Vladimir Smirnov (skier)

For other people named Vladimir Smirnov, see Vladimir Smirnov (disambiguation).

Vladimir Smirnov
Vladimir Smirnov on 1 2007 stamp of Kazakhstan
Country Kazakhstan
 Sweden[1]
Full nameVladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov
Born (1964-03-07) 7 March 1964 (age 60)
Shuchinsk, Kokchetav Oblast, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Ski clubStockviks SF
World Cup career
Seasons16 – (1983–1998)
Starts132
Podiums66
Wins30
Overall titles2 – (1991, 1994)
Discipline titles0
Medal record
Representing the  Soviet Union
Representing  Kazakhstan
Men's cross-country skiing
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 4 2
World Championships 4 4 3
Total 5 8 5
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1994 Lillehammer 50 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1988 Calgary 30 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1988 Calgary 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1994 Lillehammer 10 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1994 Lillehammer 10 km + 15 km 
 combined pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Calgary 15 km classical
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Nagano 10 km + 15 km 
 combined pursuit
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Lahti 30 km classical
Gold medal – first place 1995 Thunder Bay 10 km classical
Gold medal – first place 1995 Thunder Bay 10 km + 15 km 
 combined pursuit
Gold medal – first place 1995 Thunder Bay 30 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1987 Oberstdorf 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1991 Val di Fiemme 30 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1993 Falun 10 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1993 Falun 10 km + 15 km 
 combined pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Falun 30 km classical
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Thunder Bay 50 km freestyle
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1983 Kuopio 3 × 5 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1984 Trondheim 3 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1983 Kuopio 15 km
Silver medal – second place 1984 Trondheim 15 km
Bronze medal – third place 1982 Murau 15 km
Bronze medal – third place 1982 Murau 3 × 5 km relay
Asian Winter Games
Gold medal – first place 1999 Gangwon 15 km classical
Gold medal – first place 1999 Gangwon 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1999 Gangwon 30 km freestyle

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov (Russian: Влади́мир Миха́йлович Смирно́в; born 7 March 1964) is a Kazakh former cross-country skier of Russian descent who raced from the 1982 until 1991 for the USSR and, later, for Kazakhstan. He is the first Olympic champion from independent Kazakhstan and the most decorated Olympian in history of Kazakhstan. He is also a vice president of the International Biathlon Union. Smirnov is a former member of International Olympic Committee.[2]

Early life[edit]

Smirnov was born to Russian parents in Shchuchinsk, Kazakh SSR.[3] During the Soviet period, he trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Alma-Ata.

Career[edit]

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 15 km pursuit event.[2]

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.[2] In 2011, Smirnov participated at the opening ceremony of 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana.

Personal life[edit]

Smirnov moved to Sweden in 1991 and lives in the 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. He became a Swedish citizen in 1998.[1] Smirnov speaks four languages: Russian, German, English and Swedish.[4]

Cross-country skiing results[edit]

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[5]

Olympic Games[edit]

  • 7 medals – (1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze)
 Year   Age   10 km   15 km   Pursuit   30 km  50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1988 23 — Bronze — Silver — Silver
1992 27 13 — 8 9 35 5
1994 29 Silver — Silver 10 Gold —
1998 33 4 — Bronze 12 8 —

World Championships[edit]

  • 11 medals – (4 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze)
 Year   Age   10 km   15 km 
 classical  		 15 km 
 freestyle  		 Pursuit   30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1985 20 — 16 — — — — 6
1987 22 — 5 — — — — Silver
1989 24 — 10 — — Gold 21 5
1991 26 — — Bronze — Silver — 5
1993 28 Silver — — Silver Bronze 21 —
1995 30 Gold — — Gold Gold Bronze —
1997 32 4 — — 8 42 19 —

World Cup[edit]

Season titles[edit]

  • 2 titles – (2 overall)
Season
Discipline
1991 Overall
1994 Overall

Season standings[edit]

 Season   Age 
Overall Long Distance Sprint
1983 19 59 — —
1984 20 31 — —
1985 21 30 — —
1986 22 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) — —
1987 23 5 — —
1988 24 5 — —
1989 25 5 — —
1990 26 7 — —
1991 27 1st place, gold medalist(s) — —
1992 28 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) — —
1993 29 2nd place, silver medalist(s) — —
1994 30 1st place, gold medalist(s) — —
1995 31 2nd place, silver medalist(s) — —
1996 32 2nd place, silver medalist(s) — —
1997 33 9 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 37
1998 34 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)

Individual podiums[edit]

