Ole Einar Bjoerndalen has been called the "Biathlon King," and for good reason. He is the most accomplished biathlete in Olympic history, with nine career medals (five gold, three silver and one bronze). He intends to compete at his fifth Olympics in 2010, and with four medals at Whistler Olympic Park, he could become the most decorated winter athlete of all time. He is also an incredible 29-time medalist (10 gold, 10 silver, 9 bronze) at the World Championships and has won more than 80 races on the Biathlon World Cup circuit.
The 35-year-old Norwegian has been instrumental in developing biathlon, as a member of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Athlete's Committee, while he continues to succeed at the elite level. He is now married, to former Olympic biathlete Nathalie Santer, with whom he lives in Obertilliach, Austria.
His popularity and respect is unrivaled in his sport, evident by the statue of him recently erected in his hometown of Simostranda, and the personal invite he received from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to discuss biathlon and the 2014 Sochi Games.
You've been at the top of your sport for 15 years. What makes a great biathlete?
Oh, that is quite difficult. There are so many parameters. First of all, you need the time, because it's not easy to be good at our sport. You need to combine physical training with shooting, and you need to be really fast on skis. Ten years ago, you didn't have to be as fast, but now you do. The fastest skiers in biathlon get the best results. But they have to be able to shoot cleanly, as well. You have to have the right motivation; you need to work hard almost every day of the year, and you have to work 10 years at the highest level of optimal training before you see the results.
Do you go out on skis every day?
I train every day, but not only on skis. In the summertime, I do a lot of running and biking, as well.
How would you compare yourself, 10-15 years ago, with your [Norwegian] teammates Emil Hegle Svendsen and Alexander Os? Can you see similarities between yourself back then and them?
Emil is about the same age as I was when I entered the World Cup circuit. He's very talented and trains very well. He has really improved his feeling on his skis. Alexander Os is a bit different, as he is older and has been competing longer than Emil. Alexander isn't quite as talented as Emil, but he has been working really hard to get into the elite group. His years of hard training have finally paid off for him.
Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen was unbeatable at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
A bronze statue of star biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen stands outside of his hometown of Simostranda, Norway.
Has the sport itself changed since you started out?
To compare biathlon to ten years ago - with new materials, skis and training methods - is difficult. It has changed a lot, but one thing is for sure: the human aspect has stayed much the same. You need to have the right motivation and be willing to work hard. If you don't, you have no chance.
Can you tell me what married life has meant to you, in both an athletic and personal sense?
The wedding did not change so much, in the athletic sense, because [Nathalie and I] had been together for many years, and we were both competing. As for the personal, we still get to spend a lot of time with each other in Austria. We have a really nice house there.
Does she travel with you when you are competing?
Sometimes, but she has other hobbies. She started horseback riding and jumping. If I have spare time, I go with her to various [equestrian] competitions in the summer. In the winter, she comes with me.
Do you horseback ride with her?
Yeah, I do sometimes, but I'm not good at it. (Laughs.)
You've been hailed as the "Biathlon King," and you've met a lot of famous people. Tell me about your meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. What did you talk about?
I met him to talk about biathlon at the 2014 Games in Sochi.
Did you offer shooting lessons to him?
Yes, I invited him to my house in Austria to visit us. I have a shooting range there. He hasn't come yet. I think he's been too busy. But he's really interested in sports, and shows his support for the Russian team.
Compiled by Martin Thorstensson, NBCOlympics.com
