Raisa Smetanina

Raisa Petrovna Smetanina (Russian: Раиса Петровна Сметанина; born 29 February 1952) is a Soviet/Russian cross-country skiing champion of Komi descent. She is the first woman in history to win ten Winter Olympic medals (Stefania Belmondo being the second, Marit Bjørgen the third, and Ireen Wüst the fourth). Smetanina took part in five Olympics, representing the Soviet team four times and the Unified Team once. In particular, Smetanina won two gold and one silver medals at the 1976 Winter Olympics, becoming the most successful athlete there, along with Rosi Mittermaier of West Germany.

In the 1992 Winter Olympics, at the age of thirty-nine, Smetanina won a further gold medal competing for the Unified Team in the 4 × 5 km relay, becoming the first woman to win ten Winter Olympic medals and at that time the oldest woman to win a Winter Olympic gold.

Smetanina also had successes at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, winning four golds (20 km (1982), and 4 × 5 km relay (1974, 1985, and 1991), three silvers (10 km (1978), and 4 × 5 km relay (1982, 1989)), and four bronzes (4 × 5 km relay (1978), 5 km (1974, 1978), and 20 km (1980)). She also won three times at the Holmenkollen ski festival, once in the 10 km (1975) and twice in the 5 km (1975 and 1979).

In 1979, Smetanina received the Holmenkollen medal (shared with Erik Håker and Ingemar Stenmark). She was also awarded Order of Friendship of Peoples (1984).

Cross-country skiing results

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

Olympic Games

• 10 medals – (4 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze)

World Championships

• 11 medals – (4 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze)

World Cup

Season standings

Season	Age	Overall
1982	30	21
1983	31	8
1984	32
1985	33	8
1986	34	14
1987	35	10
1988	36	6
1989	37	11
1990	38	13
1991	39	14
1992	40	18

Individual podiums

• 3 victories
• 16 podiums

Team podiums

• 3 victories
• 9 podiums