Gunde Anders Svan born 12 January is a Swedish former cross-country skier and auto racing driver. During his cross-country skiing career he won a total of four gold, one silver and one bronze medals at the Winter Olympics. Svan Blandade frågor won the 15 km once and the 50 km twiceat the Holmenkollen ski festival.
He is a board member of the International Ski Federation. During his skiing career he became known for his dedication and attention to detail. For instance, he used a lighter alloy on the tips of his ski poles, saving four grams 0. He won two golds 15 km and relayone bronze 30 km and one silver 50 km at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
At the Winter Olympics in Calgaryhe won two golds for 50 km and relay. He also won the World championship gold six times and won the World cup five times. One of the reasons for getting into another sport was that some people called him a natural skier while he himself maintained that it's just a matter of will and dedication, according to his famous tagline "nothing is impossible".
He applied the same methods to his driving as his skiing and even built his own reaction-tester to practice for the rallycross eminently important starts. When his compatriot and teamboss, the late Christer Bohlin, was not able to fulfill his promise to upgrade his Toyota team for into the top ERC category Division 2 by thenSvan quit and gave up rallycross.
After retiring from his athletic career he has worked as the host for some game shows such as the Swedish version of American GladiatorsFort Boyard and Bingolotto. He has played a seductive lady in the short movie En handelsresandes nöddirected by rock group Svenne Rubins and starring Claes MånssonBjörn Skifs and Gert Klötzke.
He has also appeared in numerous commercials including a famous commercial where he impersonated fellow skier Thomas Wassberg. Svan resigned from his position as Chief of Cross-Country for Sweden on the week of 4 May after he was involved in its reorganization.
He retired to his 1,hectare 2,acre forest farm, where he worked with his son, Ferry Svanand now supports his children's careers. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.
In other projects. Wikimedia Commons. Swedish cross-country skier. Medal record. Men's cross-country skiing Representing Sweden International nordic ski competitions Event 1 st 2 nd 3 rd Olympic Games 4 1 1 World Championships 7 3 1 Total 11 4 2 Olympic Games Sarajevo 15 km Sarajevo 4 × 10 km relay Calgary 50 km freestyle Calgary 4 × 10 km relay Sarajevo 50 km Sarajevo 30 km World Championships Seefeld 30 km Seefeld 50 km Oberstdorf 4 × 10 km relay Lahti 15 km freestyle Lahti 50 km freestyle Lahti 4 × 10 km relay Val di Fiemme 30 km classical Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle Val di Fiemme 50 km freestyle Val di Fiemme 4 × 10 km relay Seefeld 4 × 10 km relay Junior World Championships Murau 3 × 5 km relay Örnsköldsvik 3 × 5 km relay Schonach 3 × 5 km relay Schonach 15 km.
Retrieved 23 December