Petra Majdič

Petra Majdič (born 22 December 1979 in Ljubljana) is a Slovenian former cross-country skier. Her best results came in classic style races. She won twenty-four World Cup races, twenty in sprint races, but she also won a marathon (30 km race) in Trondheim in 2009.[1] She is the first Slovenian cross-country skier to win the World Cup race, the first to get a medal at the World Championships and the first to get an Olympic medal. With 20 wins, Majdič is the second-most successful sprinter in FIS Cross-Country World Cup history and with 24 wins in total she's the fourth-most successful World Cup competitor of all time.

Petra Majdič
Petra Majdic competing in 2009
Full namePetra Majdič
Born (1979-12-22) December 22, 1979
Ljubljana, Slovenia, Yugoslavia
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Ski clubŠD Atrans Trojane
World Cup career
Seasons19992011
Individual wins24
Team wins0
Indiv. podiums49
Team podiums0
Indiv. starts222
Team starts18
Overall titles0 – (2nd in 2009)
Discipline titles3 – (3 SP)
Updated on 28 January 2018.

Career

She first appeared in World Cup on 9 January 1999 in Novo mesto, where she ended 10 km classic as 69th. In 2000, she won her first point in Falun with 30th place in 10 km freestyle. She showed talent for sprint events a year later in Asiago, where she earned her first podium for a 3rd-place finish in 1.5 km freestyle sprint. But real breakthrough came late for Majdič; after achieving two more podium finishes in 2002, she struggled for four years to make a major progress. Cross-country skiing was a marginal sport in Slovenia at that time and she was often frustrated about her training conditions and especially about her skis. As a skier from outside the World Cup elite and from a low-ranked country, she was unable to get the same quality skis as her competitors. The only way forward was even more hard work, as only top results could provide her with a chance to get equal terms with others. Her first victory came at the end of successful 2006 season in 1 km classic sprint of Drammen. First win, 3rd place in 45 km classic marathon of Mora and 9th place overall put Majdič in the spotlight for the first time, after so many years of hard work and little payback. She was recognized as the best female athlete in Slovenia and in the 2007 season she was finally able to compete on top skis and with an excellent support team, including a new coach and ski service team. She won three races and grabbed three more podium finishes to end season as 4th overall, 2nd in sprint and 8th in distance. Additionally, she earned a silver in the individual sprint at the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. In the 2008 season, Majdič won her first World Cup title for sprints. In the 2009 season, she profiled herself as a serial winner, winning first four sprints of the season and eight sprints all together, but modified World Cup Finale rules prevented her from winning the World Cup overall. She won her second World Cup title for sprints, however, with a record 879 points and a record 409 points margin ahead of second-placed Arianna Follis.

2010 Winter Olympics

During the warm-up for the 1.4 km classic sprint on 17 February in the 2010 Olympics she skied off-course, down a bank, into a 3 m (10 ft) deep gully where she crashed on rocks breaking both ski poles, a ski tip, and sustained five broken ribs along with a pneumothorax.[2][3][4] The start time for her qualifying round was pushed back, but she collapsed in pain after qualifying and was taken to hospital to be x-rayed. The ultrasound failed to show the rib fractures. Thus, she returned to the course and, despite the agonizing pain, won her quarterfinal and just got through the semifinal as a lucky loser. During the semifinal, one of the broken ribs pierced her lung, collapsing it. Despite this and the excruciating pain, she finished third to win the bronze medal in the final, the first individual Winter Olympic medal for Slovenia in 16 years.[5] She earned the highest praise from other skiers, staff and the media for her amazing bravery as she attended the medal giving ceremony with a tube in her chest to relieve pneumothorax.[6] She said at the press conference afterward "Today, this is not a bronze. This is a gold with little diamonds on it".[7]

Petra Majdić with the Terry Fox Award

Two days after the race she was awarded with the Golden Order for Services by the President of Slovenia Danilo Türk.[8][9] On February 26 it was announced that Petra Majdič and Joannie Rochette are the two Olympians to receive the Terry Fox Award, the purpose of which is to honour an Olympian, who touched the world with courage, humility and extraordinary athletic abilities at the 2010 Games.[10][11]

