Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov (skier)

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Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov (Russian: Влади́мир Миха́йлович Смирно́в; born March 7, 1964, Sсhuchinsk, Tselinograd Oblast, Kazakh SSR) is an ethnicly Russian Kazakhstani former cross country skier who raced from the mid-1980s until 1998 for the USSR and, later, for his native country. Despite racing for Kazakhstan after the demise of Soviet Union, Smirnov declared his nationality being Russian. In Soviet time he trained at Armed Forces sports society in Alma-Ata.

In 1994, he received the Holmenkollen Medal (shared with Lyubov Yegorova and Espen Bredesen).

[edit] Career

Smirnov made his debut in the Cross-country skiing World Cup on December 18, 1982 at Davos in a 15 km race, obtaining a 17th place. His first victory came in 1986, a classic style 15 km in Kavgolovo (URSS). Smirnov gained a total of 29 victories in the World Cup, with 22 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.

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 uncertain nationality situation, as well 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 (who calls him "Smirre"), even participating with Dæhlie in several popular Norwegian TV-shows.

Smirnov also 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 June 22, 2006.

[edit] External links

• FIS-Ski: Vladimir Smirnov - statistics. KAZ Nationality
• Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file (Norwegian)
• Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file (Norwegian)
• Profile for 1998 Olympics