DESCRIPTION

The Albertville Olympic emblem (stylized flame), Olympic rings and the inscription ALBERTVILLE 92 are centered with the legend XVI OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 8-23 FEBRUARY 92 written in English and French. The reverse depicts a star over the Alps and Olympic rings surrounded by the motto CITIUS * ALTIUS * FORTIUS along the top and ALBERTVILLE 92 along the lower edge. The medals were presented in a dark blue cardboard box with the Albertville symbol and Monnaie de Paris printed on the cover.

THE GAMES

The 1992 Albertville Olympic Games were the last Winter Games to be staged in the same year as the Summer Games. Only 18 of the 57 events were held in Albertville itself, while nearby resorts hosted the rest. Freestyle skiing and short-track speedskating made their debuts as medal disciplines, as did women’s biathlon. Norwegian skiers won every cross-country skiing race, as Björn Daehlie and Vegard Ulvang each won three gold medals. Speedskater Bonnie Blair won the 500 and 1,000m events, while Gunda Niemann took both of the longest races. At age 16, ski jumper Toni Nieminen became the youngest male winner of a Winter event. Earning two golds and one silver, Mark Kirchner became the first biathlete to win medals in all three biathlon events. Alpine skier Petra Kronberger won both the combined event and the slalom. Kim Ki-hoon earned gold medals in both short-track events.