Raisa Smetanina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raisa Smetanina
Smetanina on a 2013 Russian coin
Country	Russia
Born	(1952-02-29) 29 February 1952 (age 73) Mokhcha, Izhemsky District, Komi ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Ski club	VSS
World Cup career
Seasons	11 – (1982–1992)
Individual wins	3
Team wins	3
Indiv. podiums	16
Team podiums	9
Indiv. starts	52
Team starts	10
Overall titles	0 – (2nd in 1984)
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Unified Team Olympic Games Gold 1992 Albertville 4 × 5 km relay Representing Soviet Union Olympic Games Gold 1976 Innsbruck 10 km Gold 1976 Innsbruck 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1980 Lake Placid 5 km Silver 1976 Innsbruck 5 km Silver 1980 Lake Placid 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1984 Sarajevo 10 km Silver 1984 Sarajevo 20 km Silver 1988 Calgary 10 km classical Bronze 1988 Calgary 20 km freestyle World Championships Gold 1974 Falun 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1982 Oslo 20 km Gold 1985 Seefeld 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1978 Lahti 10 km Silver 1982 Oslo 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1989 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Bronze 1974 Falun 5 km Bronze 1978 Lahti 5 km Bronze 1978 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Bronze 1980 Falun 20 km

Raisa Petrovna Smetanina was born on February 29, 1952. She is a famous Komi cross-country skier. She competed for the Soviet Union and later for the Unified Team in the Winter Olympics. Raisa made history by becoming the first woman to win ten medals at the Winter Olympics!

Raisa Smetanina's Amazing Career

Raisa Smetanina competed in five Olympic Games. She represented the Soviet team four times. Then, she competed once for the Unified Team.

Olympic Successes

At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Raisa won two gold medals and one silver medal. She was one of the most successful athletes at those Games.

In the 1992 Winter Olympics, Raisa was 39 years old. She won another gold medal in the 4 × 5 km relay race. This made her the first woman ever to win ten Winter Olympic medals. At that time, she was also the oldest woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal.

World Championship Achievements

Raisa also had great success at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. She won four gold medals there. These included a 20 km race in 1982 and three 4 × 5 km relay races in 1974, 1985, and 1991.

She also earned three silver medals and four bronze medals at these championships. Raisa won three times at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Norway. She won the 10 km race once in 1975 and the 5 km race twice in 1975 and 1979.

In 1979, Raisa Smetanina received the Holmenkollen Medal. This is a very special award in skiing. She was also given the Order of Friendship of Peoples in 1984.

Olympic Medals and Results

Raisa Smetanina won a total of 10 Olympic medals. She earned 4 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze medal.

World Championship Medals

Raisa Smetanina earned 11 medals at the World Championships. She won 4 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals.

World Cup Highlights

Raisa Smetanina competed in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup for 11 seasons. She finished second overall in the 1983–84 season. She had 3 individual victories and was on the podium (top three) 16 times in individual races. She also had 3 team victories and 9 team podium finishes.

More About Raisa Smetanina

• List of multiple Winter Olympic medalists
• List of multiple Olympic medalists

See also

In Spanish: Raísa Smetánina para niños