Kristina Šmigun-Vähi

Kristina Šmigun
Full name	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
nation	Estonia
birthday	23rd February 1977 (age 43)
place of birth	Tartu ,  Soviet Union
size	168 cm
Weight	59 kg
Career
job	Student
society	Oti sports club
Trainer	Anatoly Šmigun
National squad	Since 1993
status	resigned
End of career	July 2, 2010
Medal table
Olympic medals 2 × 1 × 0 × World Cup medals 1 × 3 × 2 × JWM medals 2 × 4 × 0 × National medals 41 × 6 × 0 ×
winter Olympics gold 2006 Turin persecution gold 2006 Turin 10 km classic silver 2010 Vancouver 10 km freestyle  Nordic World Ski Championships silver 1999 Ramsau 15 km freestyle bronze 1999 Ramsau 30 km classic silver 2003 Val di Fiemme 15 km classic mass start silver 2003 Val di Fiemme 10 km classic gold 2003 Val di Fiemme persecution bronze 2003 Val di Fiemme 30 km freestyle  Nordic Junior Ski World Championships silver 1995 Gällivare 5 km classic silver 1995 Gällivare 15 km freestyle silver 1996 Asiago 5 km classic silver 1996 Asiago 15 km freestyle gold 1997 Calgary 5 km classic gold 1997 Calgary 15 km freestyle
Placements in the cross-country skiing world cup
Debut in the World Cup November 27, 1994  World Cup victories in individual 16 ( details )  Overall World Cup 2. ( 1999/00 , 2002/03 )  Sprint World Cup 3. ( 1998/99 , 1999/00)  Distance World Cup 1. (1998/99, 1999/00) 3. ( 2003/04 , 2004/05 )
Podium placements 1. 2. 3.  Sprint races 2 1 0  Distance races 14th 16 14th
last change: February 15, 2014

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi (born February 23, 1977 in Tartu , Estonian SSR , Soviet Union ) is a former Estonian cross-country skier . The multiple "Sportswoman of the Year" is one of the most successful Estonian athletes. She was the first Estonian cross-country skier to win the gold medal in the pursuit competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and over the distance of 10 kilometers in classic style. In 2003 she became world champion in the pursuit competition. She also won three silver medals and two bronze medals at world championships. In her career she won 16 competitions in the cross-country skiing world cup and finished second in the overall world cup in 1999 and 2003 . In 1997 she became two-time junior world champion. Her sister Katrin Šmigun was also active in Nordic skiing for a long time.

After finishing her sporting career, she was elected as a member of the Estonian parliament in 2019.

Life

Her father Anatoli Šmigun , who trains his daughters, is Russian , hence the family name that is unusual for Estonia. Her mother, Rutt Rehemaa, is Estonian. Both were successful in Nordic skiing . Anatoli Šmigun is, among other things, two-time junior European champion from 1972 and was a member of the Soviet cross-country skiing team from 1974 to 1978 . Thus, the sporting careers of the two daughters were almost predetermined. Both started Nordic skiing early. In an interview, Šmigun-Vähi emphasized that she would not have become a successful skier without her sister. The competition between the sisters would have been a good incentive and inspiration. She would also have had the opportunity to learn from her sister's mistakes. Her cousin Jana Rehemaa and her cousin Aivar Rehemaa are or were also active cross-country skiers. Kristina Šmigun-Vähi was also a talented runner and was Estonian junior cross-country champion in 1990 . The Estonian, who grew up bilingually, has a good command of English and began studying English in the USA in 2007, acts as a translator for her Russian counterparts at winning press conferences if necessary.

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi is a national heroine in her home country . She has been voted Sportswoman of the Year several times. After her Olympic victory in 2006, a Kristina Šmigun stamp was issued in Estonia. In March 2006 she was awarded the highest national award, the Order of the White Star of the highest category, by the Estonian President Ilves . In 2010 she was named Estonia's Woman of the Year. The socially committed sportswoman has been the ambassador of the only Estonian SOS Children's Village in Keila near the Estonian capital Tallinn since 2005 .

On July 7, 2007, she married her long-time friend and manager Kristjan-Thor Vähi. A year later, on June 17, 2008, Šmigun-Vähi became the mother of a daughter named Victoria-Kris in Miami . On March 3, 2011, son Kristhor Tom saw the light of day in Miami.

