Smirnov, Vladimir Mikhailovich (skier)

Born in 1964 in with. Airtav of the Kokchetav region of the Kazakh SSR. He started skiing at an early school age. The first trainer was a physical education teacher Vladimir Bratashov. Then he trained with the honored trainer of the Kazakh SSR Alexander Ungefuk.

At the age of 15 at the USSR Championship among young men in 1979 he took second and fourth places and was first included in the youth ski team of the USSR. Since 1981, he began performing at the junior world championships, where he won the relay races as part of the team.

He participated in seven World Championships, four times won a gold medal (1987, 1989, 1993, 1995), as well as 4 silver and 3 bronze medals. Twice won the World Cup: 1991/92 and 1993/94. Repeatedly became the champion of the Soviet Union. Recognized as the best athlete of the year by the Asian Journalists Congress in 1996.

He also participated in four Olympic Games: XV Olympic Winter Games, Calgary, 1988, 30 km: silver medal, 15 km: bronze medal, 4 × 10 km relay race: silver medal, XVI Olympic Winter Games, Albertville, 1992, XVII Olympic Games Winter Games, Lillehammer, 1994: 50 km classic (gold medal), 10 km classic (silver medal), 15 km pursuit (silver medal), XVIII Olympic Winter Games, Nagano, 1998: 15 km (bronze medal).

From 1980 to 1992, he played in the USSR national team, representing Kazakhstan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, living and training abroad, in all important competitions it always appeared under the flag of Kazakhstan (1992-1998). He became the Olympic champion in 1994, representing the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Performances in big sport finished in 1999. At the 110th extraordinary session of the International Olympic Committee, held in December 1999 in Lausanne, he was elected its full member. ^[one]

At the Nagano Olympics, athletes V. Smirnov was elected to the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee. ^[2] In 2000 he was elected a member of the IOC Executive Committee. ^[3]

In the years 2002-2010. was the president of the Biathlon Federation of Kazakhstan. ^[four]

In 2004-2005 worked as an assistant to the sports director of the International Biathlon Union . ^[four]

In 2006—2010. Smirnov was elected vice president of sport by the SME Congress. ^[four]

In 2007 he was elected the first Vice-President of the Association of Skiing in Kazakhstan. ^[four]

In 2005-2014. He worked as Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of Scania Kazakhstan, General Director of Scania Central Asia LLP, and Scania's CIS adviser. ^[four]

He wrote the books “Smirre” together with Marit Christensen ( Smirre is a fox from the tale of Selma Lagerlöf “ A wonderful journey of Niels with wild geese ”) ^[5] and “Winning Man” with A. Arich, P. E. Isaksen, L. Nelding, T. Ayan. ^[6]

He headed the committee for the nomination of Almaty for the 2014 Winter Olympics . ^[four]

Since 2014 - General Director of the Corporate Fund "Presidential Professional Sports Club" Astana ". ^[4]

Being an active person, not deprived of an entrepreneurial spirit, V. Smirnov became the founder and is the owner of the Vasabryggeri lemonade company. Founder of Vladismir AB, Vladimir SMIRRE Smirnov AB, ROG AB with Olof Hellstrom. He is an independent Member of the Board of Directors of the Kcell telecom and mobile communications operator of Kazakhstan, where he has been the head of the stability committee since June 2014.

After the XIV Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Soviet skiing was in a protracted crisis . It was associated with the hurricane development of the so-called skating course , first applied before the Olympics and not appreciated by the Soviet coaching staff. The Scandinavian riders, who adopted the skating course in service, firmly occupied the top lines in the championships and world cups from 1985 to 1987. The Swede Gunde Svan was considered invincible at all. The first skier who was able to get around Svan at the World Cup stage was Smirnov, and by the 1988 Olympics in Calgary he was already considered one of the favorites. However, he did not become the Calgary Olympic champion, but won two silver and one bronze medal.

The rivalry with Gunde Swan continued in 1989 at the Finnish Lahti World Championship, where Smirnov became the champion in the 30 km race.

At the 1991 World Championships in the Italian Val di Fiemme , a new generation of Norwegian skiers led by the famous Bjorn Daly and Vegard Ulwang (with the last Vladimir Smirnov subsequently had strong friendships) took the first roles. Smirnov won silver at his beloved 30-ke, and then took bronze in the free-style 15 km race.

At the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, Smirnov could not get closer to the podium in any of the races.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, from 1992 to 1998, he lived and trained in Sweden , played for the Swedish club, and participated in all international competitions under the flag of Kazakhstan .

The 1993 World Cup in Swedish Falun was held in a bitter struggle with Daly and other members of the Norwegian team. Smirnov won silver in 10 km classics and 15 km pursuit, 30 km bronze classic. In the 15 km pursuit race in Falun, he led to the last centimeters and only the desperate twine of Dali took the gold from Smirnov.

The first race at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer 30 km forced everyone to start and recall the “Albertville nightmare”. But then Smirnov took all the same silver in both sprint races for 10 km and pursuit for 15 km. The 50 km race was never Vladimir’s skate, but he withstood all 50 kilometers and became the champion.

The 1995 post-Olympic World Championships in Canada's Thunder Bay became his complete triumph. He won gold in three starting races at 30, 10 and 15 km and bronze at 50 km.

At the Nagano Olympics in 1998, he won another bronze medal in the 15 km pursuit, after which he announced his retirement. In 1999, Smirnov still took part in the Asian Games, where he won two gold and one silver in three races.

Victorious World Cups of Vladimir Smirnov (2)

He is currently a citizen of Sweden. Wife Valentine, has two daughters - Anna (born in 1991) and Carolina (born in 1999). ^{[7] [8]}

He was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1988) and the Kazakhstan Order " Dank ." ^[four]

Medal "20 years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan." ^[four]

He was awarded the highest Norwegian ski award - Holmenkollen medal. ^[four]

Honorary Citizen of Kokshetau (Kokchetav). ^[four]

• Athlete profile on the website of the Sports Russia National Information Network
• Direct line with readers of Skiing magazine

• Smirre / Marit Christensen, Vladimir Smirnov. - Aschehoug & Co, 1994 .-- 119 p. - ISBN 9788203260414
• Vladimir Smirnov-person-winner / team of authors Arich Andrey, Isaksen Per Yerik, Nelding Lars, Tulegen Ayan. - Astana: Ақarman-media, 2012.- 278 p.