Alevtina Kolchina

Alevtina Kolchina was the most successful female Soviet cross country skier of the 1950s. With her husband Pavel Kolchin, they still are the most successful cross-country skiing husband and wife pair. They are also the only husband and wife pair to ever win the Holmenkollen Medal (1963). Alevtina Kolchina had a very long ski career. She won her first medals at the Soviet championships in 1954 (silver at 5 km and bronze in the relay) and her last medals in 1970 (silver at 10 km and bronze at 5 km). Throughout her career Kolchina won 13 Soviet Championships – 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1963 in the 5 km; 1959 and 1962-64 in the 10 km; and 1956, 1959, 1960 and 1963 in the relay. Internationally, besides her five Olympic medals, Kolchina won seven World Championships: 10 km and relay in 1958; 5 km, 10 km and relay in 1962; and 5 km and relay in 1966; adding a silver in the 10 km in 1966. She also won 10 km (1961-63) and 5 km (1966) races at Holmenkollen. In 1973, the Kolchins moved to Otepää, Estonia and later worked as cross-country ski coaches there, also serving the Estonian national cross-country skiing team in various administrative positions, most recently as consultants. The Kolchina’s son Fjodor also competed at the Olympics, placing 15th in Nordic combined at the 1980 Olympics.