Raisa Smetanina
Encyclopedia
Raisa Petrovna Smetanina ' onMouseout='HidePop("47100")' href="/topics/Komi_Republic">Komi ASSR
) is a former Soviet
/Russia
n Nordic skiing
champion. She is the first woman in history to win ten Winter Olympic medals (Stefania Belmondo
being the second). Smetanina took part in five Olympics, representing the USSR team four times and the Unified Team
once. In particular, Sametania won two gold and one silver medals at the 1976 Winter Olympics
, becoming the most successful athlete there, along with Rosi Mittermaier
of West Germany. She trained at VSS Urozhay in Syktyvkar
.
In the 1992 Winter Olympics
, at the age of thirty-nine, Smetanina won a further gold medal competing for the Commonwealth of Independent States
in the 4x5 km, becoming the first woman to win ten Winter Olympic medals and at that time the oldest woman to win a Winter Olympic gold.
Smetanina also had successes at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
, winning four golds (20 km (1982), and 4x5 km (1974, 1985, and 1991), four silvers (10 km (1978), 20 km (1978), and 4x5 km (1982, 1989)), and four bronzes (4x5 km (1978), 5 km (1974, 1978), and 20 km (1980
)). She also won three times at the Holmenkollen ski festival
, once in the 10 km (1975) and twice in the 5 km (1975 and 1979).
In 1979, Smetanina received the Holmenkollen medal
(shared with Erik Håker
and Ingemar Stenmark
). She was also awarded Order of Friendship of Peoples
(1984).
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
) is a former Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
/Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
champion. She is the first woman in history to win ten Winter Olympic medals (Stefania Belmondo
Stefania Belmondo
Stefania Belmondo is an Italian former cross-country skier.-Debut:Belmondo was born in Vinadio, in the province of Cuneo , the daughter of a housewife and an electric company employee....
being the second). Smetanina took part in five Olympics, representing the USSR team four times and the Unified Team
Unified Team
The Unified Team was the name used for the sports team of the former Soviet Union at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The IOC country code was EUN, after the French name, Équipe Unifiée...
once. In particular, Sametania won two gold and one silver medals at the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
, becoming the most successful athlete there, along with Rosi Mittermaier
Rosi Mittermaier
Rosemarie "Rosi" Mittermaier-Neureuther is a former alpine ski racer. She won two gold medals and one silver at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, becoming the most successful athlete there along with Raisa Smetanina of Soviet Union, and earning her the nickname of Gold-Rosi within...
of West Germany. She trained at VSS Urozhay in Syktyvkar
Syktyvkar
-Twin towns/sister cities:Syktyvkar is twinned with the following sister cities: Cullera, Spain Debrecen, Hungary Los Altos, United States Lovech, Bulgaria Taiyuan, China-External links:* * * *...
.
In the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
, at the age of thirty-nine, Smetanina won a further gold medal competing for the Commonwealth of Independent States
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
in the 4x5 km, becoming the first woman to win ten Winter Olympic medals and at that time the oldest woman to win a Winter Olympic gold.
Smetanina also had successes at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
, winning four golds (20 km (1982), and 4x5 km (1974, 1985, and 1991), four silvers (10 km (1978), 20 km (1978), and 4x5 km (1982, 1989)), and four bronzes (4x5 km (1978), 5 km (1974, 1978), and 20 km (1980
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1980
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1980 in cross-country skiing took place in Falun, Sweden. This was an extraordinary event because the women's 20 km event was not held at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.- Women's 20 km :February 17, 1980...
)). She also won three times at the Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
, once in the 10 km (1975) and twice in the 5 km (1975 and 1979).
In 1979, Smetanina received the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
(shared with Erik Håker
Erik Håker
Erik Håker is a Norwegian alpine skier from Oppdal who finished 5th in the men's downhill at the 1972 Winter Olympics at Sapporo. That same year, Håker became the first Norwegian to win a World Cup Alpine event. He would win two more World Cup events, his last in 1979. For his Alpine World Cup...
and Ingemar Stenmark
Ingemar Stenmark
Jan Ingemar Stenmark is a Swedish former skier, active during the 1970s and 1980s. He is regarded as one of the most prominent Swedish sportsmen, and as the greatest slalom and giant slalom specialist of all time. He competed for Fjällvinden Tärnaby.Stenmark was born in the province of Lappland...
). She was also awarded Order of Friendship of Peoples
Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons , organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnic and international friendship and cooperation, for...
(1984).