Nikita Kryukov

Nikita Kriukov
Full name	Nikita Valeryevich Kriukov
Born	May 30, 1985 Dzerzhinsky, Russia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Ski club	Sdusor 81
World Cup career
Seasons	2006–
Individual wins	3
Indiv. podiums	13
Medal record Men's cross country skiing Representing  Russia Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver Individual sprint 2014 Sochi Team sprint World Championships 2013 Val di Fiemme Individual sprint 2013 Val di Fiemme Team sprint 2015 Falun Team sprint 2011 Holmenkollen Team sprint

Nikita Valeryevich Kriukov (Russian: Никита Валерьевич Крюков; born 30 May 1985) is a Russian cross country skier who has competed since 2005. He is a sprint specialist who has won an Olympic Gold, two World Championship gold medals, six World cup gold medals (three stage races, three individual World Cups), all in the sprint events. He is arguably the fastest skier ever when it comes to double-poling on the flat in sprints. But as he showed in the team sprint in the World Championship, in Val di Fiemme, he is also very strong in the freestyle sprint.

A crash involving a Norwegian skier which obstructed his path before the final 200 metres likely cost him a 2nd Olympic Gold in the team sprint event in Sochi where he won silver. He appeared to be past his prime with declining results but a World Cup win in February 2016 has ignited him and he now aims for more medals at the 2018 Games.

He is known for his friendly and easy going personality and is very popular with his fellow competitors. He has a pet dog back home he is very attached to.

Career highlights

Olympic Games Medals

2010 – 2010 Vancouver 1st, classical sprint

FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Medals

2011 – Oslo 3rd, team sprint (with Panzhinskiy)

2013 – Val di Fiemme 1st, classical sprint

2013 – Val di Fiemme 1st, team sprint (with Petukhov)

2015 – Falun 2nd, team sprint (with Petukhov)

World Cup podiums

2009 – Kuusamo 3rd, classical sprint

2010 – Otepää 3rd, classical sprint

2010 – Rybinsk 3rd, freestyle sprint

2011 – Otepää 3rd, classical sprint

2011 – Düsseldorf 2nd, team sprint (with Petukhov)

2012 – Lahti 3rd, classical sprint

2012 – Quebec 2nd, team sprint (with Petukhov)

2012 – Canmore 3rd, freestyle sprint

2013 – Liberec 3rd, team sprint (with Petukhov)

2013 – Drammen 3rd, classical sprint

2013 – Asiago 1st, classical sprint

2014 – Nove Mesto 1st, team sprint (with Vylegzhanin)

2016 – Stockholm 1st, classical sprint

Stage World Cup podiums

2010 – Stockholm 1st, classical sprint (WC Final)

2011 – Kuusamo 2nd, classical sprint (Nordic Opening)

2011 – Oberstdorf 1st, classical sprint (Tour de Ski)

2012 – Kuusamo 1st, classical sprint (Nordic Opening)

2013 – Stockholm 3rd, classical sprint (WC Final)

External links

• Nikita Kryukov at the International Ski Federation