1. Overview
Kristin Størmer Steira is a retired Norwegian cross-country skier who competed professionally from 2002 to 2015. Throughout her distinguished career, she secured six individual World Cup victories and earned five individual medals at major international competitions, including the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and the Winter Olympic Games. A significant part of her legacy also includes four gold medals won as a member of the powerful Norwegian relay team. Despite her numerous successes, Steira became widely known in the Norwegian media by the nickname "the eternal fourth" due to her frequent fourth-place finishes in highly anticipated races, a testament to her consistent performance near the top of her sport.
2. Personal Background
2.1. Birth and Early Life
Kristin Størmer Steira was born on April 30, 1981, in Mo i Rana, a town located in Nordland county, Norway. She represented the sports club IL Forsøk during her career. She measures 67 in (169 cm) in height.
3. Career
Kristin Størmer Steira's career spanned from her debut in 2002 until her retirement in 2015, marked by consistent high-level performance across various international competitions, including multiple Olympic and World Championship appearances, and significant success in the World Cup circuit.
3.1. Debut and Early Career
Steira made her debut in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in 2002. Her initial performances saw her failing to qualify in the sprint event and finishing 46th in the 30-kilometer race. She was selected to represent Norway at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2003 where she finished 28th in the pursuit event and 25th in the 30-kilometer race. Her breakthrough World Cup victory came on January 22, 2005, in Pragelato, Italy, in a pursuit race. In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2005, she achieved a 9th place in the 10-kilometer event, secured a bronze medal in the pursuit, and was part of the gold medal-winning relay team, demonstrating her growing prominence in the sport.
3.2. Olympic Games
Steira participated in multiple Winter Olympic Games, accumulating two medals, including one gold and one bronze.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Steira famously finished fourth in three individual events: the 10-kilometer race, the 15-kilometer pursuit, and the 30-kilometer event, narrowly missing out on medals. She also placed fifth with the Norwegian relay team.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she finished eighth in the 10-kilometer freestyle. She once again secured a fourth-place finish in the 15-kilometer pursuit, agonizingly losing a bronze medal by just 0.1 seconds in a photo finish with Justyna Kowalczyk. This result, along with her previous fourth-place finishes, contributed to her popular nickname. On February 25, 2010, Steira achieved Olympic champion status as part of the 4x5-kilometer relay team, where she skied the third leg, following Vibeke Skofterud and Therese Johaug, and preceding Marit Bjørgen.
In the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Steira competed in the 15-kilometer skiathlon, finishing 22nd. In the final cross-country skiing event of the Games, the 30-kilometer mass start freestyle, she ultimately won an individual Olympic bronze medal, her only individual medal at the Winter Olympics.
The following table summarizes her results at the Olympic Games:
| Year | Age | 10 km individual | 15 km skiathlon | 30 km mass start | Sprint | 4 × 5 km relay | Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 4 | - | 5 | - |
| 2010 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 8 | - | Gold | - |
| 2014 | 32 | - | 22 | Bronze | - | - | - |
3.3. FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
Steira has an impressive record at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, securing eight medals in total: three gold, two silver, and three bronze.
At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2003, Steira placed 28th in the pursuit and 25th in the 30-kilometer event.
In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2005 in Oberstdorf, she earned a gold medal in the 4x5-kilometer relay and a bronze medal in the 15-kilometer skiathlon. She also finished 9th in the 10-kilometer race.
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo saw Steira win three medals: a silver in the 30-kilometer classical, a bronze in the 15-kilometer skiathlon, and another bronze in the 4x5-kilometer relay. She also achieved a fourth-place finish in the 10-kilometer freestyle.
At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, she secured a silver medal in the 15-kilometer skiathlon. Additionally, she placed 6th in the 10-kilometer classical, 5th in the 30-kilometer freestyle, and 4th in the 4x5-kilometer relay.
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011, held in Oslo, Norway, were particularly successful for Steira as she earned a gold medal in the 4x5-kilometer relay. She also finished 5th in the 30-kilometer event, 9th in the 15-kilometer pursuit, and 10th in the 10-kilometer classical.
