Vladimir Smirnov (skier)

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov (Template:Lang-ru; 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.<ref name=sr>Vladimir Smirnov. sports-reference.com</ref>

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

File:Stamp of Kazakhstan 042.jpg

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.<ref name=sr/>

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.<ref name=sr/> 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.<ref>Владимир Смирнов: «И после спорта судьба продолжает мне улыбаться». skisport.ru (interview in Russian) 25 October 2008</ref>

Career highlights

Olympic Games

1988 – Template:Flagicon Calgary 15px 2nd, 30 km C

1988 – Template:Flagicon Calgary 15px 3rd, 15 km C

1988 – Template:Flagicon Calgary 15px 2nd, 4x10 km relay

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lillehammer 15px 2nd, 10 km C

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lillehammer 15px 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lillehammer 15px 1st, 50 km C

1998 – Template:Flagicon Nagano 15px 3rd, 25 km M pursuit

World Ski Championships

1987 – Template:Flagicon Oberstdorf Template:Sica 2nd, 4x10 km relay

1989 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1991 – Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km C

1991 – Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km F

1993 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km C

1993 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1993 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Goca 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Goca 1st, 10 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Goca 1st, 25 km M pursuit

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Brca 3rd, 50 km F

Asian Winter Games

1999 – Template:Flagicon Gangwon Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1999 – Template:Flagicon Gangwon Template:Goca 1st, 4×10 km relay

1999 – Template:Flagicon Gangwon Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km F

World Cup overall

1985/86 – Template:Brca 3rd

1990/91 – Template:Goca 1st

1991/92 – Template:Brca 3rd

1992/93 – Template:Sica 2nd

1993/94 – Template:Goca 1st

1994/95 – Template:Sica 2nd

1995/96 – Template:Sica 2nd

1997/98 – Template:Brca 3rd

World Cup podiums

1984 – Template:Flagicon Murmansk Template:Sica 2nd, 15 km C

1985 – Template:Flagicon Labrador City Template:Sica 2nd, 15 km C

1986 – Template:Flagicon La Bresse Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km C

1986 – Template:Flagicon Kavgolovo Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1986 – Template:Flagicon Cogne Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km F

1986 – Template:Flagicon Davos Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km C

1988 – Template:Flagicon Kavgolovo Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1988 – Template:Flagicon Calgary Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km C

1988 – Template:Flagicon Calgary Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km C

1989 – Template:Flagicon Kavgolovo Template:Sica 2nd, 15 km C

1989 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1990 – Template:Flagicon Reit im Winkl Template:Goca 1st, 30 km F

1990 – Template:Flagicon Örnsköldsvik Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km C

1990 – Template:Flagicon Tauplitz Template:Brca 3rd, 25 km M pursuit

1990 – Template:Flagicon Davos Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1990 – Template:Flagicon Les Saisies Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1991 – Template:Flagicon Minsk Template:Goca 1st, 15 km F

1991 – Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km C

1991 – Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km F

1991 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km F

1991 – Template:Flagicon Silver Star Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1992 – Template:Flagicon Kavgolovo Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km C

1992 – Template:Flagicon Funäsdalen Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km F

1992 – Template:Flagicon Ramsau Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km F

1992 – Template:Flagicon Ramsau Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km C

1992 – Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme Template:Goca 1st, 30 km F

1993 – Template:Flagicon Bohinj Template:Goca 1st, 15 km F

1993 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km C

1993 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1993 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Goca 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1993 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km F

1993 – Template:Flagicon Santa Caterina Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1993 – Template:Flagicon Toblach Template:Goca 1st, 10 km C

1993 – Template:Flagicon Toblach Template:Goca 1st, 15 km F

1994 – Template:Flagicon Kavgolovo Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1994 – Template:Flagicon Oslo Template:Goca 1st, 15 km F

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lillehammer Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lillehammer Template:Sica 2nd, 25 km M pursuit

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lillehammer Template:Goca 1st, 50 km C

1994 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 1st, 15 km F

1994 – Template:Flagicon Kiruna Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1994 – Template:Flagicon Sappada Template:Brca 3rd, 10 km F

1995 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 1st, 15 km F

1995 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Brca 3rd, 30 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Oslo Template:Goca 1st, 50 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Goca 1st, 10 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Goca 1st 25 km M pursuit

1995 – Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay Template:Brca 3rd, 50 km F

1995 – Template:Flagicon Sapporo Template:Sica 2nd, 15 km F

1995 – Template:Flagicon Vuokatti Template:Goca 1st, 10 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Davos Template:Sica 2nd, 30 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Brusson Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km F

1995 – Template:Flagicon Santa Caterina Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1995 – Template:Flagicon Santa Caterina Template:Brca 3rd, 15 km F

1996 – Template:Flagicon Strbske Pleso Template:Goca 1st, 50 km F

1996 – Template:Flagicon Nove Mesto Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1996 – Template:Flagicon Kavgolovo Template:Sica 2nd, 15 km C

1996 – Template:Flagicon Trondheim Template:Goca 1st, 30 km F

1996 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Goca 1st, 10 km F

1996 – Template:Flagicon Falun Template:Goca 1st, 15 km C

1997 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 1st, 30 km C

1997 – Template:Flagicon Beitostoelen Template:Sica 2nd, 10 km C

1997 – Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme Template:Brca 3rd, 10 km C

1998 – Template:Flagicon Lahti Template:Goca 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

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:FIS cross-country skier
• Vladimir Smirnov at the 1998 Nagano Olympics