Nikolay Zimyatov

Nikolay Semyonovich Zimyatov (Russian: Николай Семёнович Зимятов; born 28 June 1955), is one of the most successful Soviet/Russian male cross-country skiers. He was the first man in the sport to win three gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, in the 30 km, 50 km and 4 × 10 km relay at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. In the 50 km race he finished two and half minutes ahead of the second place.[1] He also won the 30 km event at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and was awarded Order of Friendship of Peoples that year.[2]

Nikolay Zimyatov
Nikolay Zimyatov in 2008
Country	Russia
Born	(1955-06-28) 28 June 1955[1] Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
World Cup career
Seasons	1982–1985, 1988
Individual wins	2
Team wins	0
Indiv. podiums	2
Team podiums	1
Indiv. starts	17
Team starts	2
Overall titles	0 – (6th in 1984)
Medal record Men's cross-country skiing Representing  Soviet Union Olympic Games 1980 Lake Placid 30 km 1980 Lake Placid 50 km 1980 Lake Placid 4 × 10 km relay 1984 Sarajevo 30 km 1984 Sarajevo 4 × 10 km relay World Championships 1978 Lahti 30 km

At the world championships Zimyatov won only one medal, a silver over 30 km in 1978. Nationally he collected four Soviet titles: in the 30 km and 4 × 10 km relay in 1978, and in the 15 and 30 km in 1979. After retiring from competitions he had a long career as a cross-country skiing coach and prepared the Russian team for the 2002 Olympics. In 1980 he married a fellow international skier Lyubov Sykova.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[3]

Olympic Games

• 5 medals – (4 gold, 1 silver)

Year	Age	15 km	30 km	50 km	4 × 10 km   relay
1980	24	4	Gold	Gold	Gold
1984	28	6	Gold	13	Silver

World Championships

• 1 medal – (1 silver)

Year	Age	15 km	30 km	50 km	4 × 10 km   relay
1978	22	5	Silver	—	4
1985	29	8	17	—	6

World Cup

Season standings

Season	Age	Overall
1982	26	NC
1983	27	9
1984	328	6
1985	29	19
1988	32	41

Individual podiums

• 2 victories
• 2 podiums

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place
1	1983–84	10 December 1983	Reit im Winkl, West Germany	15 km Individual	World Cup	1st
2		10 February 1984	Sarajevo, Yugoslavia	30 km Individual	Olympic Games^[1]	1st

Team podiums

• 1 podium

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place	Teammates
1	1983–84	16 February 1984	Sarajevo, Yugoslavia	4 × 10 km Relay	Olympic Games^[1]	2nd	Batyuk / Zavyalov / Nikitin

Note: ¹ Until the 1994 Olympics, Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

References

1. Nikolay Zimyatov. Encyclopaedia Britannica
2. Panorama of the 1984 Sports Year (in Russian). Moscow: Fizkultura i sport. 1985. p. 37.
3. "Athlete : ZIMJATOV Nikolaj". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 31 March 2018.

External links

• Nikolaj Zimjatov at the International Ski Federation
• (in Russian) Biography and photos