Finally, at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013 in Val di Fiemme, Steira won her third World Championship gold medal with the 4x5-kilometer relay team. She narrowly missed an individual medal with a fourth-place finish in the 15-kilometer pursuit and secured 9th place in both the 10-kilometer freestyle and the 30-kilometer classical.
The following table summarizes her results at the World Championships:
| Year | Age | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | Sprint | 4 × 5 km relay | Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 21 | - | - | 28 | 25 | - | - | - |
| 2005 | 23 | 9 | - | Bronze | - | - | Gold | - |
| 2007 | 25 | 4 | - | Bronze | Silver | - | Bronze | - |
| 2009 | 27 | 6 | - | Silver | 5 | - | 4 | - |
| 2011 | 29 | 10 | - | 9 | 5 | - | Gold | - |
| 2013 | 31 | 9 | - | 4 | 9 | - | Gold | - |
3.4. FIS Cross-Country World Cup
Steira competed in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup from the 2001-02 season to the 2014-15 season. She achieved a total of 6 individual victories and 22 individual podium finishes, along with 13 team victories and 18 team podiums. Her best overall World Cup standing was 6th, which she achieved in both the 2009-10 and 2012-13 seasons. She also reached 4th place in the Distance discipline standings in 2009.
3.4.1. Season standings
The following table details Steira's World Cup season standings:
| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening | Tour de Ski | World Cup Final | ||
| 2002 | 20 | Not classified | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 | 21 | 42 | - | Not classified | - | - | - |
| 2004 | 22 | 27 | 20 | - | - | - | - |
| 2005 | 23 | 12 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | 24 | 22 | 12 | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | 25 | 14 | 12 | Not classified | - | 7 | - |
| 2008 | 26 | 16 | 12 | Not classified | - | 11 | 15 |
| 2009 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 53 | - | 9 | 4 |
| 2010 | 28 | 6 | - | 49 | - | 5 | 4 |
| 2011 | 29 | 28 | 19 | Not classified | - | - | 8 |
| 2012 | 30 | 14 | 9 | Not classified | 10 | Did not finish | 6 |
| 2013 | 31 | 6 | - | 45 | 8 | - | 25 |
| 2014 | 32 | 19 | 11 | Not classified | 14 | Did not finish | 9 |
| 2015 | 33 | 53 | 33 | - | - | - | - |
3.4.2. Individual podiums
Steira achieved 6 victories and 22 podium finishes in individual World Cup and Stage World Cup races.
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-05 | 28 January 2007 | Ramsau, Austria | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 2 | 22 January 2005 | Pragelato, Italy | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 1st | |
| 3 | 2005-06 | 19 March 2006 | Sapporo, Japan | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 4 | 2006-07 | 2 January 2007 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 5 | 3 January 2007 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 10 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 6 | 3 January 2007 | Cavalese, Italy | 10 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 7 | 2007-08 | 8 December 2007 | Davos, Switzerland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 8 | 1 January 2008 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 9 | 6 January 2008 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 10 | 2008-09 | 6 December 2008 | La Clusaz, France | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 1st |
| 11 | 4 January 2009 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 12 | 22 March 2009 | Falun, Sweden | 10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 1st | |
| 13 | 2009-10 | 2 January 2010 | Oberhof, Germany | 10 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 14 | 10 January 2010 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 1st | |
| 15 | 13 March 2010 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 16 | 20 March 2010 | Falun, Sweden | 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 17 | 21 March 2010 | 10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | ||
| 18 | 2010-11 | 18 December 2010 | La Clusaz, France | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 19 | 2012-13 | 5 January 2013 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 10 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 20 | 29 December 2012 - 6 January 2013 | Tour de Ski | Overall Standings | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 21 | 2 February 2013 | Sochi, Russia | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Skiathlon C/F | World Cup | 1st | |
| 22 | 17 February 2013 | Davos, Switzerland | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
3.4.3. Team podiums
Steira was a key member of the Norwegian relay teams, contributing to 13 victories and 18 podium finishes.
