Alevtina OLYUNINA

Alevtina Smirnova made her international début at the 1968 Olympic Games, where she was eleventh in the 10 km and 20th at 5 km. At the 1970 World Championships Olyunina-Smirnova won golds in both the 10 km and relay. At the 1972 Olympics, Olyunina-Smirnova won gold in the relay, was second at 10 km and fourth over 5 km. Domestically Olyunina-Smirnova won nine Soviet titles – two at 5 km (1968, 1972) and seven in the relay (1967, 1969-74). After her sporting career ended, Olynina-Smirnova worked as a cross-country skiing coach in Kostroma.