portrait: Anders Bardal
Born in Levanger municipality and city in the Nord-Trondelag (Norway) in August 24, 1982, Anders Bardal is my special protagonist for the new issue of AtTheHills of this week.
The Norwegian, who unfortunately was not very present from the middle of season, in the competitive arenas this year, -due to a wrist injury that saw him having to stay out of the World Cup circuit, for a few weeks- he then made his return for the World championships in Falun last February in Sweden.
In recent years, consistently among the top in the overall world cup standings, almost always on the podium, winning many trophies,both with the team and in the single events. This is Anders Bardal. But when I think of Anders Bardal, I am often reminded of the years in which, he was not the main man of the team, to whom the people, use to reference to him, as they do now, the person, it is expected to see on the podium week in week out, as it happen nowadays. He was mostly the gregarious of the group. It is because in the early of 00’s, were other names, to which the Norwegian movement relied on, including Roar Ljøkelsøy, Tommy Ingebrigtsen, Sigurd Pettersen, to pass through to the various, Bjørn Einar Romøren, Lars Bystøl. Good or bad they all had that something "more" than Bardal.
But with his attitude always very reserved, the Norwegian champion has cultivated its fruit, slowly, until they were mature enough to be caught. It is indisputable that the final evolution of Anders Bardal, from a gregarious, to the main man of the Norwegian ski jumping team, it is also due with the arrival of Alexander Stöckl as head coach, for the Norwegian team.
In his first year as head coach Stöckl, had the satisfaction of seeing Bardal winning the world cup title - since Espen Bredesen in 94’s-, to became the Super Bardal,and not so gregarious anymore.
Certainly with the Norwegian team he has already won a lot, under the previous coach Mika Kojonkoski, as well as with Stöckl. Everything except that gold from the large hill that was missing for 22 years, and which Anders Bardal and Co, won at the Nordic Ski World Championships in Falun.
Anders Bardal Palmares:
2 Olympic medals: 2 bronze medals (team competition at the Vancouver 2010; NH normal in Sochi 2014)
World 7 medals: 2 gold (NH in Val di Fiemme 2013; team competitions from LH in Falun 2015) 5 silver (team competition in Sapporo in 2007, team competition in Liberec 2009; team competitions LHl in Oslo in 2011; mixed team competition NH in Falun 2015)
World Cup ski flying three medals: 2 silver (team competition in Planica 2010; individual in Harrachov 2014) 1 bronze (team competition in Oberstdorf 2008)
World Junior 1 Medal: One silver (team competition Strbske Pleso 2000)
World Cup: Winner of the World Cup in 2012
61 podiums (34 individuals, 27 teams):
17 wins (7 individual, 10 teams)
23/2 places (13 single, 10 teams)
21/3 places (14 individual, 7 teams)
Four Hills Tournament:
5 podiums stage [2]:
3/2 places
2/3 places
Nordic Tournament:
2 podiums stage: One second place, 1 third place
Continental Cup:
Continental Cup winner in 2005 and 2006
31 podiums:
14 wins
4/2 places
13/3 places
Norwegian championships:
16 medals
5 gold (NH, LHin 2002; NH in 2008; LH in 2009; NH in 2011)
5 silver
6 bronzes
But let's face to win individual titles is different than when you win them with the team. The personal satisfaction that comes, is immense, because these are the efforts and sweat of an athlete's life that suddenly turn into reality, in results, in medals.
From hidden man in the rear, to Andreas -Super- Bardal. The road might have been “long”,but what came after was pure pleasure for this athlete. In my opinion taking shortcuts, does not bring the same satisfaction, that it does when you get these result,after waiting for your moment to come.
Also in this issue of ATH, you will find a lot of - Norway - but we felt it was only the right to do, to celebrate these characters, such as Anette Sagen, which has announced her retirement few days ago, and this country, with a long tradition in the sport.
- by Consuelo Conte
