The most successful cross-country skier in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, Bjørn Dæhlie, is being honored with the ispo Trophy. This honorary prize has been presented to outstanding athletes since 1971, whose achievements in the area of sports continue to inspire people after the end of their active careers and who are role models for young people today with their dedication. ispo is honoring an athlete with Bjorn Dæhlie, who dominated cross-country skiing as no other person during the 90s.

Almost unbeatable for rivals, the Norwegian Dæhlie not only won six overall victories in the World Cup between 1990 and 1999, but also 29 medals at three Olympic Games and five World Championships. As sole athlete in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, he won twelve medals and also has the record with nine medals in contests pitting individuals against one another. His tenacity and absolute willingness to go to the limits of his abilities won Bjørn Dæhlie the respect and admiration of numerous winter sports fans.

Born in Oslo in 1967, the "Nordic Ski Athlete of the Century" and "King of Cross-Country Skiing" became enthusiastic about skiing at an early age with support from his parents. His untiring efforts to be among the best in the world took Bjørn Dæhlie directly to international crosscountry skiing tournaments after he finished school. He got his international breakthrough on the Norwegian National Team in the winter 1990/91. He singly-mindedly continued his victory march at the Olympic Winter Games 1992 in Albertville and even did better at the Olympic Winter Games 1994 in Lillehammer in his own country. The Olympic Games 1998 in Nagano, Japan were Björn Daehlie's final appearance at the Olympics. He again won three gold medals and a silver medal at the age of 30 then.

In 1999, a training accident ended Bjørn Dæhlie's successful career as an athlete prematurely. Today, this exceptional athlete and nature-loving father of two children is especially committed to promoting sports for young people and passes on his experience to young athletes. The Odlo Kids Cup initiated by him is met with enthusiasm at various places in Europe and provides children with the chance to discover cross-country skiing together with World Cup stars and experience sports as a good start into life.

The trophy will be presented within the framework of ispo winter 08. The congratulatory speaker will be Peter Schlickenrieder, a former competitor of Dæhlie.

ispo  Cup Winners:
1971 Birger Ruud Norway
1972 Max Schmeling Germany
1973 Sepp Bradl Austria
1974 Fritz Walter Germany
1975 Christl Cranz-Borchers Germany
1976 Emile Allais France
1977 Gottfried Freiherr von Cramm Germany
1978 Dr. Josef Neckermann Germany
1979 Zeno Colo Italy
1980 Fanny Blankers-Koen Netherlands
1981 Erika Spiess-Mahringer Austria
1982 Emil Zatopek Brazil
1984 Fritz Thiedemann Germany
1985 Toni Sailer Austria
1986 Jean-Claude Killy France
1987 Wilma Rudolph USA
1988 Willy Bogner Germany
1989 Reinhold Messner Italy
1990 Franz Beckenbauer Germany
1991 Dr. Helmut Recknagel Germany
1992 Franz Klammer Austria
1993 Eddy Merckx Belgium
1994 Frank Höfle Germany
1998 Henry Maske Germany
1999 Markus Wasmeier Germany
2000 winter Vegard Ulvang Norway
2000 summer: Gerd Müller Germany
2001 winter: Gustav Thöni Italy
2001 summer: Li Ning China
2002 Ingemar Stenmark Sweden
2003 Alberto Tomba Italy
2004 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Austria
2005 Rosi Mittermeier-Neureuther Germany
2006 Sergey Bubka Ukraine
2007 winter: Dr. Vitali Klitschko Ukraine
2007 summer: Volleyball Team 1972 Japan
2008 winter: Bjørn Dæhlie Norway

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