Finn Christian Jagge (NOR)

DOB:  04/04/1966  Hometown:  Stabaek

One of the "old men" of the Norwegian team at 33, Finn Christian Jagge is still happy to be a year younger than his Austrian counterpart, Thomas Stangassinger. Jagge was Olympic Champion in slalom in '92 and holds out hope to win the slalom World Cup title before hanging up his boots. Jagge burst onto the ski scene at the '85 FIS World Championships in Bormio, Italy. He has won six World Cup races since December '91 and finished second and third many times.

Jagge has a dubious distinction from other ski racers after seriously injuring both his knees in the late '80s. He's the only racer ever to compete without an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. "You have to train harder to get stronger muscles in your legs," he explains.

His family has a strong history of elite competition: his mother Liv also competed in the '60 and the '64 Olympics. She placed seventh in slalom at the '64 Games. His father Finn Dag was a top tennis player, having participated at grand slam tournaments such as the US Open.

Married to Anniken Jagge since '95, Finn Christain uses his fame to help less fortunate people in his home country. He helps run a charity race in Oslo, held before the Holmenkollen World Cup ski jumping event, called the "Finke Cup." Top international skiers and his Norwegian teammates compete to raise money for the handicapped and terminally ill. The Fund paid for a special car for his friend Tomas Fogdoe, partially paralyzed in a ski crash in '95. It also supports cancer research centers for children.

— Patrick Lange, MountainZone.com World Cup Correspondent