegian swimmer Sara Nordenstam was born in Lycksele, Sweden.Nordenstam was born to Swedish parents. She lived in Sweden until she was 10.After that she moved to Oslo. She competed for Sweden until 2004.Now she won the bronze medal for 200m breast stroke at Beijing Olympics. She has 16 Norwegian medals.She set a European record of 2:23:02 in the heats of this summer Olympics.She was the first Norwegian women to win the first Olympic swimming medal.She also studied in advertising and marketing.She aid that she reads Harry potter books before the race to to calm her mind.The swimmers with the eight fastest times again advanced to the finals.They all competed in a single final heat to earn final placements.Rebecca Soni of USA won the gold medal for the same event.

10.Stein Endresen,Morten Djupvik,Geir Gulliksen,Tony Andre Hansen(Team jumping Equestrian)

Norwegian equestrian team won the bronze medal for the team jumping at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.Stein Endresen on Le Beau,Morten Djupvik on Casino,Geir Gulliksen on Cattani,Tony André Hansen on Camiro are the players.The team jumping at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.United States won the gold medal and Canada win the silver medal.They were famous Norwegian show jumping competitors.They achieve bronze medal as a part of the Norwegian team jumping.The International Equestrian Federation provisionally suspended Hansan’s horse Camiro after detecting the illegal substance capsaicin on its legs. But in the second test it is found positive.

Beijing Olympics give very disappointment to Hungarians. Hungary won only 3 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze with total of 10 medals in Beijing. Their gold medal count of 3 was the lowest in Olympics history since the Paris Olympics in 1924. Their total 10 medal was the lowest since the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928. Their first Olympic appearance was in 1896. They won total of 457 medals in Olympic history. Most of the medals are coming from fencing and Canoeing/Kayaking. Their most successful athlete is the boxer Laszlo Papp. He was the first boxer in history to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1948, 1952 and 1956. 171athletes of Hungary are participated in this Beijing Olympics. Some of the athletes made glorious achievements in this Olympics. Their water polo team won third consecutive gold medal in men’s water polo in this Olympics. Famous canoeists Natasa Janics and Katalin Kovacs won gold medal in Kayak Doubles (K2) 500m and won the silver medal in K-4 500m. Their four time Olympic medalist swimmer Laszlo Cseh won silver medals in 200 m butterfly, 200m and 400m . List of medalist who grab the medals in Beijing Olympics are in the following,

1. Attila Vajda

Canoeist Attila Vajdais always remembered by Hungry people, because he won first gold medal for Hungary in Beijing Olympics. He won the gold medal in men’s 1000-meter canoe singles. This win was very easy for him. He took the time 3 minutes, 50.467 seconds to finish the line. No one was really close to him. In his first Olympics in Athens, he won bronze medal in the same event. In 2006 World championship, he won the bronze medal for his country. His interest also was in two man boat race. He won 2000 European Junior Championship in the 100m race with countryman Marton Joob.

2. Natasa Janics and Katalin Kovacs (Canoeing Team)

Hungary’s Canoeing Team won gold medal in Kayak Doubles (K2) 500m in Beijing Olympics. Canoeist’s Natasa Janics and Katalin Kovacs won this golden achievement for Hungary. They were also part of a team of four women that won the silver medal in the K-4 500m in Beijing. They also won gold medal in Athens Olympics. They both Canoeist’s made glorious achievements in their carrier. Natasa also won gold medal in K-1 500 m in Athens. She is also silver winner of K-4 500 m in Beijing Olympics. Katalin Kovacs won six Olympic medals in the team kayak events. She also won 6 gold medals with her partner Natasa Janics in 2006 World Championship.

3. Zoltan Szecsi, Tamas Varga, Norbert Madaras, Denes Varga…………(Men’s water polo Team)

Hungary’s water polo team won third consecutive gold medal in men’s water polo in Beijing Olympics. Zoltan Szecsi, Tamas Varga, Norbert Madaras, Denes Varga etc are the members of Hungary’s water polo team. They defeated US team in the final with score 14-10. By winning this medal Hungary’s team became the first country to win three straight gold medals in the sport since Britain in 1920. This medal was Hungary’s 15th overall in men’s water polo and ninth gold in Olympics. Biros, Zoltan Szecsi, Tamas Kasas, Gergely Kiss, Tibor Benedek and Tamas Molnar are also members in water polo team who won the gold medal in Sydney and Athens Olympics. Hungary’s water polo team is considered the best water polo national team in history of sports. They won 15 Olympic, 9 World Championship, 5 FINA World League, 8 FINA World Cup and 21 European Championship medals.

4. Laszlo Cseh

Hungary’s four time Olympic medalist swimmer Laszlo Cseh won silver medals in 200 m butterfly, 200m and 400m Medley in Beijing Olympics. His father is also a swimmer. Laszlo Cseh started his swimming at early age and won many Hungarian swimming events. He competed in Athens Olympics, but his foot bone is broken in the training camp three weeks before the start of the Games. However, he secured fourth place in the 200m individual medley and sixth in the 100m backstroke, and won bronze in 400m individual medley. In 2008 European Championships(Long Course), he won gold medals in 200m and 400m Medley event. In 2007 European Championships(Short Course), he won gold medals in 200m medley, 400m medley and 200m butterfly. By winning three silver medals in Beijing Olympics, he proved that he is really a ‘Silver Prince’.

5. Zoltan Fodor

Zoltan Fodor’s silver medal in 84 kg Men’s Greco-Roman wrestling was a nice surprise of Hungary. The 23 year old Fodor is a new comer in Olympic games. In the final of this event, Fodor was defeated by Italy’s Andrea Minguzzi. In the final Fodor won the first period 1-1 on a tiebreaker, but Minguzzi won the second 1-1. Even so, in the third Minguzzi win 4-0 by throwing Fodor. In last year, Fodor was in 8th place in world rank. Only 3 years ago he was 30th in world juniors. By winning the silver medal, he proved that he is really a rising wrestling star of Hungary.

6. Ildiko Mincza-Nebald

Hungarian epee fencer Ildiko Mincza-Nebald won the bronze medal in an Individual epee event in Beijing Olympics. She defeated Chinese’s opponent Li Na by a margin of 15:11. This medal was the peak of her long career. Mincza was lower seed than third seed Li Na. She was a stroke first point, but Li reversed it immediately and kept a lead untill a 9-9 draw. After offsetting the deficit, Mincza made a string a hit and won the bronze successfully. Mincza was in fourth place in Athens Olympics.

7. Tamas Kiss and Gyorgy Kozmann (Men’s C-2 1000 m Canoeing Team)

Hungary’s Tamas Kiss and Gyorgy Kozmann won bronze medal in Men’s C-2 1000 m Canoeing in Beijing Olympics. They finished behind the Belarus and Germany team in the final. This medal was a huge surprise for Kozmann. Because this medal was obtained after he paired with new partner Tamas Kiss. His former partner Gyorgy Kolonics died during the Games build-up in July. He also won bronze medal in the same event in Athens Olympics with his former partner Kolonics. Tamas Kiss is the new member of Canoeing a team after the death of Kolonics. He joined the team only one month before the games. However, in Beijing, this pair succeeded all expectations of Hungarians and won bronze medal for their country.