| Swiss athlete, skier Date of Birth: 11.03.1986 Country: Switzerland |
Dario Cologna is a Swiss athlete and skier who is widely regarded as one of the best skiers in the world. In his native Switzerland, he has no real competition. At the age of 28, Cologna has already won three Olympic gold medals, achieved several victories in the overall World Cup standings, won the Tour De Ski, and triumphed at the World Championships.
Dario Cologna started skiing at the age of five. Initially, he focused on alpine skiing but switched to cross-country skiing in 1999. He also showed interest in other sports, actively playing football and cycling. In November 2006, Cologna made his debut in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup race in Kuusamo, Finland. He earned his first points in March 2007, in Falun, Sweden, finishing in the top ten four times during the 2007-2008 season.
In December 2008, Cologna achieved his first podium finish, securing the second place in the 30-kilometer race in La Clusaz, France. In January 2009, he participated in the Tour de Ski and won the final stage by defeating the second-place finisher, Petter Northug, by over a minute. Cologna also won the overall World Cup standings for the 2008-2009 season, surpassing the second-place skier by more than 100 points.
During the 2009-2010 season, Cologna won the World Cup once and reached the podium two more times, finishing the season in fourth place overall. In the Tour de Ski, he achieved third place. However, his exceptional performance came at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Cologna won the gold medal in the men's 15-kilometer freestyle race, becoming the first Swiss skier to win a freestyle event at the Olympics.
Cologna continued to dominate the World Cup in the 2010-2011 season, winning four races and finishing on the podium six more times. He won the overall World Cup standings, surpassing the second-place skier by a remarkable 300 points. In the Tour de Ski, he secured second place, outperforming Petter Northug by 27 seconds.
In the 2011-2012 season, Cologna won three races and reached the podium seven more times, securing his third overall World Cup victory. He also won his third Tour de Ski, finishing a full minute ahead of his competitors. Cologna became the first skier to win three Tour de Ski titles.
In 2013, Cologna participated in the World Championships held in Val di Fiemme, Italy. He won the 30-kilometer pursuit race and claimed the second-place finish in the 50-kilometer classic mass start. In the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Cologna once again shone brightly. He won the gold medal in the 30-kilometer skiathlon and successfully defended his Olympic champion title by defeating all his opponents in the 15-kilometer race.
Dario Cologna's remarkable achievements and consistent success have solidified his status as one of the greatest cross-country skiers in the world. His dedication, skill, and determination continue to inspire future generations of skiers.