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Nikolay Zimyatov

b. 1955

Soviet cross country skier

Cross-country skier Cross-country skiing coach
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About Nikolay Zimyatov

Born 1955. Nikolay Zimyatov is a Russian cross-country skier and cross-country skiing coach.

Nikolay Semyonovich Zimyatov (; born 28 June 1955), is a Soviet and Russian cross-country skier. He was the first man in the sport to win three gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, in the 30 km, 50 km and 4 × 10 km relay at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. In the 50 km race he finished two and half minutes ahead of the second place.

At the world championships Zimyatov won only one medal, a silver over 30 km in 1978. Nationally he collected four Soviet titles: in the 30 km and 4 × 10 km relay in 1978, and in the 15 and 30 km in 1979. After retiring from competitions he had a long career as a cross-country skiing coach and prepared the Russian team for the 2002 Olympics. In 1980 he married a fellow international skier Lyubov Sykova.

Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games 5 medals – (4 gold, 1 silver) Year Age 15 km 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km relay 1980 24 4 Gold Gold Gold 1984 28 6 Gold 13 Silver

World Championships 1 medal – (1 silver) Year Age 15 km 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km relay 1978 22 5 Silver — 4 1985 29 8 17 — 6

World Cup Season standings Season Age Overall 1982 26 1983 27 9 1984 28 6 1985 29 19 1988 32 41

Individual podiums 2 victories 2 podiums

Team podiums 1 podium No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates1 1983–84 16 February 1984 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 4 × 10 km Relay Olympic Games 2nd Batyuk / Zavyalov / Nikitin

Note: Until the 1994 Olympics, Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Merited Coach of Russia; Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR; Order of Friendship of Peoples; Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Also known as
Nikolay Semyonovich Zimyatov

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Nikolay Zimyatov's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nikolay Zimyatov?

Soviet cross country skier

When was Nikolay Zimyatov born?

Nikolay Zimyatov was born on 28 June 1955 in Moscow.

What is Nikolay Zimyatov's occupation?

Nikolay Zimyatov is a cross-country skier and cross-country skiing coach.

What nationality is Nikolay Zimyatov?

Nikolay Zimyatov is Russian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Nikolay Zimyatov

· Wikidata: Q449509

· DBpedia: Nikolay Zimyatov

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nikolay Zimyatov. https://biography.guide/nikolay-zimyatov/

MLA: "Nikolay Zimyatov." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nikolay-zimyatov/.

Chicago: "Nikolay Zimyatov." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nikolay-zimyatov/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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