Anfisa Reztsova(1964-2023)
Anfisa Reztsova is a Soviet and Russian biathlete and skier, two-time Olympic champion in biathlon, Olympic champion in cross-country skiing, three-time World Champion in cross-country skiing, two-time winner of the Biathlon World Cup. The first Olympic champion in this sport in the history of world biathlon.
She was born into a working-class family: her father worked as a construction worker, and her mother worked at a chemical plant. Three more brothers were raised in the family with Anfisa. She began training at the Dynamo sports society (Vladimir), under the guidance of Leonid Reztsov, who later became her husband.
Anfisa made her debut at the World Cup in cross-country skiing in the 1984/85 season. On February 14, 1985, she stood on the podium for the first time in an individual start, taking 3rd place in the 10 km classic race in Klingenthal, Germany. A few days later she was second in Nove Mesto in the 5 km classic race. The climax was the gold medal at the World Championships in Seefeld, Austria, where the skier, together with the Soviet team, excelled in the relay race. The athlete finished her debut season in 6th place in the final World Cup standings. This is one of the best debuts in the history of world skiing.
At the Calgary 1988: XV Olympic Winter Games (1988), Reztsova took gold as part of the relay four, and also won a silver medal in the 20 km individual race. After that season, one of the best skiers on the planet decided to switch to biathlon - and achieved success in the second season. In the 1991/92 campaign, the athlete dominated the skiing, leaving no chance for her rivals even in those races in which she covered only half of the targets. At the Albertville 1992: XVI Olympic Winter Games (1992), she won the sprint and also took bronze in the 3x7.5 km relay. At the 1994 Olympic Winter Games (1994), together with the team, she became the Olympic champion in the relay.
She was born into a working-class family: her father worked as a construction worker, and her mother worked at a chemical plant. Three more brothers were raised in the family with Anfisa. She began training at the Dynamo sports society (Vladimir), under the guidance of Leonid Reztsov, who later became her husband.
Anfisa made her debut at the World Cup in cross-country skiing in the 1984/85 season. On February 14, 1985, she stood on the podium for the first time in an individual start, taking 3rd place in the 10 km classic race in Klingenthal, Germany. A few days later she was second in Nove Mesto in the 5 km classic race. The climax was the gold medal at the World Championships in Seefeld, Austria, where the skier, together with the Soviet team, excelled in the relay race. The athlete finished her debut season in 6th place in the final World Cup standings. This is one of the best debuts in the history of world skiing.
At the Calgary 1988: XV Olympic Winter Games (1988), Reztsova took gold as part of the relay four, and also won a silver medal in the 20 km individual race. After that season, one of the best skiers on the planet decided to switch to biathlon - and achieved success in the second season. In the 1991/92 campaign, the athlete dominated the skiing, leaving no chance for her rivals even in those races in which she covered only half of the targets. At the Albertville 1992: XVI Olympic Winter Games (1992), she won the sprint and also took bronze in the 3x7.5 km relay. At the 1994 Olympic Winter Games (1994), together with the team, she became the Olympic champion in the relay.