Vladimir Smirnov (skier)

Vladimir Smirnov
Full name	Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov
Born	7 March 1964 Shuchinsk, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Ski club	Stockviks SF
World Cup career
Seasons	1982–1998
Individual wins	30
Indiv. podiums	66
Overall titles	2 (1990–91, 1993–94)
Medal record Competitor for the  Soviet Union Competitor for  Kazakhstan Men's cross-country skiing Olympic Games 1994 Lillehammer 50 km 1988 Calgary 30 km 1988 Calgary 4×10 km relay 1994 Lillehammer 10 km 1994 Lillehammer Combined pursuit 1988 Calgary 15 km 1998 Nagano Combined pursuit World Championships 1989 Lahti 30 km 1995 Thunder Bay 10 km 1995 Thunder Bay Combined pursuit 1995 Thunder Bay 30 km 1987 Oberstdorf 4×10 km relay 1991 Val di Fiemme 30 km 1993 Falun Combined pursuit 1993 Falun 10 km 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km 1993 Falun 30 km 1995 Thunder Bay 50 km Asian Winter Games 1999 Gangwon 15 km 1999 Gangwon 4×10 km relay 1999 Gangwon 30 km

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov (Russian: Влади́мир Миха́йлович Смирно́в; born 7 March 1964) is a Kazakhstani former cross-country skier who raced from the 1982 until 1991 for the USSR and, later, for Kazakhstan. He is the first Olympic champion from independent Kazakhstan. He is also a vice president of the International Biathlon Union. Smirnov is a former member of International Olympic Committee.^[1]

Early life

Smirnov was born in Shchuchinsk, Kazakh SSR. During the Soviet period, he trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Alma-Ata.

Career

Smirnov in 1994

Smirnov made his debut in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup on 18 December 1982 at Davos in a 15 km race, finishing in a 17th place. His first victory came in 1986, a classic style 15 km in Kavgolovo (URS). Smirnov gained a total of 30 victories in the World Cup, with 21 second and 15 third places. In 1994, he won the aggregate World Cup, thanks to seven victories in the course of the season.

At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships from 1987 to 1997, Smirnov totalled four gold (1989: 30 km, 1995: 10 km, 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit, 30 km), four silver (1987: 4x10 km, 1991: 30 km, 1993: 10 km, 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit) and three bronze medals (1991: 15 km, 1993: 30 km, 1995: 50 km). His best result was in Thunder Bay, Ontario (1995), when he won three events.

In 1994, he received the Holmenkollen Medal (shared with Lyubov Yegorova and Espen Bredesen). Smirnov also won twice at the Holmenkollen ski festival with a 15 km win in 1994 and a 50 km win in 1995.

A very regular and effective cross-country skier, especially in long-distance classic style races, Smirnov took part to the Winter Olympics from 1988 to 1998. His best known victory was the 50 km gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the first Olympic gold medal for Kazakhstan. He was one of the leading characters of that Olympics, as his unending rivalry with home ever-winning Bjørn Dæhlie had gained him the affection of the Norwegian audience. He also became good friends with his rival Dæhlie, even participating with Dæhlie in several popular Norwegian TV shows.

In 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Smirnov was flag-bearer of Kazakhstan Olympic team and won the bronze medal in the 25 km pursuit event.^[1]

Smirnov headed the bid committee to have Almaty, Kazakhstan, host the 2014 Winter Olympics, a bid that failed to make the short list that was announced by the International Olympic Committee on 22 June 2006.^[1] In 2011, Smirnov participated at the opening ceremony of 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana.

Personal life

In the 1990s Smirnov lived in the Swedish city of Sundsvall, where he was a co-founder and co-owner of a local brewery. He is married to Valentina Smirnova, and they have two daughters – Anna and Karolina. Smirnov speaks four languages: Russian, German, English and Swedish.^[2]

Career highlights

Olympic Games

1988 – Calgary 2nd, 30 km C

1988 – Calgary 3rd, 15 km C

1988 – Calgary 2nd, 4x10 km relay

1994 – Lillehammer 2nd, 10 km C

1994 – Lillehammer 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1994 – Lillehammer 1st, 50 km C

1998 – Nagano 3rd, 25 km M pursuit

World Ski Championships

1987 – Oberstdorf 2nd, 4x10 km relay

1989 – Lahti 1st, 30 km C

1991 – Val di Fiemme 2nd, 30 km C

1991 – Val di Fiemme 3rd, 15 km F

1993 – Falun 3rd, 30 km C

1993 – Falun 2nd, 10 km C

1993 – Falun 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1995 – Thunder Bay 1st, 30 km C

