Kristina Šmigun-Vähi

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi is a former Estonian female cross-country skier and politician. She is the most successful Estonian female cross-country skier with two Olympic gold medals. Since 2019, Šmigun-Vähi, a member of the Reform Party, has served as a member of the Estonian Parliament.

FB kristinasmigunvahi

Cross-country skiing career

On 12 February 2006, she won the [Cross-country skiing at the Cross-country skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics] gold medal for the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit, becoming the first Estonian woman to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. Four days later, she won a second gold medal in the 10 km classical.
On 15 February 2010, she won her third Olympic medal, a silver in the 10 km freestyle race. With two golds and one silver, Šmigun-Vähi is the most successful Estonian athlete in Olympic history, tying the record of men's cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu.
Šmigun-Vähi has also found success at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, earning six medals. This included one gold, three silvers, and two bronzes.
On 2 July 2010, Šmigun-Vähi announced that she will quit her professional sport career to focus on her family and her daughter Victoria-Kris. On 24 October 2016, the World Anti-Doping Agency Athletes' Commission stated that Šmigun-Vähi faced a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing before the end of October.

Cross-country skiing results

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

Olympic Games

3 medals –

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay	Team sprint
1994	17	30		28	27	—		—
[Cross-country skiing at the Cross-country skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics\|1998 Winter Olympics\|1998]	21	—		—	—	46		—
2002	25		[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 10 kilometre classical\|]	7	13	7	25	—
2006	29		Gold		Gold	8	—	—	—
2010	33		Silver		[Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 15 kilometre pursuit\|]	27	—	—	—

World Championships

6 medals –

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay	Team sprint
1995	18	5		20	—	—		—
1997	20	28		8	9	—		—
1999	22	9		Silver	6	Bronze		—
2001	24		12	41	—		19	—
2003	26		Silver	Silver	Gold	Bronze	—	—
2005	28		4			14	—	13	—
2007	30		9		10	6	—	15	—

World Cup

Season titles

2 titles –

Individual podiums

16 victories –
50 podiums –

No.

Season

Date

Location

Race

Level

Place

1998–99

27 December 1998

Overall record

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

Political career

Šmigun-Vähi joined the liberal Reform Party in 2018.
Since 2019, she has been serving as a member of the Estonian Parliament.

Personal life

She is the daughter of former cross-country skiers Rutt and Anatoli Šmigun. Her sister Katrin Šmigun and cousin Aivar Rehemaa were also cross-country skiers.
Šmigun-Vähi is married to her long-time manager Kristjan-Thor Vähi, She missed the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons due to pregnancy. She has two children, daughter born in 2008 and son born in 2011.