Lyubov BARANOVA

Lyubov Kozyreva was the first Soviet Winter Olympic Champion and was also the first Soviet skier to win a World Championship, winning the 10 km at the 1954 World Championships. She was also a member of the Soviet 3x4 km relay team that won the gold medal, a feat which she repeated at the 1958 and 1962 World Championships. In addition to her four World Championships titles, Kozyreva won two silvers (in 1958 at 10 km and in 1962 at 5 km). At the 1956 Olympics, Kozyreva became the first Soviet Winter Olympic Champion by winning the 10 km race. She added to her Olympic medal collection a silver from the same Olympics (in the relay) and two silvers from the 1960 Olympics (in the 10 km and relay). She also won the 10 km event at Holmenkollen in 1955, becoming the first Soviet athlete to win at Holmenkollen. Domestically Kozyreva won 16 Soviet titles (1953-56 at 5 km, 1951-53, 1956 and 1958 at 10 km and 1950-53 and 1955-57 in the relay). After her sporting career, Lyubov Baranova-Kozyreva worked as a cross-country ski coach.