Vladimir Smirnov (skier)


Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov 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 and the most decorated Olympian in history of Kazakhstan. He is also a vice president of the International Biathlon Union. Smirnov is a former member of International Olympic Committee.

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 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. 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, four silver and three bronze medals. His best result was in Thunder Bay, Ontario, when he won three events.
In 1994, he received the Holmenkollen Medal. 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.
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. In 2011, Smirnov participated at the opening ceremony of 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana.

Personal life

Smirnov moved to Sweden in 1991 and lives in the 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. He became a Swedish citizen in 1998. Smirnov speaks four languages: Russian, German, English and Swedish.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation.

Olympic Games

Season titles

Individual podiums

No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlace
1 1983–84 23 March 1984 Murmansk, Soviet Union15 km IndividualWorld Cup2nd
2 1985–86 8 December 1985 Labrador City, Canada15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
3 1985–86 1 January 1986 La Bresse, France30 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
4 1985–86 23 February 1986 Kavgolovo, Soviet Union15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
5 1986–87 13 December 1986 Cogne, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
6 1986–87 20 December 1986 Davos, Switzerland30 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
71987–889 January 1988 Kavgolovo, Soviet Union30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
81987–8815 February 1988 Calgary, Canada30 km Individual COlympic Games2nd
91987–8819 February 1988 Calgary, Canada15 km Individual COlympic Games3rd
10 1988–89 7 January 1989 Kavgolovo, Soviet Union15 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
11 1988–89 18 February 1989 Lahti, Finland30 km Individual CWorld Championships1st
121989–9025 February 1990 Reit im Winkl, West Germany30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
131989–9010 March 1990 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden30 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
14 1990–91 9 December 1990 Tauplitzalm, Austria10 km + 15 km Individual C/FWorld Cup2nd
15 1990–91 15 December 1990 Davos, Switzerland15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
16 1990–91 19 December 1990 Les Saisies, France30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
17 1990–91 5 January 1991 Minsk, Soviet Union15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
18 1990–91 7 February 1991 Val di Fiemme, Italy30 km Individual CWorld Championships2nd
19 1990–91 9 February 1991 Val di Fiemme, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Championships3rd
20 1990–91 3 March 1991 Lahti, Finland30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
21 1991–92 7 December 1991 Silver Star, Canada10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
22 1991–92 4 January 1992 Kavgolovo, Russia30 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
23 1991–92 7 March 1992 Funäsdalen, Sweden30 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
24 1992–93 12 December 1992 Ramsau, Austria10 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
25 1992–93 13 December 1992 Ramsau, Austria15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup3rd
26 1992–93 18 December 1992 Val di Fiemme, Italy30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
27 1992–93 16 January 1993 Bohinj, Slovenia15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
28 1992–93 20 February 1993 Falun, Sweden30 km Individual CWorld Championships3rd
29 1992–93 22 February 1993 Falun, Sweden10 km Individual CWorld Championships2nd
30 1992–93 24 February 1993 Falun, Sweden15 km Pursuit FWorld Championships2nd
31 1992–93 7 March 1993 Lahti, Finland30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
321993–9411 December 1993 Santa Caterina, Italy30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
331993–9421 December 1993 Toblach, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
341993–9421 December 1993 Toblach, Italy15 km Pursuit FWorld Cup1st
351993–949 January 1994 Kavgolovo, Russia15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
361993–9415 January 1994 Oslo, Norway15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
371993–9417 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway10 km Individual COlympic Games2nd
381993–9419 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway15 km Pursuit FOlympic Games2nd
391993–9427 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway50 km Individual COlympic Games1st
401993–945 March 1994 Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
41 1994–95 27 November 1994 Kiruna, Sweden10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
42 1994–95 20 December 1994 Sappada, Italy10 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
43 1994–95 27 January 1995 Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
44 1994–95 29 January 1995 Lahti, Finland15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup1st
45 1994–95 4 February 1995 Falun, Sweden30 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
46 1994–95 11 February 1995 Oslo, Norway50 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
47 1994–95 9 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada30 km Individual CWorld Championships1st
48 1994–95 11 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada10 km Individual CWorld Championships1st
49 1994–95 13 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada15 km Pursuit FWorld Championships1st
50 1994–95 19 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada50 km Individual FWorld Championships3rd
51 1994–95 25 March 1995 Sapporo, Japan15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
521995–9626 November 1995 Vuokatti, Finland10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
531995–969 December 1995 Davos, Switzerland30 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
541995–9613 December 1995 Brusson, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
551995–9616 December 1995 Santa Caterina, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
561995–9617 December 1995 Santa Caterina, Italy15 km Pursuit FWorld Cup3rd
571995–969 January 1996 Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia50 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
581995–9613 January 1996 Nové Město, Czech Republic15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
591995–9610 February 1996 Kavgolovo, Russia15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
601995–9624 February 1996 Trondheim, Norway30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
611995–969 March 1996 Falun, Sweden10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
621995–9610 March 1996 Falun, Sweden15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup1st
631996–9719 January 1997 Lahti, Finland30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
64 1997–98 22 November 1997 Beitostølen, Norway10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
65 1997–98 13 December 1997 Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
66 1997–98 8 March 1998 Lahti, Finland30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st

Team podiums

No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlaceTeammates
1 1986–87 17 February 1987 Oberstdorf, West Germany4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Championships2ndBatyuk / Devyatyarov / Sakhnov
2 1987–88 24 February 1988 Calgary, Canada4 × 10 km Relay FOlympic Games2ndSakhnov / Devyatyarov / Prokurorov
3 1988–89 5 March 1989 Oslo, Norway4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup2ndBadamshin / Sakhnov / Prokurorov
4 1988–89 12 March 1989 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup1stBadamshin / Sakhnov / Prokurorov
5 1989–90 1 March 1990 Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndBadamshin / Prokurorov / Botvinov
6 1989–90 16 March 1990 Vang, Norway4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup3rdBadamshin / Golubev / Botvinov
71991–9228 February 1992 Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1stKirilov / Botvinov / Prokurorov
81991–928 March 1992 Funäsdalen, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2ndKirilov / Botvinov / Prokurorov

Note: Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.