Christian Hoffmann
Encyclopedia
Christian Hoffmann (born December 22, 1974 in Aigen
) is a former Austria
n cross country skier
who competed since 1994. He won the bronze medal
in the 50km at the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano. Four years later at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City, Hoffmann finished 2nd in the 30 km freestyle mass start event to Spain
's Johann Mühlegg
, but was awarded the gold medal in 2004 upon Mühlegg's blood-doping disqualification of darbepoetin.
Hoffmann's best individual finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
was a 5th in the 50 km in 2001. He also won gold in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Ramsau
.
Hoffman also won two World Cup events in his career (10 km: 2003, 30 km: 2004). He and fellow skier Mikhail Botvinov
also encountered controversy regarding blood doping in 2002, though both were cleared by the IOC on April 9, 2002.
Aigen im Mühlkreis
Aigen im Mühlkreis is a municipality in the district of Rohrbach in Upper Austria, Austria.It is the site of Nicholas Treadwell's gallery....
) is a former Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n cross country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
who competed since 1994. He won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the 50km at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano. Four years later at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, Hoffmann finished 2nd in the 30 km freestyle mass start event to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's Johann Mühlegg
Johann Mühlegg
Johann Mühlegg is a Spanish top level cross-country skier who has competed in international competitions first representing Germany and then Spain, after becoming a Spanish citizen in 1999...
, but was awarded the gold medal in 2004 upon Mühlegg's blood-doping disqualification of darbepoetin.
Hoffmann's best individual finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
was a 5th in the 50 km in 2001. He also won gold in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1999 took place February 19-28, 1999 in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria. The 7.5 km Nordic combined sprint event debuted at these championships.- 10 km classical :February 22, 1999- 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit :...
in Ramsau
Ramsau
Ramsau is the name of several municipalities and towns in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as the traditional German name of the municipality of Ramzová in the Czech Republic.Municipalities named Ramsau include:*Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Germany...
.
Hoffman also won two World Cup events in his career (10 km: 2003, 30 km: 2004). He and fellow skier Mikhail Botvinov
Mikhail Botvinov
Mikhail Botvinov is a Russian-born Austrian cross country skier who competed from 1990 to 2007 for both Russia and Austria. He won two medals at the Winter Olympics with a silver in the men's 30 km freestyle mass start event in 2002 and a bronze in the men's 50 km freestyle mass start in 2006...
also encountered controversy regarding blood doping in 2002, though both were cleared by the IOC on April 9, 2002.