Galina Kulakova

Galina Kulakova
Kulakova at the 1968 Winter Olympics
Country Soviet Union
Full nameGalina Alexeyevna Kulakova
Born (1942-04-29) 29 April 1942 (age 82)
Logachi, Udmurtia, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Ski clubTrud Prokofyevsk
Trud Izhevsk
World Cup career
Seasons1 – (1982)
Starts3
Podiums0
Overall titles0 – (22nd in 1982)
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing the  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo 5 km
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo 10 km
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo 3 × 5 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1968 Grenoble 5 km
Silver medal – second place 1980 Lake Placid 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Grenoble 3 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1976 Innsbruck 10 km
Disqualified 1976 Innsbruck 5 km
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1970 Vysoké Tatry 5 km
Gold medal – first place 1970 Vysoké Tatry 3 × 5 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1974 Falun 5 km
Gold medal – first place 1974 Falun 10 km
Gold medal – first place 1974 Falun 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1980 Falun 20 km
Silver medal – second place 1982 Oslo 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1970 Vysoké Tatry 10 km
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay

Galina Alexeyevna Kulakova (Russian: Галина Алексеевна Кулакова, born 29 April 1942) is a Soviet-Russian former cross-country skier, arguably the best skier on distances shorter than 10 km in the early 1970s. She won four Olympic golds, two individual in 1972 and two relay golds in 1972 and 1976. She was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Winter Olympics, along with Ard Schenk of the Netherlands. Competing in the World Championships, she won three individual golds, two in 1974 and one in 1970, and also two relay golds in those years. Kulakova also won the 10 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1970 and 1979. Galina Kulakova was also 39 times Champion of the USSR between 1969 and 1981.[1]

For her achievements she was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Badge of Honour. She was also awarded the silver Olympic Order in 1984 by the International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch. Galina Kulakova ended her sports career in 1982.

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