Svindal, Jansrud admit Aamodt, Kjus comparisons unfair (News Feature)

By David Hein Feb 24, 2010, 3:52 GMT

Whistler, Canada - Replacing legendary figures in sports is never easy. Just ask Norwegian alpine skiers Aksel Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud.

Less than an hour after Jansrud and Svindal had captured the men's giant slalom silver and bronze medals, respectively, the duo had to fend off comparisons to the legendary twosome of Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus.

'It's a tough comparison you're talking about,' said Svindal, who skied a few years with Aamodt and Kjus and cherishes all he learned from them.

'They're both legends, and we get the question a lot. But it's a long way to go before you can reach those goals.'

'I don't think you should compare us to the '90s. I have not been on the podium too often. Aksel is great but I have a long time to go. What they did in the '90s was amazing,' added Jansrud of two of the all-time giants of Norwegian winter sports.

While both Svindal, 27, and Jansrud, 24, are talented, the comparison to Aamodt and Kjus is quite premature.

Aamodt is the most decorated alpine skier in Olympic history with eight total medals including four golds.

He also has five world titles to go along with four silvers and three bronzes at the world championships over his illustrious career - not to mention the 1994 overall World Cup title.

Kjus meanwhile is the 1994 Olympic combined gold medallist among his five Winter Games medals. He also has three golds at the worlds and eight silvers to go along with his 1996 and 1996 overall World Cup crowns.

Svindal for his part had three world titles, two other worlds medals and two overall World Cup championships coming to Vancouver 2010. And he has shined on the Whistler slopes, winning super-G gold and downhill silver before Tuesday's giant slalom bronze.

At Turin 2006, Svindal finished fifth in the super-g and sixth in the giant slalom.

For Jansrud meanwhile this is the first real taste of big success. He took 10th place in the combined at Turin 2006 and was ninth in the super combined at the 2009 worlds.

At Vancouver 2010, he finished ninth at the super combined and 12th in the super-G.

Still, Jansrud has loads of talent, which has not gone lost on Aamodt - in Whistler doing commentary for Norwegian television.

'Kjetil has a lot of talent. He basically missed two years with injuries. And he is now just coming back to form. But he is special,' Aamodt told the German Press Agency dpa about Jansrud, who missed the entire 2006-07 season with a back injury and was slow the following season coming back.

At the 2006 Games, Aamodt told dpa of Jansrud: 'He will become the next great Norwegian alpine skier. He is one of the most promising youngsters I have ever seen.'

Aamodt also said that Norway have two more young skiers on the rise in the junior ranks.

Henrik Kristoffersen, 15, is ranked number one in both slalom and giant slalom for his age group as he competes in his first year of FIS races.

And the 17-year-old Simen Ramberg Christensen took fourth place at the 2010 world juniors in slalom at 16 years old - three years younger than the rest of the competition.

'We have a couple of really good guys coming up. But going from their age group to the next level will be an important step,' Aamodt said.

Just like Svindal learned under Aamodt and Kjus, and Jansrud tutored under Svindal, Jansrud may one day teach the likes of Kristoffersen and Christensen.

Until then, Jansrud and Svindal have a long way still to reaching the legendary status of Aamodt and Kjus.