Bente Skari

Bente Skari, née Martinsen, is a Norwegian former cross-country skier. She is one of the most successful cross-country skiers ever.

Career

She won her first Olympic medals in 1998 Winter Olympics|1998], and won her first gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, coming from behind to beat the favourites Olga Danilova and Julija Tchepalova in the last kilometers of the 10 km classical event. Skari was the first Norwegian woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing. She also won a bronze medal in 30 km classical as well as a silver medal in the relay.
Additionally, she won five gold medals from the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as two silver medals. She won the overall Cross-country skiing [World Cup medalists|cross-country skiing World Cup] four times before retiring after the 2003 season.
Skari also won the women's 30 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 2003. In 2001, she received the Holmenkollen medal. Her father, Odd Martinsen, earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1969. They are the only father-daughter combination to ever win this prestigious honour.
In 1998, she won Tjejvasan.

After retirement

In 2007, Skari was named as the first female race administrator in cross-country skiing. She assisted in the 2007-08 Tour de Ski, working as an assistant technical delegate in the events held in the Czech Republic. This is part of the Norwegian Ski Federation's effort to promote more women in management positions in skiing.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games

5 medals –

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay
1994	21	—		20	—	—		—
1998	25	Bronze		6	9	—		Silver
2002	29		Gold	—	6	Bronze	—	Silver

World Championships

7 medals –

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay
1995	22	—		13	—	—		—
1997	24	8		—	17	8		Silver
1999	26	Gold		—	8			4
2001	28		Gold	Gold	5		15	Silver
2003	30		Gold	Gold		—	—	—

World Cup

Season titles

9 titles –

Individual podiums

42 victories
60 podiums

No.

Season

Date

Location

Race

Level

Place

1996–97

18 December 1996

Team podiums

5 victories –
23 podiums –

Note: Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

Overall record

Note: Until 1999 World Championships and 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races are part of the World Cup. Hence results from those races are included in the World Cup overall record.

Personal life

Bente Skari was named Martinsen before marrying Geir Skari in 1999. She is the mother of three children, Filip, Oda and Selma.