Toini Gustafsson
Encyclopedia
Toini Gustafsson-Rönnlund (born 17 January 1938 in Suomussalmi
, Finland
) is a former Swedish
cross country skier who competed during the 1960s. She competed in two Winter Olympics, earning a total of four medals. Gustafsson also competed several times at the Holmenkollen ski festival
, winning three times at 10 km (1960, 1967, and 1968). Additionally, she won three medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
with a silver in 1962 (3 x 5 km), and two bronzes in 1966 (10 km and 3 x 5 km).
For her successes in Nordic skiing and at the Holmenkollen, Gustafsson received the Holmenkollen medal
in 1967 (Shared with Ole Ellefsæter
). She is the first Swedish woman to ever win the Holmenkollen medal.
She was married with the former Swedish cross-country skier
Assar Rönnlund
, who died on the 5th of January 2011. They are the second husband-wife team to win the Holmenkollen medal (Rönnlund earned the medal in 1968). Additionally, they are the only husband and wife team to ever win the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
with Rönnlund earning the honor in 1962 and Gustafsson earning the award six years later.
Gustafsson is an ethnic Finn. She was born in Suomussalmi
, Finland
, but was evacuated to Sweden when she was a child (see Finnish war children
).
Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi is a municipality in Finland and is located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a former Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
cross country skier who competed during the 1960s. She competed in two Winter Olympics, earning a total of four medals. Gustafsson also competed several times at the Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
, winning three times at 10 km (1960, 1967, and 1968). Additionally, she won three medals 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...
with a silver in 1962 (3 x 5 km), and two bronzes in 1966 (10 km and 3 x 5 km).
For her successes in Nordic skiing and at the Holmenkollen, Gustafsson received the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
in 1967 (Shared with Ole Ellefsæter
Ole Ellefsæter
Ole Ellefsæter is a retired sportsman from Norway. He chiefly competed in cross-country skiing, and won two gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics. At the 1966 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships he won one gold and one silver medal, and in 1971 he became the first Norwegian to win Vasaloppet...
). She is the first Swedish woman to ever win the Holmenkollen medal.
She was married with the former Swedish 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...
Assar Rönnlund
Assar Rönnlund
Assar Rönnlund was a Swedish cross-country skier. Rönnlund's biggest success was at the 1962 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Zakopane where he won two gold medals and a silver . As a result, he earned the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal that year for his championship successes...
, who died on the 5th of January 2011. They are the second husband-wife team to win the Holmenkollen medal (Rönnlund earned the medal in 1968). Additionally, they are the only husband and wife team to ever win the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
The Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal is an annual award "for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year". It has been awarded by a jury led by the Swedish morning paper Svenska Dagbladet since 1925. According to its statutes the Medal may be awarded in November or December to either...
with Rönnlund earning the honor in 1962 and Gustafsson earning the award six years later.
Gustafsson is an ethnic Finn. She was born in Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi is a municipality in Finland and is located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, but was evacuated to Sweden when she was a child (see Finnish war children
Finnish war children
During World War II some 70,000 Finnish children were evacuated from Finland, chiefly to Sweden and Denmark, but also to Norway. Most were evacuated during the Continuation War to ease the situation for their parents who set out to rebuild their homes in the re-conquered Karelia returning from...
).