Athletic career

Beginning (1992 to 1998)

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi made her international debut in cross-country skiing in 1992 at the Junior World Championships in Vuokatti, Finland . It ranks 19th over 5 km classic and 24th over 15 km freestyle . A year later she started at the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1993 in Falun, Sweden . She celebrated her 16th birthday during the World Cup. She finished 35th over the 5 km classic and 31st place over the 10 km pursuit. In 1994, shortly before her 17th birthday, she took part in three competitions at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer . As the youngest participant in the field, her best placement was 27th in the pursuit competition.

On November 27, 1994, Šmigun-Vähi took part in their first World Cup race. In Kiruna , Finland , she took 25th place over the 5 kilometers in the classic technique. At the Junior World Championships in 1995 in Gällivare , Sweden , she was second over 15 kilometers freestyle behind Julija Tschepalowa . She also won the silver medal over the 5 kilometers in the classic technique. There she was narrowly beaten by the Russian athlete Natalja Baranova . Šmigun-Vähi also competed in the 1995 Nordic World Ski Championships in Thunder Bay, Canada . The then only 18-year-old cross-country skier was able to score a respectable success with fifth place over the 5 km classic.

At the Junior World Championships in 1996 in Asiago , Italy , Šmigun-Vähi had to admit defeat to Julija Tschepalowa again and won the silver medal over the 15 km freestyle and the 5 km classic. In 1997 she was able to win the title over both distances at the Junior World Championships in Canmore, Canada . The Šmigun family recorded a double victory over the 15 km freestyle. Kristina won ahead of her sister Katrin. In 1997, she finished 13th in the overall World Cup.

In the 1998 season, Šmigun-Vähi's career suffered a setback. After initially good results with several top ten placements in the World Cup, she fell off a snowmobile on New Year's Eve 1998 and broke her collarbone. She had to take a break for several weeks and did not complete any races until the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano . There she still competed in the 30 km freestyle, but finished in a disappointing 46th place, over 12 minutes behind the winner Julija Tschepalowa.

First successes and doping allegations (1999 to 2002)

In 1999 the Šmigun family decided due to the limited financial resources of the Estonian Ski Association to set up their own team with ski technicians and masseurs in order to be able to professionally compete in cross-country skiing. In 1999 Kristina Šmigun-Vähi won her first World Cup victory in the Czech Nové Město na Moravě over 15 km freestyle. This season she also achieved two second places and three third places in World Cup races. She finished the season in fourth place in the overall World Cup ranking, won the overall ranking of the long distance sub-discipline and took third place in the overall sprint ranking. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1999 she won her first international medals with silver over 15 km freestyle and bronze over 30 km classic.

Kristina Šmigun (2006)

In the 2000 season, Šmigun-Vähi was able to achieve four World Cup victories (two sprints in free technique , a pursuit and a 10 km freestyle competition) and another four podium finishes. Until the last World Cup station in Bormio , Italy , she was at the top of the overall World Cup ranking. She finished sixth in the last two races. However, her opponent Bente Skari won the penultimate race and defended her lead in the overall World Cup with eighth place in the last race. Šmigun-Vähi finished second in the overall World Cup ranking, 11 points behind. She won the overall World Cup in the middle distance sub-discipline, came second in the long distance and third in the sprint classification.

In 2001, Šmigun-Vähi achieved some good World Cup results at the beginning of the season, but fell ill with a flu-like infection during the season . Nevertheless, she went to the high-altitude training camp to prepare for the World Cup . However, the illness took its toll and Šmigun-Vähi was only able to book a 12th place over 10 km classic at the 2001 Nordic World Ski Championships . In the 15 km freestyle she was only 41st and was even beaten by her sister, who finished 39th. After the disappointing performance, she did not contest any further races in the season.

