Yelena Välbe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yelena Välbe
Yelena Välbe in 2021
Country	Russia
Full name	Yelena Valeryevna Välbe
Born	(1968-04-20) 20 April 1968 (age 57) Magadan, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Height	164 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Spouse(s)	Urmas Välbe (divorced in 2005)
Ski club	CSKA Moscow
World Cup career
Seasons	11– (1987, 1989–1998)
Individual wins	45
Team wins	24
Indiv. podiums	81
Team podiums	32
Indiv. starts	117
Team starts	33
Overall titles	5 – (1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997)
Discipline titles	1 – (1 LD: 1997)
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Olympic Games Representing  Russia Gold 1994 Lillehammer 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1998 Nagano 4 × 5 km relay Representing  Unified Team Gold 1992 Albertville 4 × 5 km relay Bronze 1992 Albertville 5 km classical Bronze 1992 Albertville 15 km classical Bronze 1992 Albertville 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit Bronze 1992 Albertville 30 km freestyle World Championships Representing  Russia Gold 1993 Falun 15 km classical Gold 1993 Falun 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 30 km freestyle Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1997 Trondheim 5 km classical Gold 1997 Trondheim 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit Gold 1997 Trondheim 15 km freestyle Gold 1997 Trondheim 30 km classical Gold 1997 Trondheim 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1995 Thunder Bay 15 km classical Representing  Soviet Union Gold 1989 Lahti 10 km freestyle Gold 1989 Lahti 30 km freestyle Gold 1991 Val di Fiemme 10 km freestyle Gold 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km classical Gold 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1989 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1991 Val di Fiemme 30 km freestyle Junior World Championships Representing  Soviet Union Gold 1987 Asiago 15 km freestyle Gold 1987 Asiago 3 × 5 km relay Silver 1986 Lake Placid 5 km classical Silver 1986 Lake Placid 3 × 5 km relay Silver 1987 Asiago 5 km classical Bronze 1986 Lake Placid 15 km freestyle

Yelena Valeryevna Välbe (Russian: Елена Валерьевна Вяльбе, born 20 April 1968) is a famous Russian former cross-country skier. She holds a record of 14 gold medals at the FIS World Championships. This includes winning all five gold medals at the 1997 championships. Yelena also earned three Olympic gold medals, all in team relay races. She won four bronze medals at various Winter Olympic Games. She also won the overall World Cup title five times.

After her skiing career, Yelena Välbe became involved in sports management. She was elected President of the Russian Cross-Country Ski Association in 2010. She also became the manager of the Russian National Cross-Country Team in 2012. In 2021, she was chosen to be part of the FIS Council. However, her public statements about a conflict led to her removal from the FIS Council in 2022.

Skiing Career Highlights

World Championship Success

Yelena Välbe was incredibly successful at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. She won a total of 14 gold medals. Five of these gold medals were won in team relay races. She also earned three silver medals at these championships. A truly amazing achievement was winning all five gold medals at the 1997 championships in Trondheim. These wins included races like the 5 km, 15 km, 30 km, a combined pursuit race, and the 4 × 5 km relay.

Olympic Medals and World Cup Titles

Yelena also won three gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games. All of these were in team relay events. She also earned four bronze medals in individual races. At the 1992 Winter Olympics, she competed in every cross-country skiing event. She managed to win a medal in all of them, which is a rare feat. Yelena also won the overall FIS Cross-Country World Cup title five times during her career.

Life After Competing

Leadership in Skiing

After she stopped competing, Yelena Välbe continued to be involved in cross-country skiing. In 2004, she ran for president of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, but she did not win. Later, in 2010, she was elected as the President of the Russian Cross-Country Ski Association. In 2012, she took on the role of manager for the Russian Cross-Country Team. She helped prepare the team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. She also managed the Russian team during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

International Sports Role

In 2021, Yelena Välbe was elected to the FIS Council. This is an important international sports organization. However, in 2022, after she made public comments about a conflict, several European Ski Federations expressed concerns. Representatives from Sweden, Poland, and Finland openly disagreed with her staying on the council. As a result, she was removed from her position. She received the fewest votes among all 23 candidates in the election.

Involvement in Politics

Yelena Välbe has also been involved in politics in Russia. She was a member of the political council for the Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. She ran in the 2021 Russian legislative election as part of the United Russia party list. She won in the party's primary elections and led a group for the party in certain regions. However, after winning the election, she decided not to become a deputy. Her position was then given to someone else. In 2023, Yelena Välbe joined a group called PutinTeam. This group supports Vladimir Putin for the 2024 Russian presidential election.

Personal Life

Yelena Välbe was born Yelena Trubitsyna. Her father, Valery Ivanovich Trubitsyn, was born in Ukraine. They are no longer in contact. As a child, Yelena lived with her mother, Galina Grigorievna Synkova, and her maternal grandparents.

