Ivan UTROBIN

Ivan Utrobin started to ski as a young boy, but did not rise to prominence until he moved to Krasnogorsk and began to train on the courses that now bear his name. Utrobin made his international début at the 1962 World Championships, where he won a bronze as a member of the Soviet relay team. At the 1964 Olympics Utrobin was again a member of the Soviet relay team, winning another bronze medal. Domestically Utrobin won twelve Soviet titles – once at 15 km (1966), three times at 30 km (1960, 1962 and 1965), four times at 50 km (1961, 1963, 1965 and 1966), three times at 70 km (1965, 1967 and 1968) and one in the relay (1962). After his competitive career Utrobin worked as a cross-country ski coach and also managed the ski courses in Krasnogorsk where he had trained during his career. Since 1978, every year on his birthday, races named in his honor are held on those courses, a 30 km classical style for men, and a 15 km classical style for women.