At the beginning of the 2002 season, Šmigun-Vähi won the World Cup race over 15 km freestyle in Ramsau and was able to post another four podium positions until she was confronted with doping allegations . At the World Cup race in Brusson, Italy on December 12, 2001, an elevated level of 19-norandrosterone, a pre-hormone of the steroid nandrolone , was found in the A sample . The analysis of the sample gave a value of 6.4 ng / ml. The maximum value for women is set at 5 ng / ml. Šmigun-Vähi requested that the B sample be opened . The analysis at the Institute for Doping Analysis and Sport Chemistry Kreischa showed a value of 4.2 ng / ml, whereupon she was immediately acquitted of suspicion of doping. This result led to a great deal of unrest in the cross-country skiing scene. Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott publicly called on the world doping agency WADA to investigate the proceedings in the Šmigun case. WADA Chairman Richard Pound then stated that when the A-sample was examined in the Italian laboratory, it was wrongly assumed that it was a man's sample. Had it been known that it was a sample from a female athlete, Šmigun-Vähi would not have tested positive. As it turned out later, her A sample was mistaken for a man's sample due to an incorrectly completed form in the Italian laboratory. Due to the break in competition and the psychological strain of doping allegations, Šmigun-Vähi was unable to match the performances shown at the beginning of the season at the 2002 Winter Olympics . Her best result was seventh place over 15 kilometers freestyle (mass start) or 30 kilometers classic. In the first World Cup after the Olympic Games, however, she was able to record her second victory of the season. She finished the season in fourth place in the overall World Cup standings.

World championship title and Olympic victory (2003 to 2007)

In 2003, Šmigun-Vähi was able to win the World Cups in Kawgolowo and Kiruna, each over 5 km freestyle, and achieve another six podium positions. The Nordic World Ski Championships 2003 in Val di Fiemme , Italy , turned out to be their most successful international championship to date. She won gold in the 10 km pursuit, silver over 10 km and 15 km classic (mass start) and bronze over 30 km freestyle. Behind the Norwegian Bente Skari, who had 14 World Cup victories in the season, she finished second in the overall World Cup ranking.

The 2004 season began very successfully for Šmigun-Vähi. She was able to achieve four World Cup victories and another four podium finishes and led for a long time in the overall World Cup standings. Later in the season, however, it got weaker and weaker. As it later turned out, she was sick with a virus and as a result could not achieve full physical performance. She finished fifth in the overall World Cup standings and third in the distance racing sub-discipline.

Kristina Šmigun at the World Cup in Otepää 2007

As in the previous season, Šmigun-Vähi was able to fight for several podium positions at the beginning of the 2005 season and won, among others, in Kuusamo over 10 km freestyle and in Ramsau over 15 km freestyle in the mass start. But again, she couldn't keep the shape until the end of the season. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf in 2005 , she narrowly missed a medal in fourth place in the 10 km freestyle race. Having started as the defending champion and top favorite, she had to pay tribute to the high starting pace and, hopelessly behind, got out of the race during the first section, which was run in the classic technique. Even over the 30 km classic, she did not get past 14th place. In the overall World Cup ranking, she finished fourth and third in the endurance racing sub-discipline.

As a consequence of the poor performance at the 2005 World Cup, Šmigun-Vähi changed her technique and diet, changed her preparation for competitions and began working with Mare Pork, a professor of psychology at Tallinn University , with a view to the 2006 Winter Olympics in October 2005 . As an internationally successful athlete, Šmigun-Vähi was under close scrutiny in her small home country and was exposed to high pressure to succeed. This manifested itself, among other things, in the form of sleep disorders and the inability to recover. One measure of the cooperation was therefore daily telephone calls in the evening with Pork in order to find the necessary inner peace. Furthermore, Šmigun-Vähi refrained from reading newspapers in order not to be confronted with the expectations of her compatriots. Focused on the Olympic victory, Šmigun-Vähi only took part in a few World Cup races in the 2006 season. Since she had always achieved good results at the beginning of a season in previous years and became weaker and weaker in the course of the winter, she took a break from competition in December 2006. One of the few World Cup races that she contested was her home World Cup in Otepää shortly before the Olympic Games. As in the years before, her first success in her home country was denied and she finished second behind Hilde G. Pedersen, 0.2 seconds behind . Without having to contest further World Cup races in preparation, she was able to return the favor at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Pragelato . She won the classic 10 km ahead of Pedersen and was also able to win Olympic gold in the 15 km pursuit. This makes her the first ever gold medalist at the Winter Olympics for her homeland, Estonia.

