Why Canadians sent a Norwegian coach five tonnes of maple syrup

We may never see this magnitude of sportsmanship ever again.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are right around the corner, with the Games set to begin on February 6 through to February 22.

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But in a little trip down memory lane – 20 years ago to be exact – is the story of how one act of kindness by a Norwegian ski coach led to a lifetime’s supply of Maple syrup.

Bjoernar Haakensmoen was the head coach of the Norwegian cross-country skiing team for the 2006 Torino Winter Games.

During the women’s cross-country team sprint event on Valentine’s Day, Canadian skier Sara Renner’s pole broke in the third lap of the six-lap race.

Despite being a key rival for a medal position, Haakensmoen didn’t hesitate in handing the Canadian a spare pole in order to finish the event, albeit 12 cm too long.

Renner and teammate Beckie Scott ultimately went on to claim the silver medal.

In doing so, they edged the Norwegian entry of Ella Gjomle Berg and Marit Bjorgen out of medal contention entirely, with the pair having to settle for fourth place.

“The Olympic spirit is the way we try to follow,” Haakensmoen said following the race.

“Without that, we are in big trouble. Every skier, every staff member from Norway follows that.

“If you win but don’t help somebody when you should have, what win is that?”

Although he received universal praise and recognition that his act of sportsmanship was of the highest class, the Canadian public chose to respond with many gifts and gestures toward the coach.

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This included over 600 letters, emails and telephone calls of thanks received by the Norwegian Embassy, as Renner herself reached out to Haakensmoen with a bottle of wine.

But in an extreme gesture of gratitude as part of a drive titled ‘Project Maple Syrup’, Canadians came together and donated approximately 7,400 cans – weighing an estimated five tonnes – of maple syrup.

Both the Norwegian and Canadian governments agreed to waive any import duties on the syrup so that a then-37-year-old Haakensmoen could accept the gift.

“When you get this kind of response it is, well, just enormous,” Haakensmoen said, via CBC Canada.

“It’s sweet, and a little unusual,” he said, admitting he only recently tried syrup for the first time. “We might have it from time to time, but not five times a day.”

It was delivered to the Norwegian Olympic Committee and the cross-country ski team.

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”Canadians were thrilled with this story, which so beautifully exemplifies the Olympic spirit and fair play,” the Canadian embassy said back in April 2006.

“It was a reflex action. I didn’t even think about what I was doing,” Haakensmoen told Reuters after the ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Oslo.

“I like maple syrup, but not in these quantities,” he added, though revealed he would keep a few cans as the rest was distributed out around the country.

Reuters also reported that a Norwegian mobile phone operator contributed 150,000 crowns – approximately $23,320 – to Haakensmoen’s favoured anti-cancer charity.

This act of sportsmanship would prove to be Haakensmoen’s final Olympics act as he resigned from his position as the sports director for the Norwegian ski team shortly after the Torino Games.