Larisa Lazutina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larisa Lazutina
Lazutina in 1998
Country	Russia
Full name	Larisa Yevgenyevna Lazutina
Born	Larisa Yevgenyevna Ptitsyna (1965-06-01) 1 June 1965 (age 60) Kondopoga, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
World Cup career
Seasons	17 – (1984–1987, 1989–1990, 1992–2002)
Individual wins	21
Team wins	33
Indiv. podiums	62
Team podiums	41
Indiv. starts	165
Team starts	44
Overall titles	2 – (1990, 1998)
Discipline titles	2 – (2 LD)
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Russia Olympic Games Gold 1994 Lillehammer 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1998 Nagano 5 km classical Gold 1998 Nagano 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit Silver 1998 Nagano 15 km classical Bronze 1998 Nagano 30 km freestyle Disqualified 2002 Salt Lake City 15 km freestyle Disqualified 2002 Salt Lake City 5 km + 5 km combined pursuit World Championships Gold 1993 Falun 5 km classical Gold 1993 Falun 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 5 km classical Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 15 km classical Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1997 Trondheim 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1999 Ramsau 30 km classical Gold 1999 Ramsau 4 × 5 km relay Gold 2001 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1993 Falun 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit Silver 2001 Lahti 5 km + 5 km combined pursuit Bronze 2001 Lahti 10 km classical Representing  Unified Team Olympic Games Gold 1992 Albertville 4 × 5 km relay Representing  Soviet Union World Championships Gold 1987 Oberstdorf 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1989 Lahti 30 km freestyle Bronze 1987 Oberstdorf 20 km freestyle Junior World Championships Gold 1985 Täsch 3 × 5 km relay

Larisa Yevgenyevna Lazutina, born on June 1, 1965, is a famous former cross-country skier from Russia. She was known for her amazing speed and endurance on the snow. Larisa competed for both the Soviet Union and Russia during her career. She won many medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships.

Larisa's Amazing Career

Larisa Lazutina started her Olympic journey in 1988. She quickly became a star in cross-country skiing. In 1992, she won her first Olympic gold medal as part of a team. She won another team gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Olympic Success in 1998

The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, were her most successful. Larisa won five medals there! She earned three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. This made her the most successful athlete at those Games. After her incredible performance, she received the title Hero of the Russian Federation from Boris Yeltsin, who was the president at the time.

World Championship Medals

Larisa also had a fantastic record at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. She won a total of sixteen medals. This included eleven gold medals, three silver, and two bronze. She was also the first woman to win the 30 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival three times. She won in 1995, 1998, and 2001.

Challenges in 2002

In 2002, Larisa competed in her fifth Olympics. She won two medals: a gold and a silver. However, she was later disqualified from these events. This happened because tests showed she had used a banned substance. The International Olympic Committee officially took away her 2002 Olympic medals in 2004. She also received a two-year ban from the International Ski Federation.

Holmenkollen Medal

In 1998, Larisa was given the Holmenkollen medal. This is a very special award in skiing. She shared it with other great skiers like Fred Børre Lundberg, Alexey Prokurorov, and Harri Kirvesniemi.

Sports Park Named After Her

In 2015, a sports park was opened in Odintsovo, Russia. It was named after Larisa Lazutina to honor her achievements. The park's full name is the Sports and Recreational Park of Hero of Russia Larisa Lazutina.

Personal Life

Larisa Lazutina is married to Gennady Lazutin, who is also a cross-country skier.

See also

In Spanish: Larisa Lazútina para niños

• List of female Heroes of the Russian Federation
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists