Aksel Lund Svindal has suffered his fair share of injuries during his skiing career, but he put one of those spells away from the sport to good use, traveling to Silicon Valley to learn more about technology companies.
Aksel Lund Svindal has suffered his fair share of injuries during his skiing career, but he put one of those spells away from the sport to good use, traveling to Silicon Valley to learn more about technology companies.
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An Olympic champion in 2010, Svindal won back-to-back World Cup events in Canada in November 2015 -- after missing almost every race for 12 months. The Norwegian won the season's opening men's downhill race in Lake Louise, Alberta, beating Italy's Peter Fill by just a hundredth of a second.
An Olympic champion in 2010, Svindal won back-to-back World Cup events in Canada in November 2015 -- after missing almost every race for 12 months. The Norwegian won the season's opening men's downhill race in Lake Louise, Alberta, beating Italy's Peter Fill by just a hundredth of a second.
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Svindal then took first place in the super-G at Lake Louise. The two victories tied skiing's record for the number of men's World Cup wins at the same venue -- the 33-year-old now has eight there.
Svindal then took first place in the super-G at Lake Louise. The two victories tied skiing's record for the number of men's World Cup wins at the same venue -- the 33-year-old now has eight there.
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The Norwegian also triumphed at the men's downhill in Val Gardena, Italy, in December. It was his fifth victory of the 2015-16 season, having won the previous day's super-G.
The Norwegian also triumphed at the men's downhill in Val Gardena, Italy, in December. It was his fifth victory of the 2015-16 season, having won the previous day's super-G.
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Svindal is racing in Switzerland's Wengen this weekend. Saturday's downhill features the longest run on the World Cup circuit.
Svindal is racing in Switzerland's Wengen this weekend. Saturday's downhill features the longest run on the World Cup circuit.
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His World Cup career began in 2003 but he had to wait until 2005 to grab his first slice of silverware at the world championships in Bormio, Italy, where he was runner-up in the combined competition. It would be the first of many medals for the Skedsmo native.
His World Cup career began in 2003 but he had to wait until 2005 to grab his first slice of silverware at the world championships in Bormio, Italy, where he was runner-up in the combined competition. It would be the first of many medals for the Skedsmo native.
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Svindal won the first of his two overall World Cup crowns in 2007 as he took the title by just 13 points after a closely-fought battle with Benjamin Raich of Austria.
Svindal won the first of his two overall World Cup crowns in 2007 as he took the title by just 13 points after a closely-fought battle with Benjamin Raich of Austria.
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Crashes are an occupational hazard in alpine skiing and though this tumble looks bad, it was nothing compared to the smash Svindal had at Beaver Creek, Colorado in November 2007. He suffered broken bones in his face and abdominal injuries that kept him out for almost an entire season.
Crashes are an occupational hazard in alpine skiing and though this tumble looks bad, it was nothing compared to the smash Svindal had at Beaver Creek, Colorado in November 2007. He suffered broken bones in his face and abdominal injuries that kept him out for almost an entire season.
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Svindal claimed his second World Cup title in 2009, then added a prized Olympic gold medal in the super-G competition at the Winter Games in Vancouver the following year, along with silver in the downhill and bronze in giant slalom.
Svindal claimed his second World Cup title in 2009, then added a prized Olympic gold medal in the super-G competition at the Winter Games in Vancouver the following year, along with silver in the downhill and bronze in giant slalom.
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Svindal's eyes are also fixed on his post ski-racing future-- potentially as the boss of a tech start-up.
Svindal's eyes are also fixed on his post ski-racing future-- potentially as the boss of a tech start-up.
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Svindal visited Silicon Valley entrepreneurs after injuring his Achilles tendon playing soccer in October 2014.
Svindal visited Silicon Valley entrepreneurs after injuring his Achilles tendon playing soccer in October 2014.
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