After an inspiring Olympic performance, anecdotal factoids had appeared amongst her supporters, all including Majdič herself and Chuck Norris, a typical one being "When Chuck Norris can't go on, Petra Majdič perseveres!".[12]

On 11 January 2011, she was proclaimed the Slovenian Woman of the Year for 2010. The award is conferred each year by the readers of Jana, the oldest women's magazine in Slovenia.[13]

2011 comeback

Due to extent of her injury, many wrote Majdič off, while some were convinced that she will retire. Her coach Ivan Hudač persuaded her to continue with career for at least another year and after a successful preparation period she was fit enough to start the 2010–11 season along with other top skiers. It took Majdič only two World Cup races to get back to the podium, she was second in 1.2 km classic sprint of Kuusamo. She was unable to win any races in November and December, but raised her form and won three races in January. She moved on to win a bronze medal in freestyle sprint of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo. She won yet another World Cup sprint in March, her twenty-fourth career win and third in Stockholm. With that win Majdič clinched her third Sprint title.[14]

She retired from competitive skiing on 20 March 2011, wearing the "Goodbye, I love you" sign on her backside.[15] Justyna Kowalczyk also appeared with a "Goodbye Petra" sign on her head during that same race.[16]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[17]

Olympic Games

  • 1 medal – (1 bronze)
 Year   Age   10 km 
individual
 Skiathlon  30 km   Sprint   4 × 5 km 
 relay 
 Team 
 sprint 
 15 km 
mass start
20022267129N/A
200626611148N/A
201030BronzeN/A

World Championships

  • 2 medals – (1 silver, 1 bronze)
 Year   Age   5 km   10 km   15 km  Pursuit  30 km  Sprint   4 × 5 km 
 relay 
 Team 
 sprint 
19991959N/A53N/A
200121N/A17143211N/A
200323N/A7810N/A
200525N/AN/A2315
200727N/AN/A165Silver9
200929N/A15N/A912
201131N/A13N/ABronze75

Season titles

  • 3 titles – (3 sprint)
Season
Discipline
2008Sprint
2009Sprint
2011Sprint

Season standings

 Season   Age  Discipline standings Ski Tour standings
Overall Distance Long Distance Middle Distance Sprint Nordic
Opening
Tour de
Ski
World Cup
Final
199919NCN/ANCN/AN/AN/AN/A
20002069N/ANC47NCN/AN/AN/A
20012134N/AN/AN/A24N/AN/AN/A
20022214N/AN/AN/A9N/AN/AN/A
20032314N/AN/AN/A22N/AN/AN/A
2004242421N/AN/A32N/AN/AN/A
200525918N/AN/A11N/AN/AN/A
200626910N/AN/A12N/AN/AN/A
20072748N/AN/AN/A6N/A
200828514N/AN/AN/A1813
2009295N/AN/AN/A12
2010308N/AN/AN/A
201131613N/AN/A769

