Kristina Šmigun-Vähi

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
Kristina Šmigun in Otepää in 2006
Personal information
Born	(1977-02-23) 23 February 1977 Tartu, Estonia
Professional information
Club	Oti Sportclub
Skis	Fischer
World Cup
Seasons	1994–2010
Wins	16
Additional podiums	33
Total podiums	49
Medal record Women's cross country skiing Competitor for  Estonia Olympic Games Gold 2006 Turin 10 km classical Gold 2006 Turin 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit Silver 2010 Vancouver 10 km freestyle World Championships Gold 2003 Val di Fiemme 5 km + 5 km double pursuit Silver 2003 Val di Fiemme 10 km Silver 2003 Val di Fiemme 15 km Silver 1999 Ramsau 15 km Bronze 2003 Val di Fiemme 30 km Bronze 1999 Ramsau 30 km
Updated on 13 December 2009.

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi (born 23 February 1977 in Tartu) is a former and so far most successful Estonian female cross-country skier. Her parents, Anatoli Šmigun and Rutt Rehemaa were both prominent Nordic skiers. Kristina Šmigun-Vähi was coached by her father.

On 12 February 2006, she won the Winter Olympics gold medal for the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit, becoming the first Estonian woman to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. Four days later, she won a second gold medal in the 10 km classical.

On 15 February 2010, she won her third Olympic medal, a silver in the 10 km freestyle race. With two golds and one silver, Kristina Šmigun-Vähi is the most successful Estonian athlete in Olympic history (summer or winter), tying the record of men's cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu.

Šmigun-Vähi has also found success at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, earning six medals. This included one gold (2003: 5 km + 5 km double pursuit), three silvers (1999: 15 km, 2003: 10 km, 15 km), and two bronzes (1999, 2003: both in 30 km).

On 2 July 2010, Šmigun-Vähi announced that she will quit her professional sport career to focus on her family and her daughter Victoria-Kris.

World Cup overall results

Individual World Cup races

Kristina Šmigun and Kateřina Neumannová in 2006

16 wins (14 Individual, 2 Sprint)

Date	Location	Race
11 March 2007	Lahti	10k
18 December 2004	Ramsau am Dachstein	15k
28 November 2004	Kuusamo	10k
21 December 2003	Ramsau am Dachstein	Pursuit
6 December 2003	Toblach	15k
29 November 2003	Kuusamo	Pursuit
22 November 2003	Beitostoelen	10k
4 January 2003	Kavgolovo	5k
23 November 2002	Kiruna	5k
2 March 2002	Lahti	10k
22 December 2001	Ramsau am Dachstein	15k
3 March 2000	Lahti	Sprint
16 February 2000	Ulrichen	5k
28 December 1999	Garmisch-Partenkirchen	Sprint
10 December 1999	Sappada	10k
12 January 1999	Nové Město	15k

Personal life

Kristina is married to her long-time manager Kristjan-Thor Vähi (07.07.2007). She did not participate in the 2007–08 season due to pregnancy and she also missed the following 2008–2009 season. Her daughter Victoria-Kris was born in June 2008. Kristina had a son in March 2011.

See also

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games

References

• Kristina Šmigun-Vähi at the International Ski Federation

External links

• Media related to Kristina Šmigun-Vähi at Wikimedia Commons