A premiere triumph that lasts

It was the winter of 1981/82 and the first FIS World Cup cross-country took off. More than 40 years ago, conditions were different in many respects – climatic, economic, sporting – and just ten competitions were organised for both men and women.

Berit Aunli (née Kvello) was just 25 years old at the time of the newly-created World Cup. The cross-country skier from Stjørdal was already a renowned athlete, having been a member of the Norwegian relay team that won bronze at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. But it was in the winter of 1981/82 that she made the real breakthrough. At the World Championships at Holmenkollen she won three gold medals (5 km, 10 km, relay) and one silver (20 km). As the two shortest races also counted towards the World Cup, she laid the foundations for the overall World Cup victory in her home country. Aunli finished on the podium a total of seven times, twice as winner and five times as runner-up, taking her ten points ahead of compatriot Brit Pettersen in the overall standings.

At the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, she completed her personal medal haul with gold in the relay and silver in the 5 km. On the World Cup circuit, she enjoyed a few more successes, but was unable to repeat her triumphal 1982 season.

Looking back, it was an astonishing career. As a 15-time Norwegian champion, former Norwegian Athlete of the Year, Holmenkollen medallist and World Cup winner, the sport of cross country and Aunli will be linked for eternity.