Yelena was married to Estonian cross-country skier Urmas Välbe. They had a son named Franz in 1988. They separated the year after they got married and officially divorced in 2005.

Olympic Games Results

• 7 medals – (3 gold, 4 bronze)

World Championships Results

• 17 medals – (14 gold, 3 silver)

World Cup Season Standings

Season	Age
		Overall	Long Distance	Sprint
1987	18	23	N/A	N/A
1989	20		N/A	N/A
1990	21		N/A	N/A
1991	22		N/A	N/A
1992	23		N/A	N/A
1993	24		N/A	N/A
1994	25		N/A	N/A
1995	26		N/A	N/A
1996	27		N/A	N/A
1997	28
1998	29	12	5	18

Individual World Cup Podiums

• 45 victories
• 81 podiums

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place
1	1988–89	10 December 1988	La Féclaz, France	5 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
2		14 December 1988	Campra, Switzerland	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
3		17 December 1988	Davos, Switzerland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	3rd
4		7 January 1989	Kavgolovo, Soviet Union	15 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
5		19 February 1989	Lahti, Finland	10 km Individual F	World Championships	1st
6		25 February 1989		30 km Individual F	World Championships	1st
7		11 March 1989	Falun, Sweden	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
8	1989–90	10 December 1989	Soldier Hollow, United States	15 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
9		18 February 1990	Pontresina, Switzerland	15 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
10		20 February 1990	Val di Fiemme, Italy	10 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
11		2 March 1990	Lahti, Finland	5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
12		7 March 1990	Sollefteå, Sweden	30 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
13	1990–91	8 December 1990	Tauplitzalm, Austria	10 km + 15 km Pursuit C/F	World Cup	2nd
14		15 December 1990	Davos, Switzerland	15 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
15		15 December 1990	Les Saisies, France	5 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F	World Cup	1st
16		5 January 1991	Minsk, Soviet Union	30 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
17		8 February 1991	Val di Fiemme, Italy	15 km Individual C	World Championships	1st
18		10 February 1991		10 km Individual F	World Championships	1st
19		16 February 1991		30 km Individual F	World Championships	2nd
20		2 March 1991	Lahti, Finland	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
21		9 March 1991	Falun, Sweden	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
22		16 March 1991	Oslo, Norway	5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
23	1991–92	7 December 1991	Silver Star, Canada	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
24		8 December 1991		10 km Pursuit C	World Cup	2nd
25		14 December 1991	Thunder Bay, Canada	5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
26		4 January 1992	Kavgolovo, Russia	15 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
27		9 February 1992	Albertville, France	15 km Individual C	Olympic Games	3rd
28		13 February 1992		5 km Individual C	Olympic Games	3rd
29		15 February 1992		10 km Pursuit F	Olympic Games	3rd
30		21 February 1992		10 km Pursuit F	Olympic Games	3rd
31		14 March 1992	Vang, Norway	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
32	1992–93	12 December 1992	Ramsau, Austria	5 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
33		18 December 1992	Val di Fiemme, Italy	15 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
34		3 January 1993	Kavgolovo, Russia	30 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
35		9 January 1993	Ulrichen, Switzerland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
36		16 January 1993	Cogne, Italy	10 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
37		19 February 1993	Falun, Sweden	15 km Individual C	World Championships	1st
38		10 March 1993	Lillehammer, Norway	10 km Pursuit F	World Cup	3rd
39		19 March 1993	Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
40	1993–94	11 December 1993	Santa Caterina, Italy	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
41		18 December 1993	Davos, Switzerland	10 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
42		21 December 1993	Toblach, Italy	15 km Individual C	World Cup	3rd
43		8 January 1994	Kavgolovo, Russia	10 km Individual C	World Cup	3rd
44		12 March 1994	Falun, Sweden	10 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
45	1994–95	27 November 1994	Kiruna, Sweden	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
46		14 December 1994	Tauplitzalm, Austria	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
47		17 December 1994	Sappada, Italy	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
48		20 December 1994		5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
49		7 January 1995	Östersund, Sweden	30 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
50		14 January 1995	Nové Město, Czech Republic	15 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
51		4 February 1995	Falun, Sweden	10 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
52		5 February 1995		10 km Pursuit F	World Cup	1st
53		10 March 1995	Thunder Bay, Canada	5 km Individual C	World Championships	2nd
54		18 March 1995		30 km Individual F	World Championships	1st
55		25 March 1995	Sapporo, Japan	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
56	1995–96	25 November 1995	Vuokatti, Finland	5 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
57		29 November 1995	Gällivare, Sweden	10 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
58		9 December 1995	Davos, Switzerland	5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
59		10 December 1995		10 km Pursuit C	World Cup	2nd
60		13 December 1995	Brusson, Italy	10 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
61		9 January 1996	Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia	30 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
62		13 January 1996	Nové Město, Czech Republic	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
63		2 February 1996	Seefeld, Austria	5 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
64		4 February 1996	Reit im Winkl, Germany	1.0 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
65		25 February 1996	Trondheim, Norway	10 km Pursuit F	World Cup	2nd
66		10 March 1996	Falun, Sweden	15 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
67	1996–97	23 November 1996	Kiruna, Sweden	5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
68		7 December 1996	Davos, Switzerland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
69		14 December 1996	Brusson, Italy	15 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
70		5 January 1997	Kavgolovo, Russia	15 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
71		11 January 1997	Hakuba, Japan	5 km Individual C	World Cup	3rd
72		12 January 1997		10 km Pursuit F	World Cup	3rd
73		18 January 1997	Lahti, Finland	15 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
74		21 February 1997	Trondheim, Norway	15 km Individual F	World Championships	1st
75		23 February 1997		5 km Individual C	World Championships	1st
76		24 February 1997		10 km Pursuit F	World Championships	1st
77		1 March 1997		30 km Individual C	World Championships	1st
78		8 March 1997	Falun, Sweden	5 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
79		11 March 1997	Sunne, Sweden	1.0 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
80		15 March 1997	Oslo, Norway	30 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd
81	1997–98	20 December 1997	Davos, Switzerland	15 km Individual C	World Cup	1st

