Mikhail BOTVINOV

A native Russian, Mikhail Botvinov competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics for the Unified Team, and then in 1994 for Russia. But Botvinov defected to Austria in 1996, and had to sit out two seasons of international competition, returning in 1998. He competed at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006 for Austria, winning a silver medal in 30 km in 2002 and a bronze medal in 50 km in 2006. Botvinov won two World Championship medals for Austria in 1999, a gold with the relay team and a bronze in the 50 km. He had also won a World bronze in 1993 with the Russian relay team. Primarily a distance skiier, Botvinov won the Vasaloppet in Sweden in 1997 and in 1999 became the first Austrian to win at Holmenkollen, winning the 50 km.

Botvinov was involved in the doping scandal that involved the Austrian team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He was not sanctioned directly but in 2012 received a four-month conditional sentence for having lied in the course of the investigation against the Austrian cross-country ski coach. In 1999 he had been given the Silver Medal for Meritorious Service to the Austrian Republic.