Bente Skari

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Bente Skari
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Competitor for  Norway
Olympic Games
Gold 2002 Salt Lake City 10 km classical
Silver 1998 Nagano 4 x 5 km
Silver 2002 Salt Lake City 4 × 5 km
Bronze 1998 Nagano 5 km classical
Bronze 2002 Salt Lake City 30 km classical
World Championships
Gold 1999 Ramsau 5 km
Gold 2001 Lahti 10 km
Gold 2001 Lahti 15 km
Gold 2003 Val di Fiemme 10 km
Gold 2003 Val di Fiemme 15 km
Silver 1997 Trondheim 4 x 5 km
Silver 2001 Lahti 4 x 5 km

Bente Skari, née Martinsen, (born 10 September 1972 in Oslo) is a former cross country skier from Nittedal, Norway. She is one of the most successful cross country skiers ever.

Career

She won her first Olympic medals in 1998, and won her first gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, coming from behind to beat the favourites Olga Danilova and Julija Tchepalova in the last kilometers of the 10 km classical event. She also won a bronze medal in 30 km classical as well as a silver medal in the relay.

Additionally, she won five gold medals (5 km: 1999, 10 km: 2001, 2003, and 15 km: 2001, 2003) from the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as two silver (4 x 5 km: 1997, 2001) medals. She won the overall cross-country skiing World Cup four times before retiring after the 2002/2003 season.

Skari also won the women's 30 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 2003. In 2001 she received the Holmenkollen medal (shared with Adam Małysz and Thomas Alsgaard). Her father, Odd Martinsen, earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1969. They are the only father-daughter combination to ever win this prestigious honour.

FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011

In 2007, Skari was named as the first woman race administrator in cross country skiing. She assisted in the 2007-08 Tour de Ski, working as an assistant technical delegate in the events held in the Czech Republic. This is part of the Norwegian Ski Federation's effort to promote more women in management positions in skiing.

Personal life

Bente Skari was named Martinsen before marrying Geir Skari in 1999. She is the mother of three children, Filip, Oda and Selma.

References

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