Raisa smetanina biography

Over a long career that encompassed five Olympics, Raisa Smetanina compiled one of the greatest records of any female cross-country skier. She grew up in an area near the Ural Mountains called Komi, where she learned to ski in the frigid winters.

A decided loner, she grew up as an only child, and remained single throughout her long career, focusing almost exclusively on her skiing. She began skiing in and was first named to the Soviet national team in

Smetanina first came to international attention at the World Championships, where she finished third in the 5 km and helped the Soviet relay team to win the gold.

Galina kulakova

This led to her greatest Olympic performance at Innsbruck in She competed in three events, medaling in all three, with a silver at 5 km, and golds in the 10 km and the relay race.

Smetanina competed at the Olympic Winter Games in , , , , and , retiring after the Albertville Olympics.

During that time, she won 10 Olympic medals, including four gold. Two of the gold medals c