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-03 | 19 January 2003 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Moen / Bjørgen / Pedersen |
| 2 | 23 March 2003 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Moen / Pedersen / Skari | |
| 3 | 2003-04 | 23 November 2003 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Pedersen / Bjørgen |
| 4 | 11 January 2004 | Otepää, Estonia | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Pedersen / Bjørgen | |
| 5 | 22 February 2004 | Umeå, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Bjørgen / Pedersen | |
| 6 | 2006-07 | 19 November 2006 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Pedersen / Bjørgen |
| 7 | 4 February 2007 | Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Jacobsen / Skofterud / Bjørgen | |
| 8 | 2007-08 | 9 December 2007 | Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Stemland / Johaug / Skofterud |
| 9 | 24 February 2008 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Tyldum / Jacobsen / Bjørgen | |
| 10 | 2008-09 | 23 November 2008 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Bjørgen / Johaug / Kristoffersen |
| 11 | 7 December 2008 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Stemland / Johaug / Nilsen | |
| 12 | 2009-10 | 22 November 2009 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Skofterud / Johaug / Bjørgen |
| 13 | 7 March 2010 | Lahti, Finland | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Kristoffersen / Johaug / Bjørgen | |
| 14 | 2010-11 | 21 November 2010 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Johaug / Bjørgen |
| 15 | 19 December 2010 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Johaug / Bjørgen | |
| 16 | 2011-12 | 21 November 2011 | Sjusjøen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Skofterud / Johaug / Bjørgen |
| 17 | 2012-13 | 20 January 2013 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Weng / Johaug / Bjørgen |
| 18 | 2013-14 | 8 December 2013 | Lillehammer, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Weng / Johaug / Bjørgen |
3.5. Retirement
Kristin Størmer Steira announced her retirement from professional cross-country skiing on April 20, 2015, concluding a career that spanned 14 seasons from 2002 to 2015.
4. Personal Life
Kristin Størmer Steira resides in Drøbak, a town situated near Oslo, Norway. On July 25, 2015, she married Canadian skier Devon Kershaw, whom she had been dating since December 2012.
5. Evaluation and Impact
Kristin Størmer Steira's career is notable for her consistent performance at the elite level of cross-country skiing. Despite often being overshadowed by her more decorated teammates, her dedication and resilience made her a respected figure in the sport.
5.1. "Eternal Fourth" Nickname
Steira earned the well-known nickname "the eternal fourth" within Norwegian media due to her repeated fourth-place finishes in major competitions, particularly at the Winter Olympics and World Championships. This trend was most pronounced at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where she finished fourth in three individual events. The nickname was further solidified at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, when she lost out on a bronze medal in the 15-kilometer pursuit by an incredibly narrow margin of 0.1 seconds in a photo finish. This moniker, while sometimes jokingly used by the media, underscored her consistent proximity to the podium and her status as a top competitor.
5.2. Career Assessment
Overall, Steira's career is marked by impressive achievements despite the perception created by her "eternal fourth" nickname. She secured an Olympic gold medal in the relay, an individual Olympic bronze, and multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals at the World Championships. Her six individual World Cup victories and 22 individual podium finishes, coupled with 13 team relay victories, demonstrate her capabilities as a world-class skier. She consistently ranked among the top performers in the World Cup overall standings, achieving 6th place twice. Her consistent presence at the top of the sport for over a decade attests to her skill and enduring commitment.
5.3. Influence on Sport
Steira's influence on cross-country skiing extends beyond her medal count. Her determination and perseverance, especially in overcoming the frustration of frequent fourth-place finishes, made her an inspiring figure. Her pursuit of excellence was not limited to skiing; in 2009, she ventured into track and field athletics, competing in the 5000 meters at the Norwegian championships. Although she won the race with a time of 16 minutes 01.76 seconds, she did not meet the qualification standard of 15 minutes 50 seconds for the 2010 European Athletics Championships. This demonstrated her athletic versatility and a willingness to challenge herself across different disciplines, further solidifying her impact on aspiring athletes.