Kurkina started for the first time in the World Cup in January 2003 in Kavgolovo and finished 52nd in the 5 km freestyle. At the beginning of the 2003/04 season she won her first World Cup points in Kuusamo with 26th place over 10 km classic and 23rd place in 15 km skiathlon. At the World Cup in Davos , she achieved her first World Cup podium with third place in the relay. In February 2004 she won her first World Cup victory with the relay in La Clusaz . In the same month she took second place with the relay in Umeå . At the end of the season she came in Lahti together with Olga Sawjalowa in third place in the team sprint. She finished the season in 17th place in the overall World Cup and 14th place in the Distance World Cup. The following season she started with three ninth places in individual races. At the World Cup in Lago di Tesero , she won her second World Cup victory with the relay. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf in 2005 , she won silver with the relay. Her best placement in the individual was fifth in the 30 km mass start race. At the end of the season she came in third place with the relay in Falun and reached 20th place in the overall World Cup and 15th place in the Distance World Cup. At the 2006 Winter Olympics , she also won gold with the relay. At the beginning of the 2007/08 season , she took third place with the relay in Davos. The Tour de Ski 2007/08 and Tour de Ski 2008/09 both finished in 20th place. From the 2007/08 season to 2012, she mainly took part in competitions of the Eastern Europe Cup . She won her only victory in Rybinsk in February 2009 and came third in the overall cup standings in the 2008/09 season .
Kurkina took part in 60 individual World Cup races and was among the top ten 15 times. Her best individual placement in the World Cup was fifth in February 2004 in Oberstdorf and in January 2008 in Canmore in the 15 km skiathlon.
Russia
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La Clusaz
Lake Tesero