Team World Cup Podiums

• 24 victories – (24 RL)
• 32 podiums – (30 RL, 2 TS)

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place	Teammate(s)
1	1986–87	1 March 1987	Lahti, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Ordina / Lazutina / Reztsova
2	1988–89	23 February 1989	Lahti, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Championships	2nd	Shamshurina / Smetanina / Tikhonova
3		12 March 1989	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Lazutina / Smetanina / Tikhonova
4	1989–90	11 March 1990	Örnsköldsvik, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Yegorova / Lazutina / Tikhonova
5	1990–91	15 February 1991	Val di Fiemme, Italy	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Championships	1st	Yegorova / Smetanina / Tikhonova
6		10 March 1991	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	1st	Nageykina / Yegorova / Tikhonova
7		15 March 1991	Oslo, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Nageykina / Smetanina/ Tikhonova
8	1991–92	18 February 1992	Albertville, France	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	Olympic Games	1st	Smetanina/ Lazutina / Yegorova
9		8 March 1992	Funäsdalen, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Lazutina / Nageykina/ Yegorova
10	1992–93	26 February 1993	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Championships	1st	Lazutina / Gavrylyuk / Yegorova
11	1993–94	22 February 1994	Lillehammer, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	Olympic Games	1st	Lazutina / Gavrylyuk / Yegorova
12		4 March 1994	Lahti, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Nageykina / Lazutina / Gavrylyuk
13		13 March 1994	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Nageykina / Gavrylyuk / Lazutina
14	1994–95	15 January 1995	Nové Město, Czech Republic	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	1st	Danilova /Gavrylyuk /Lazutina
15		29 January 1995	Lahti, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Zavyalova / Gavrylyuk / Lazutina
16		7 February 1995	Hamar, Norway	4 × 3 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Danilova / Gavrylyuk /Lazutina
17		12 February 1995	Oslo, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Danilova / Lazutina / Gavrylyuk
18		17 March 1995	Thunder Bay, Canada	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Championships	1st	Danilova / Lazutina /Gavrylyuk
19		26 March 1995	Sapporo, Japan	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Gavrylyuk / Lazutina / Martynova
20	1995–96	17 December 1995	Santa Caterina, Italy	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	1st	Lazutina / Gavrylyuk /Yegorova
21		14 January 1996	Nové Město, Czech Republic	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	1st	Nageykina / Lazutina / Gavrylyuk
22		2 February 1996	Seefeld, Austria	6 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F	World Cup	3rd	Zavyalova
23		10 March 1996	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Gavrylyuk / Lazutina / Yegorova
24	1996–97	24 November 1996	Kiruna, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	1st	Gavrylyuk/Lazutina/ Yegorova
25		8 December 1996	Davos, Switzerland	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Gavrylyuk / Lazutina / Yegorova
26		15 December 1996	Brusson, Italy	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Gavrylyuk / Danilova / Yegorova
27		19 January 1997	Lahti, Finland	8 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F	World Cup	2nd	Gavrylyuk
28		28 February 1997	Trondheim, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Championships	1st	Danilova/ Lazutina / Gavrylyuk
29		9 March 1997	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Danilova /Lazutina / Gavrylyuk
30		16 March 1997	Oslo, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Danilova /Gavrylyuk / Nageykina
31	1997–98	7 December 1997	Santa Caterina, Italy	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Chepalova / Lazutina/ Danilova
32		14 December 1997	Val di Fiemme, Italy	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	1st	Nageykina / Lazutina / Danilova

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

See also

In Spanish: Yelena Välbe para niños