The 2007 season was mixed for Šmigun-Vähi. Although she was able to achieve a classic World Cup victory over 10 km and another two podium positions, but also numerous placements outside the top ten. She had to end the Tour de Ski prematurely because of a cold. She finished the season in 11th place in the overall World Cup ranking. In the Estonian press , due to the unusually poor results for Šmigun, there was speculation about whether she lost motivation after her Olympic victories in 2006 . These speculations were reinforced by Šmigun's mother, Rutt Rehemaa, who said in an interview that it was time for her daughter to start a family.

Sports break and baby break (2008)

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi began studying English at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton in the US state of Florida in September 2007 . She announced that she would take a break from competition in the 2008 season and not contest any competitions. After many years in competitive sport, she feels burned out. Her long-term goal is the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver , so that she will continue training but not compete, she announced in summer 2007. At that point she still denied that she was planning to become a mother. In February 2008, however, Kristina Šmigun-Vähi and her husband Kristjan-Thor Vähi announced that they were expecting their first child in June 2008. As she informed the Estonian newspaper Postimees , Šmigun-Vähi wanted to continue her training during pregnancy in order to be able to compete in the 2008/09 season and to prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics. After the birth of her daughter in June 2008, Šmigun-Vähi declared before the start of the World Cup season that she would not compete in the 2008/09 season either, because she wanted to take care of her family and did not have the necessary form .

Return to competitive sport and retirement (2009-2010)

Sprint to the finish in the pursuit race between Kristina Šmigun and Kateřina Neumannová at the 2006 Winter Olympics

At the beginning of 2009 Kristina Šmigun-Vähi started light training, primarily to get back into shape after the birth of her daughter, as she later said. After losing weight quickly and continuously improving her performance, she decided, to her own surprise, to try a comeback . In September 2009 she officially announced at a press conference her return to competitive sport in the 2009/10 season . Due to the anti-doping rules of the FIS, which only allow participation in a competition if a retreating athlete has participated in training doping controls for at least six months, Šmigun-Vähi could not take part in any preparatory competition and also not for the World Cup opener in Beitostølen go to the start. She finished her first World Cup race after a two-and-a-half year break in competition over the distance of 10 kilometers in Kuusamo , Finland , in 25th place. But already at her second start at the World Cup in Davos , Šmigun-Vähi showed that she was back to the top even after the long break. Results. On the competition course above 1,500 meters, she achieved her first podium finish in three years over 10 kilometers of freestyle with third place. At the winners press conference, she said she was disappointed with 25th place in Kuusamo. The good result on the unpopular route in Davos makes her confident about the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver . At the end of 2009, Šmigun-Vähi decided neither to participate in the Tour de Ski nor in the Estonian championships and to insert another training phase. Despite health problems, she started the World Cup in Otepää, where she lived for many years. In the absence of many athletes who had participated in the Tour de Ski, however, she only finished ninth over 10 kilometers classic. She did not even compete in the sprint competition the next day. She then announced that she would not take part in any further World Cup competitions before the Olympic Games and instead, as before her Olympic victories in 2006, would hold a training camp in Santa Caterina Valfurva, Italy . This decision paid off, because Šmigun-Vähi won the silver medal over 10 kilometers freestyle behind the Swede Charlotte Kalla at the Olympic Games in Vancouver . In the pursuit competition, however, she did not have her best day, both physically and technically. She lost contact with the top group early and after 5.1 kilometers left the competition hopelessly behind. Even over the classic 30 kilometers she had material problems. After changing skis for the first time after 10 kilometers, she did not manage to catch up with the top group again with poorer skis; instead, she continuously lost time. Šmigun-Vähi finished her last Olympic race on a disappointing 28th place. Also at the World Cup in Oslo over 30 kilometers freestyle she only reached 29th place. At the World Cup final , she managed to work her way up to sixth overall place with three on the last stage over 10 kilometers of freestyle. At the end of the season she finished 32nd in the overall World Cup ranking and was not among the thirty best athletes of the season for the first time since 1995. At the end of the season, Šmigun-Vähi secured their national championship titles 40 and 41.

On July 2, 2010, Šmigun-Vähi announced her retirement from competitive sports.

