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Galina Kulakova

Full name: Galina Alekseyevna Kulakova
Original name: Галина Алексеевна Кулакова
Gender: Female
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Weight: 126 lbs (57 kg)
Born: April 29, 1942 in Logachi, Udmurtskaya Respublika, Russia
Affiliations: Trud Prokofyevsk/Trud Izhevsk
Country: URS Soviet Union
Sport: Cross Country Skiing

Medals: 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze (8 Total)

Biography

Galina Kulakova was the greatest cross-country skier of the 1970s, setting records for Olympic medals that would stand until the program was expanded for women in late 1980s. Her finest Olympics came in 1972 at Sapporo when she won both individual events for women – 5 and 10 km. – and helped the Soviet Union to a relay gold medal. She repeated this triple at the 1974 World Championships. In all she won eight Olympic medals and four gold at four Olympics, those of 1968 through 1980. She earned five golds at the World Championships, with a 5 km. individual and relay gold in 1970 added to her feats of 1974. Her career was marred somewhat by a doping positive for ephedrine at the 1976 Olympics. In an unusual ruling, the IOC gave her a warning, but no suspension and allowed her to enter the remaining races.

Results

Glossary / CSV / PRE / Click column headers to sort
Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Finish Medal
1968 Winter 25 Grenoble Cross Country Skiing Women's 5 kilometres Soviet Union URS 2 Silver
1968 Winter 25 Grenoble Cross Country Skiing Women's 10 kilometres Soviet Union URS 6
1968 Winter 25 Grenoble Cross Country Skiing Women's 3 × 5 kilometres Relay Soviet Union URS 3 Bronze
1972 Winter 29 Sapporo Cross Country Skiing Women's 5 kilometres Soviet Union URS 1 Gold
1972 Winter 29 Sapporo Cross Country Skiing Women's 10 kilometres Soviet Union URS 1 Gold
1972 Winter 29 Sapporo Cross Country Skiing Women's 3 × 5 kilometres Relay Soviet Union URS 1 Gold
1976 Winter 33 Innsbruck Cross Country Skiing Women's 5 kilometres Soviet Union URS AC
1976 Winter 33 Innsbruck Cross Country Skiing Women's 10 kilometres Soviet Union URS 3 Bronze
1976 Winter 33 Innsbruck Cross Country Skiing Women's 4 × 5 kilometres Relay Soviet Union URS 1 Gold
1980 Winter 37 Lake Placid Cross Country Skiing Women's 5 kilometres Soviet Union URS 6
1980 Winter 37 Lake Placid Cross Country Skiing Women's 10 kilometres Soviet Union URS 5
1980 Winter 37 Lake Placid Cross Country Skiing Women's 4 × 5 kilometres Relay Soviet Union URS 2 Silver