1995 – Thunder Bay 1st, 10 km C

1995 – Thunder Bay 1st, 25 km M pursuit

1995 – Thunder Bay 3rd, 50 km F

Asian Winter Games

1999 – Gangwon 1st, 15 km C

1999 – Gangwon 1st, 4×10 km relay

1999 – Gangwon 3rd, 30 km F

World Cup overall

1985/86 – 3rd

1990/91 – 1st

1991/92 – 3rd

1992/93 – 2nd

1993/94 – 1st

1994/95 – 2nd

1995/96 – 2nd

1997/98 – 3rd

World Cup podiums

1984 – Murmansk 2nd, 15 km C

1985 – Labrador City 2nd, 15 km C

1986 – La Bresse 2nd, 30 km C

1986 – Kavgolovo 1st, 15 km C

1986 – Cogne 3rd, 15 km F

1986 – Davos 2nd, 30 km C

1988 – Kavgolovo 1st, 30 km C

1988 – Calgary 2nd, 30 km C

1988 – Calgary 3rd, 15 km C

1989 – Kavgolovo 2nd, 15 km C

1989 – Lahti 1st, 30 km C

1990 – Reit im Winkl 1st, 30 km F

1990 – Örnsköldsvik 3rd, 30 km C

1990 – Tauplitz 3rd, 25 km M pursuit

1990 – Davos 1st, 15 km C

1990 – Les Saisies 1st, 30 km C

1991 – Minsk 1st, 15 km F

1991 – Val di Fiemme 2nd, 30 km C

1991 – Val di Fiemme 3rd, 15 km F

1991 – Lahti 2nd, 30 km F

1991 – Silver Star 2nd, 10 km C

1992 – Kavgolovo 3rd, 30 km C

1992 – Funäsdalen 3rd, 30 km F

1992 – Ramsau 2nd, 10 km F

1992 – Ramsau 3rd, 15 km C

1992 – Val di Fiemme 1st, 30 km F

1993 – Bohinj 1st, 15 km F

1993 – Falun 3rd, 30 km C

1993 – Falun 2nd, 10 km C

1993 – Falun 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1993 – Lahti 2nd, 30 km F

1993 – Santa Caterina 1st, 30 km C

1993 – Toblach 1st, 10 km C

1993 – Toblach 1st, 15 km F

1994 – Kavgolovo 1st, 15 km C

1994 – Oslo 1st, 15 km F

1994 – Lillehammer 2nd, 10 km C

1994 – Lillehammer 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1994 – Lillehammer 1st, 50 km C

1994 – Lahti 1st, 15 km F

1994 – Kiruna 2nd, 10 km C

1994 – Sappada 3rd, 10 km F

1995 – Lahti 1st, 15 km F

1995 – Lahti 1st, 15 km C

1995 – Falun 3rd, 30 km C

1995 – Oslo 1st, 50 km C

1995 – Thunder Bay 1st, 30 km C

1995 – Thunder Bay 1st, 10 km C

1995 – Thunder Bay 1st 25 km M pursuit

1995 – Thunder Bay 3rd, 50 km F

1995 – Sapporo 2nd, 15 km F

1995 – Vuokatti 1st, 10 km C

1995 – Davos 2nd, 30 km C

1995 – Brusson 3rd, 15 km F

1995 – Santa Caterina 2nd, 10 km C

1995 – Santa Caterina 3rd, 15 km F

1996 – Strbske Pleso 1st, 50 km F

1996 – Nove Mesto 1st, 15 km C

1996 – Kavgolovo 2nd, 15 km C

1996 – Trondheim 1st, 30 km F

1996 – Falun 1st, 10 km F

1996 – Falun 1st, 15 km C

1997 – Lahti 1st, 30 km C

1997 – Beitostoelen 2nd, 10 km C

1997 – Val di Fiemme 3rd, 10 km C

1998 – Lahti 1st, 30 km C

• Сonfirmed by Official FIS Results

See also

• Cross country skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics
• Cross country skiing at the 1994 Winter Olympics
• Cross country skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics

References

1. Vladimir Smirnov. sports-reference.com
2. Владимир Смирнов: «И после спорта судьба продолжает мне улыбаться». skisport.ru (interview in Russian) 25 October 2008

Further reading

• Henry, Notaker (1994). Lillehammer 1994: A Fairy-Tale of Images. Oslo: Dreyers Forlag. ISBN 82-504-2145-0.

External links

• Vladimir Smirnov at the International Ski Federation
• Vladimir Smirnov at the 1998 Nagano Olympics