Political activity

In the 2019 parliamentary elections , she ran as a candidate for the Estonian Reform Party in the constituency of Kesklinn, Lasnamäe and Pirita in Tallinn. There she managed to win a seat in the Estonian parliament ( Riigikogu ) with 2002 votes .

Awards

• Sportswoman of the year in Estonia 8 times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002–2004, 2006, 2010).
• Highest state award Order of the white star highest category (March 2006)
• Order of the Estonian Red Cross 3rd category (2004)
• Estonia's Woman of the Year 2010

List of sporting achievements

winter Olympics

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi took part in five Olympic Winter Games. In 2006 she won two gold medals. Four years later she won a silver medal.

date	place	discipline	space	Winner
Feb 13, 1994	Lillehammer	15 kilometers of freestyle	28	Manuela Di Centa
Feb 15, 1994	Lillehammer	5 kilometers classic	30th	Lyubov Egorova
Feb. 17, 1994	Lillehammer	Season	12	Russia
Feb 22, 1994	Lillehammer	Pursuit (10 kilometers)	27	Lyubov Egorova
Feb 20, 1998	Nagano	30 kilometers of freestyle	46	Gabriella Paruzzi
Feb 9, 2002	Salt Lake City	15 kilometers freestyle (mass start)	7th	Stefania Belmondo
Feb 12, 2002	Salt Lake City	10 kilometers classic	DNF	Bente Skari
Feb 15, 2002	Salt Lake City	Pursuit (10 kilometers)	13	Beckie Scott
Feb. 19, 2002	Salt Lake City	Sprint freestyle	25th	Yulia Chepalova
Feb. 24, 2002	Salt Lake City	30 kilometers classic	7th	Gabriella Paruzzi
Feb 12, 2006	Pragelato	Pursuit (15 kilometers)		Kristina Šmigun
Feb 16, 2006	Pragelato	10 kilometers classic		Kristina Šmigun
Feb 24, 2006	Pragelato	30 kilometers of freestyle	8th	Kateřina Neumannová
Feb 15, 2010	Vancouver	10 kilometers freestyle		Charlotte Kalla
19 Feb 2010	Vancouver	Pursuit (15 kilometers)	DNF	Marit Bjørgen
Feb. 27, 2010	Vancouver	30 kilometers classic	28	Justyna Kowalczyk

World championships

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi took part in seven Nordic World Championships . She has a record of one gold medal, three silver medals and two bronze medals.

date	place	discipline	space	Winner
March 12, 1995	Thunder Bay	5 kilometers classic	5	Larissa Lasutina
March 14, 1995	Thunder Bay	15 kilometers (pursuit)	20th	Larissa Lasutina
March 17, 1995	Thunder Bay	Season	10	Russia
Feb 21, 1997	Trondheim	15 kilometers of freestyle	8th	Jelena Välbe
Feb 23, 1997	Trondheim	5 kilometers classic	28	Jelena Välbe
Feb. 24, 1997	Trondheim	15 kilometers (pursuit)	9	Stefania Belmondo
Feb 19, 1999	Ramsau am Dachstein	15 kilometers of freestyle		Stefania Belmondo
Feb 22, 1999	Ramsau am Dachstein	5 kilometers classic	9	Bente Martinsen
Feb 23, 1999	Ramsau am Dachstein	15 kilometers (pursuit)	6th	Stefania Belmondo
Feb. 26, 1999	Ramsau am Dachstein	Season	10	Russia
Feb. 27, 1999	Ramsau am Dachstein	30 kilometers classic		Larissa Lasutina
Feb 15, 2001	Lahti	15 kilometers classic	41	Bente Martinsen
Feb 20, 2001	Lahti	10 kilometers classic	12	Bente Martinsen
Feb 21, 2001	Lahti	Sprint freestyle	19th	Pirjo Manninen
Feb. 18, 2003	Val di Fiemme	15 kilometers classic (mass start)		Bente Martinsen
Feb 20, 2003	Val di Fiemme	10 kilometers classic		Bente Martinsen
Feb 22, 2003	Val di Fiemme	10 kilometers (tracking)		Kristina Šmigun
Feb 28, 2003	Val di Fiemme	30 kilometers of freestyle		Olga Zavyalova
Feb 17, 2005	Oberstdorf	10 kilometers freestyle	4th	Kateřina Neumannová
Feb 19, 2005	Oberstdorf	15 kilometers (pursuit)	DNF	Yulia Chepalova
Feb 21, 2005	Oberstdorf	Season	13	Norway
Feb 25, 2005	Oberstdorf	30 kilometers classic (mass start)	14th	Marit Bjørgen
Feb 25, 2007	Sapporo	15 kilometers (pursuit)	10	Olga Zavyalova
Feb. 27, 2007	Sapporo	10 kilometers freestyle	9	Kateřina Neumannová
March 3, 2007	Sapporo	30 kilometers classic (mass start)	6th	Virpi Kuitunen
March 11, 2007	Sapporo	Season	15th	Finland