Individual podiums

  • 24 victories – (16 WC, 8 SWC)
  • 49 podiums – (32 WC, 17 SWC)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1 2000–01 1 February 2001 Asiago, Italy1.5 km Sprint FWorld Cup3rd
2 2001–02 19 December 2001 Asiago, Italy1.5 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
35 March 2002 Stockholm, Sweden1.5 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
4 2005–06 5 February 2006 Davos, Switzerland10 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
54 March 2006 Mora, Sweden45 km Mass Start CWorld Cup3rd
69 March 2006 Drammen, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
72006–0725 November 2006 Rukatunturi, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
813 December 2006 Cogne, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
93 January 2007 Oberstdorf, Germany10 km Individual CStage World Cup1st
1014 March 2007 Drammen, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
1117 March 2007 Oslo, Norway30 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
1221 March 2007 Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
132007–081 December 2007 Rukatunturi, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1423 January 2008 Canmore, Canada1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1510 February 2008 Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1627 February 2008 Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
175 March 2008 Drammen, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
182008–0929 November 2008 Rukatunturi, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
1914 December 2008 Davos, Switzerland1.4 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
2020 December 2008 Düsseldorf, Germany0.8 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
2127 December 2008 Oberhof, Germany2.8 km Individual FStage World Cup3rd
2229 December 2008 Prague, Czech Republic1.3 km Sprint FStage World Cup3rd
231 January 2009 Nové Město, Czech Republic1.2 km Sprint FStage World Cup2nd
243 January 2009 Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km Mass Start CStage World Cup2nd
2527 December 2008
– 4 January 2009
Tour de SkiOverall StandingsWorld Cup3rd
2625 January 2009 Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
2713 February 2009 Valdidentro, Italy1.4 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
2814 February 2009 Valdidentro, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
297 March 2009 Lahti, Finland1.2 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
3012 March 2009 Trondheim, Norway1.4 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
3114 March 2009 Trondheim, Norway30 km Mass Start CWorld Cup1st
3212 March 2009 Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st
33 2009–10 28 November 2009 Rukatunturi, Finland1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup2nd
3413 December 2009 Davos, Switzerland1.0 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
3519 December 2009 Rogla, Slovenia1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup3rd
361 January 2010 Oberhof, Germany2.8 km Individual FStage World Cup1st
373 January 2010 Oberhof, Germany1.6 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st
386 January 2010 CortinaToblach, Italy16 km Pursuit FStage World Cup2nd
397 January 2010 CortinaToblach, Italy5 km Individual CStage World Cup3rd
403 January 2010 Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km Mass Start CStage World Cup1st
411–10 January 2010 Tour de SkiOverall StandingsWorld Cup2nd
4217 January 2010 Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CStage World Cup2nd
43 2010–11 26 November 2010 Rukatunturi, Finland1.2 km Sprint CStage World Cup2nd
4427 November 2010 Rukatunturi, Finland5 km Individual CStage World Cup3rd
452 January 2011 Oberstdorf, Germany1.2 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st
465 January 2011 Toblach, Italy1.3 km Sprint FStage World Cup1st
4723 January 2011 Otepää, Estonia1.2 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
4813 March 2011 Lahti, Finland1.4 km Sprint CWorld Cup3rd
4916 March 2011 Stockholm, Sweden1.0 km Sprint CStage World Cup1st

References

Notes

  1. Archived February 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  2. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/310031,majdic-won-olympic-medal-with-four-broken-ribs-and-damaged-lung.html
  3. "Olympic notebook: Slovenian Majdic skied to bronze with 4 broken ribs". Goerie.com, 2010-02-20. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  4. Archived March 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Epstein, David, "The Truth About Pain: It's in Your Head", Sports Illustrated, 8 August 2011, pp. 58–66.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325163625/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Storybook+finish+hurts/2585884/story.html. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Bjoergen wins 1st gold in cross-country sprint". Sify.com. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  8. "STA: OLYMPICS: President Decorates Olympic Medalist Majdic". Sta.si. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  9. "Majdic to be honoured by Slovenia for her Olympic exploits". Monsters and Critics. 2010-02-19. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  10. The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/27/sports/AP-OLY-Terry-Fox-Award.html?_r=1. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics | Olympic Videos, Photos, News". Vancouver2010.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  12. "Ko Chuck Norris ne zmore več, Petra Majdič vztraja!". Delo.si. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  13. "Cross-Country Skier Majdic Gets Women's Magazine Award". Slovenian Press Agency. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  14. Eurosport. "Majdic claims sprint crown in Stockholm – Yahoo! Eurosport". Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  15. "Pri Majdičevi je bil adrenalin včasih že na meji kolapsa :: Prvi interaktivni multimedijski portal, MMC RTV Slovenija". Rtvslo.si. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  16. "World Cup Finale: A Victory Lap for Bjørgen « NordicXplained". Nordicxplained.wordpress.com. 2011-03-20. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  17. "MAJDIC Petra". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
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