| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2004 | Athens, GRE | |
| 4 | Cross-country | 1996 | Atlanta, GA, USA | |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2006 | Rotorua, NZL | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2005 | Livigno, ITA | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2004 | Les Gets, FRA | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2002 | Kaprun, AUT | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 1998 | Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC, CAN | |
| 6 | Cross-country | 2011 | Champery, SUI | |
| 18 | Cross-country | 2010 | Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC, CAN | |
| European Championships | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2012 | Moscow, RUS | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2011 | Dohnany, SVK | |
| World Cup | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2012 | La Bresse, FRA | |
| 3 | Cross-country | 2011 | Val di Sole, ITA | |
Nickname
Gunny or Catwoman. (Athlete, 08 Apr 1999)
Hobbies
Kittens, hiking and reading. (gunnrita.com 2003)
Occupation
Athlete
Education
Journalism/Broadcasting - University of Stavanger, Stavanger, NOR
Family
Husband Kenneth Flesja and son Bjonar [2009]
Language(s) spoken
English
Club name
Multivan Merida, Germany
Coach
Kenneth Flesja [husband] (NOR) from 2001 (gunnrita.com, 01 Mar 2010)
Injuries
She missed the 2000 and most of the 2001 World Cup season because of exhaustion. She over trained in altitude chambers in January and February 2000 and her immune system collapsed and her muscles failed to respond. The ailment meant she could not train for nearly six months. (cyclingnews.com 19 Oct 2004)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
She began mountain biking at the age of 23 in Norway. "My initial interest in mountain biking started in April, 1995. I was invited to come along on a bike-ride with a local cycling club in Stavanger and was hooked from the start." (gunnrita.com, 01 Mar 2010)
Reason for taking up this sport
She injured her knee and had to take a break from running. (Athlete, 08 Apr 1999)
Hero
Italy's world champion road cyclist Mario Cipollini, Norway's multiple Olympic Games gold medal-winning biathlon skier Ole Einar Bjorndalen and Canada's multiple world champion cross country mountain biker Alison Sydor. (gunnrita.com 2003; cyclingnews.com 19 Oct 2004)
Most influential person in career
Her parents for their support. (Athlete, 08 Apr 1999)
General
SWINE FLU IN 2010
"We had a good start in November [2010], but everything was abruptly cut short when Kenneth and I got the swine flu. Our whole family was totally knocked out for over two weeks." (gunnrita.com, 01 Mar 2011)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008, Athens 2004, Atlanta 1996