World cup

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi competed in 158 World Cup events from 1994 to 2010, of which she won 16. She reached podium finishes 49 times.

World Cup Statistics

The table shows the placements achieved in detail.

• 1st – 3rd place: Number of podium placements
• Top 10: Number of places in the top ten
• Points ranks: Number of placements within the point ranks
• Starts: Number of races run in the respective discipline
• Note: In the distance races, the classification is based on the FIS.

placement	Distance races a					Skiathlon pursuit	sprint	Stage race b	total	Team c
	≤ 5 km	≤ 10 km	≤ 15 km	≤ 30 km	> 30 km					sprint	Season
1st place	3	5	4th			2	2		16
2nd place		9	4th	1	1	1	1		17th
3rd place	3	7th	1	1		2			14th
Top 10	14th	46	16	6th	1	11	7th	1	102		4th
Scoring	22nd	57	23	8th	2	14th	19th	1	146		6th
Starts	24	59	23	8th	2	14th	22nd	1	153		6th
Status: end of career

^a including individual starts and mass starts according to FIS classification

^bEntire race, not individual stages, e.g. B. Tour de Ski, Nordic Opening, season finale

^c Possibly incomplete due to a lack of suitable sources before 2001

Overall ratings

In the overall World Cup, she took second place twice. In 1999 she won the Distance World Cup and in 2000 the Middle Distance World Cup.

season	Overall World Cup	Winner	Sprint World Cup	Distance World Cup
1993/94	60	Manuela Di Centa	n / A	n / A
1994/95	29	Jelena Välbe	n / A	n / A
1995/96	17th	Manuela Di Centa	n / A	n / A
1996/97	13	Jelena Välbe	15th	21st
1997/98	19th	Larissa Lasutina	27	15th
1998/99	4th	Bente Martinsen	3	1
1999/00	2	Bente Martinsen	3	1¹	2²
2000/01	10	Yulia Chepalova	21st	n / A
2001/02	4th	Bente Skari	24	n / A
2002/03	2	Bente Skari	41	n / A
2003/04	5	Gabriella Paruzzi	47	3
2004/05	4th	Marit Bjørgen	70	3
2005/06	17th	Marit Bjørgen	38	11
2006/07	11	Virpi Kuitunen	-	5
2009/10	32	Justyna Kowalczyk	84	22nd

¹ Winner in the middle distance
World Cup (only held in 1999/2000) ² Second in the long distance World Cup (only held in 1999/2000)

World Cup victories in individual

By the end of the 2006/07 season Kristina Šmigun-Vähi celebrated 16 successes in World Cup competitions, 14 of them in distance competitions and two in sprint competitions. She was able to record four wins each in the 1990/00 season and in the 2003/04 season.

