Marit Bjørgen (43) tops almost every list cross-country skiers want to hit. She has the most Olympic gold, the most world championship gold, the most medals, the most World Cup wins, the most podiums and the most top 10s.

But Bjørgen does not have the most 3rd places in World Cup history, nor the most 2nd places.

However, both lists are topped by another Norwegian, according to Dagbladet’s review:

Heidi Weng (31) holds the “world record” for 3rd place in the World Cup in absolutely superb fashion, with her 48 times as third best. Therese Johaug is the second most 3rd place with her 32.

During the winter, Weng also took the “world record” alone for the number of 2nd places in the World Cup. She passed Bjørgen with 2nd place on the Tour de Ski monster hill earlier this winter.

With her 44 times second best in the individual World Cup, Heidi Weng is now alone in the lead with the most 2nd places, just ahead of Bjørgen (43 times).

Weng’s reaction

When Dagbladet is about to challenge Heidi Weng in a quiz on this subject, she first exclaims:

– Oh no, not a quiz…

But when Dagbladet clarifies the matter and asks Weng who she thinks has the most 3rd places in World Cup history – about the only record Bjørgen doesn’t hold – she is quick to say:

– It’s me? Weng asks.

– Correct! How does it feel to own this “world record”?

– Yeah, it’s fun. I will take it with me and keep it in mind. So maybe the disc can live for a while too, Weng tells Dagbladet.

Of today’s assets, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg is following Weng the most.

– Then I have to avoid Ingvild taking 3rd place in the future. It is better that she wins, so that I can keep this record, Heidi Weng told Dagbladet with humor.

One of the greatest

Heidi Weng doesn’t have as many World Cup wins (13) as other podium finishes, but with her record number of 3rd and 2nd place finishes, she’s the top 3 in cross country history for the number of podium finishes at the total, regardless of genre.

The 31-year-old is just one of four riders with more than 100 World Cup podiums. The other three are Marit Bjørgen, Therese Johaug and Justyna Kowalczyk, who after this season is one podium place behind Weng in the all-time World Cup statistics.

Weng passed Kowalczyk this winter and now holds the third most World Cup podium places of all time, behind Bjørgen and Johaug. She also has the third highest number of top 10s, behind Bjørgen and Kowalczyk.

In other words: Weng has more World Cup podiums than giants such as Kowalczyk, Jelena Välbe, Bente Skari, Stefania Belmondo, Larisa Lazutina, Charlotte Kalla and Virpi Kuitunen.

And she has more World Cup podium places than any man – a list topped by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo ahead of Petter Northug, Bjørn Dæhlie and Martin Johnsrud Sundby in that order.

Two overall World Cup victories, two overall Tour de ski triumphs and 10 medals at the World Championships and Olympics make the 31-year-old skier from Ytre Enebakk the most deserving cross-country skier in the world. world among those active today, although in this particular season she found herself in the shadow of teammates such as Tiril Udnes Weng, Anne Kjersti Kalvå, Kristine Stavås Skistad and Astrid Øyre Slind.