At the end of each year the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) publishes a top 100 list of Norway's best athletes. It was no surprise that Hege Riise was the top women's soccer player cracking the top 50 after moving up 10 places from last year's postion and finishing this year in 45th place. The top Norwegian athlete on this year's list was Ole Einar Bjørndalen who won more gold medals than anyone else in the 2002 winter olympics. The top Norwegian male soccer player on the list was Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjær who came in third place on the list.
Is It the Water?!?! Here's the link to the VG Top 10 list: TOP 10 There were six Winter Olympic athletes who made this year's Norwegian Top 10, but only two male "fotball" players. Along with Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjær, John Carew who plays for Valencia in Spain finished in 6th place. Carew is from Lørenskog, which interestingly enough is also the same city that Hege Riise is from. Perhaps it has something to do with the water there?!?!