No.	date	place	distance	technology	discipline
1	Jan. 12, 1999	Nové Město na Moravě	15 kilometers	Freestyle	singles
2	Dec 10, 1999	Sappada	10 kilometer	Freestyle	singles
3	Dec 28, 1999	Garmisch-Partenkirchen	1.4 kilometers	Freestyle	sprint
4th	Feb 16, 2000	Ulrichen	5 kilometers	Freestyle	singles
5	March 3, 2000	Lahti	1.4 kilometers	Freestyle	sprint
6th	Dec 22, 2001	Ramsau am Dachstein	15 kilometers	Freestyle	Mass start
7th	March 2, 2002	Lahti	10 kilometer	Freestyle	singles
8th	Nov 23, 2002	Kiruna	5 kilometers	Freestyle	singles
9	Jan. 4, 2003	Kawgolowo	5 kilometers	Freestyle	singles
10	Nov 22, 2003	Beitostølen	10 kilometer	Freestyle	singles
11	Nov 29, 2003	Kuusamo	15 kilometers	Freestyle / classic	persecution
12	Dec 6, 2003	Toblach	15 kilometers	Freestyle / classic	persecution
13	Dec 21, 2003	Ramsau am Dachstein	15 kilometers	Freestyle / classic	persecution
14th	Nov 28, 2004	Kuusamo	10 kilometer	classic	singles
15th	Dec 18, 2004	Ramsau am Dachstein	10 kilometer	Freestyle	Mass start
16	March 11, 2007	Lahti	10 kilometer	classic	singles

Junior World Championships

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi took part in six Junior World Championships, in which she was able to win two gold medals and four silver medals.

year	place	5 km classic	Winner	15 km freestyle	Winner
1992	Vuokatti	19th	-	24.	-
1994	Harrachov	16.	Kateřina Neumannová	28.	Irina Skladneva
1994	Breitenwang	17th	Irina Skladneva	10.	Yulia Chepalova
1995	Gällivare		Natalia Baranova		Yulia Chepalova
1996	Asiago		Maija Puukilainen		Yulia Chepalova
1997	Canmore		Kristina Šmigun		Kristina Šmigun

National championships

• 27 titles in individual competitions
• 12 titles in team competitions

Others

• In 1990 Šmigun-Vähi was Estonian junior champion in cross-country.

Web links

• Kristina Šmigun-Vähi in the database of the International Ski Federation (English)
• Kristina Šmigun-Vähi in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
• Profile Kristina Šmigun-Vähi at the Estonian Ski Association
• Sports achievements and photo (Estonian)
• Kristina Smigun-Vähi in the Munzinger archive ( beginning of article freely accessible)

items

• Kristina Šmigun. FIS biography
• In the Estonia of unlimited possibilities. German-Estonian Forum V.