  • 30 victories
  • 66 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1  1983–84  23 March 1984 Soviet Union Murmansk, Soviet Union 15 km Individual World Cup 2nd
2  1985–86  8 December 1985 Canada Labrador City, Canada 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
3 1 January 1986 France La Bresse, France 30 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
4 23 February 1986 Soviet Union Kavgolovo, Soviet Union 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
5  1986–87  13 December 1986 Italy Cogne, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
6 20 December 1986 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 30 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
7 1987–88 9 January 1988 Soviet Union Kavgolovo, Soviet Union 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
8 15 February 1988 Canada Calgary, Canada 30 km Individual C Olympic Games[1] 2nd
9 19 February 1988 15 km Individual C Olympic Games[1] 3rd
10  1988–89  7 January 1989 Soviet Union Kavgolovo, Soviet Union 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
11 18 February 1989 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual C World Championships[1] 1st
12 1989–90 25 February 1990 West Germany Reit im Winkl, West Germany 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
13 10 March 1990 Sweden Örnsköldsvik, Sweden 30 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
14  1990–91  9 December 1990 Austria Tauplitzalm, Austria 10 km + 15 km Individual C/F World Cup 2nd
15 15 December 1990 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
16 19 December 1990 France Les Saisies, France 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
17 5 January 1991 Soviet Union Minsk, Soviet Union 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
18 7 February 1991 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 30 km Individual C World Championships[1] 2nd
19 9 February 1991 15 km Individual F World Championships[1] 3rd
20 3 March 1991 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
21  1991–92  7 December 1991 Canada Silver Star, Canada 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
22 4 January 1992 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 30 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
23 7 March 1992 Sweden Funäsdalen, Sweden 30 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
24  1992–93  12 December 1992 Austria Ramsau, Austria 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
25 13 December 1992 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 3rd
26 18 December 1992 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
27 16 January 1993 Slovenia Bohinj, Slovenia 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
28 20 February 1993 Sweden Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual C World Championships[1] 3rd
29 22 February 1993 10 km Individual C World Championships[1] 2nd
30 24 February 1993 15 km Pursuit F World Championships[1] 2nd
31 7 March 1993 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
32 1993–94 11 December 1993 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
33 21 December 1993 Italy Toblach, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
34 21 December 1993 15 km Pursuit F World Cup 1st
35 9 January 1994 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
36 15 January 1994 Norway Oslo, Norway 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
37 17 February 1994 Norway Lillehammer, Norway 10 km Individual C Olympic Games[1] 2nd
38 19 February 1994 15 km Pursuit F Olympic Games[1] 2nd
39 27 February 1994 50 km Individual C Olympic Games[1] 1st
40 5 March 1994 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
41  1994–95  27 November 1994 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
42 20 December 1994 Italy Sappada, Italy 10 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
43 27 January 1995 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
44 29 January 1995 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st
45 4 February 1995 Sweden Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
46 11 February 1995 Norway Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual C World Cup 1st
47 9 March 1995 Canada Thunder Bay, Canada 30 km Individual C World Championships[1] 1st
48 11 March 1995 10 km Individual C World Championships[1] 1st
49 13 March 1995 15 km Pursuit F World Championships[1] 1st
50 19 March 1995 50 km Individual F World Championships[1] 3rd
51 25 March 1995 Japan Sapporo, Japan 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
52 1995–96 26 November 1995 Finland Vuokatti, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
53 9 December 1995 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 30 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
54 13 December 1995 Italy Brusson, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
55 16 December 1995 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
56 17 December 1995 15 km Pursuit F World Cup 3rd
57 9 January 1996 Slovakia Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia 50 km Individual F World Cup 1st
58 13 January 1996 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
59 10 February 1996 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
60 24 February 1996 Norway Trondheim, Norway 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
61 9 March 1996 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
62 10 March 1996 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st
63 1996–97 19 January 1997 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
64  1997–98  22 November 1997 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
65 13 December 1997 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
66 8 March 1998 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st

Team podiums[edit]

  • 2 victories
  • 8 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates
1  1986–87  17 February 1987 West Germany Oberstdorf, West Germany 4 × 10 km Relay F World Championships[1] 2nd Batyuk / Devyatyarov / Sakhnov
2  1987–88  24 February 1988 Canada Calgary, Canada 4 × 10 km Relay F Olympic Games[1] 2nd Sakhnov / Devyatyarov / Prokurorov
3  1988–89  5 March 1989 Norway Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Badamshin / Sakhnov / Prokurorov
4 12 March 1989 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 1st Badamshin / Sakhnov / Prokurorov
5  1989–90  1 March 1990 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Badamshin / Prokurorov / Botvinov
6 16 March 1990 Norway Vang, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Badamshin / Golubev / Botvinov
7 1991–92 28 February 1992 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Kirilov / Botvinov / Prokurorov
8 8 March 1992 Sweden Funäsdalen, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Kirilov / Botvinov / Prokurorov

Note: 1 Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Österberg, Tobias (15 December 1998). "Smirre blir svensk". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Vladimir Smirnov". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Владимир Смирнов объяснил, почему после распада СССР он решил выступать за Казахстан" [Vladimir Smirnov explained, why he decided to represent Kazakhstan after the dissolution of the Soviet Union]. sports.kz (in Russian). 2 April 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021. Я русский, но родился и вырос именно в Казахстане (I am a Russian, but I was born in Kazakhstan and grew up there)
  4. ^ Владимир Смирнов: «И после спорта судьба продолжает мне улыбаться». skisport.ru (interview in Russian) 25 October 2008
  5. ^ "SMIRNOV Vladimir". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 22 January 2018.

Further reading[edit]

  • Henry, Notaker (1994). Lillehammer 1994: A Fairy-Tale of Images. Oslo: Dreyers Forlag. ISBN 82-504-2145-0.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vladimir Smirnov (skier).
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  Kazakhstan
Nagano 1998 		Succeeded by
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