Interviews

• Kristina Šmigun Interview (PDF) olympic.org

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Anatoli Šmigun: I am Estonian Russian. (No longer available online.) In: Postimees . December 5, 2007, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
2. ↑ Šmigun-Vähi õest: kohati tundub, et Katr. (No longer available online.) In: Postimees. December 17, 2011, archived from the original on February 22, 2012 ; accessed on March 31, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ^ Stamps - Kristina Šmigun Olympic Winner. post.ee, March 30, 2006, accessed December 12, 2009 . 
4. ^ The President of the Republic handed over state decorations. (No longer available online.) Vp2001-2006.vpk.ee, March 14, 2006, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
5. ↑ Stamps - BPW Estonia: Kristina Šmigun-Vähi Woman of the Year 2010. (No longer available online.) Post.ee, archived from the original on August 12, 2011 ; Retrieved December 1, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
6. ^ Meeting with double Olympic champion. sos-kinderdorfinternational.org, March 7, 2006, accessed December 12, 2009 . 
7. ↑ Kristina Šmigun kutsub Are SOS Lasteküla Sõprade clubs! sos-lastekyla.ee, accessed December 12, 2009 . 
8. ↑ Kristina Šmiguni suur pulmapidu jääb ära. (No longer available online.) In: Postimees. July 5, 2007, archived from the original on February 18, 2010 ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
9. ↑ Kristina Šmigun-Vähil sündis 3.47 kg kaaluv tütar. In: Postimees. June 17, 2008, accessed December 12, 2009 . 
10. ↑ PALJU ÕNNE! Šmigun-Vähi tõi ilmale poja! In: Postimees. March 3, 2011, accessed March 31, 2012 . 
11. ↑ Suspected doping against Smigun. (No longer available online.) Netzeitung.net, January 24, 2002, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
12. ^ Baltic News (2002 / 01-05). (No longer available online.) Balticsworldwide.com, February 1, 2002, archived from the original on December 22, 2010 ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
13. ↑ The Last Doping Saga Unfolds. (No longer available online.) Nettbirken.com, February 1, 2002, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
14. ↑ FREAKY DRUG STORY. slamsports.com, February 5, 2002, accessed December 12, 2009 . 
15. ↑ Cross-country skier Smigun rehabilitated. In: Berliner Zeitung . February 6, 2002, accessed June 9, 2015 . 
16. ^ German-Estonian Forum e. V., In the Estonia of unlimited possibilities  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
17. ↑ Kristina Shmigun ei võistle Lahtis. (No longer available online.) In: Postimees. March 4, 2004, archived from the original on November 14, 2004 ; Retrieved December 26, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
18. ↑ Tchepalova wins - Künzel is back: Künzel and Bauer with strong performances in the double pursuit. (No longer available online.) Xc-ski.de, February 19, 2005, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
19. ↑ Kristina Smigun Interview (PDF) olympic.org
20. ↑ Olympic victory for Kristina Smigun. (No longer available online.) Fischer-ski.com, February 12, 2006, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
21. ↑ Smigun is taking a break from the World Cup next season. (No longer available online.) Xc-ski.de, June 11, 2007, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
22. ↑ Smigun takes a baby break. sportnet.at, February 4, 2008, accessed on December 12, 2009 . 
23. ↑ Кристина Шмигун взяла тайм-аут. (No longer available online.) In: Postimees . November 18, 2008, formerly in the original ; Retrieved September 25, 2009 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
24. ↑ Kristina Šmigun-Vähi: tahaks hirmsasti jälle tugevasti treenida. (No longer available online.) Epl.ee, March 31, 2009, archived from the original on April 3, 2009 ; Retrieved February 19, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
25. ^ Baby bliss brings champ back to Games. (No longer available online.) Nbcolympics.com, February 15, 2010, archived from the original on February 18, 2010 ; Retrieved February 19, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
26. ↑ Olympic Champion Kristina Smigun on the Comeback Trail. fasterskier.com, October 13, 2009, accessed February 19, 2010 . 
27. ↑ Kristina Šmigun-Vähi naaseb tippsporti! sport.delfi.ee, September 21, 2009, accessed September 25, 2009 . 
28. ^ FIS Anti-Doping Rules. (PDF; 629 kB) (No longer available online.) Fis-ski.com, archived from the original on December 20, 2008 ; Retrieved November 29, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
29. ↑ Kristina Smigun makes a comeback: Olympic Games the goal. (No longer available online.) Xc-ski.de, October 7, 2009, archived from the original on October 9, 2009 ; Retrieved November 29, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
30. ↑ Kristina Smigun-Vähi, 3rd place, at the Viessmann FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Davos (SUI). youtube.com, December 12, 2009, accessed November 29, 2009 . 
31. ↑ Šmigun-Vähi loobus Tour de Ski-st ning treenib koduradadel. (No longer available online.) Sport.err.ee, December 27, 2009, formerly in the original ; Retrieved January 17, 2010 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
32. ↑ Šmigun-Vähi: haigusevimm hakkab vist peale tulema. Postemees, January 16, 2010, accessed January 17, 2010 . 
33. ↑ Šmigun-Vähi: Minuti võrra kiirem aeg oleks rahuldanud. (No longer available online.) Sport.err.ee, January 16, 2010, formerly in the original ; Retrieved January 17, 2010 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
34. ↑ Šmigun-Vähi: enesetunne oli kehv. (No longer available online.) In: Postimees. February 19, 2010, archived from the original on February 21, 2010 ; Retrieved February 19, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
35. ↑ Šmigun-Vähi: enesetunne oli kehv. (No longer available online.) Err.ee, February 27, 2010, archived from the original on March 3, 2010 ; Retrieved February 27, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
36. ↑ Ktristina Smigun-Vähi stepped down from professional skiing. (No longer available online.) Err.ee, July 2, 2010, formerly in the original ; Retrieved July 2, 2010 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
37. ↑ Online report of the election commission of March 8, 2019, accessed on April 5, 2019 (Estonian)
38. ↑ List of Estonian Sportsmen of the Year. (No longer available online.) EOK , archived from the original on December 12, 2009 ; Retrieved December 12, 2009 . 
39. ↑ Bearers of decorations - Kristina Šmigun. president.ee, accessed December 28, 2009 .