Sabina Valbusa

Sabina Valbusa, from the small town of Bosco Chiesanuova in Verona, made her first World Cup start in December 1992 finishing 44th in the 5 km classical. She made her first World Cup podium (third) in January 1995 in the relay in Lahti and recorded her first victory in January 2001 in the pre-Olympic relay at Soldier Hollow near Lake Placid. In individual events she made her first World Cup podium in December 1997 in Val di Fiemme in the 15 km free, when she was second, and her first victory came in March 2004 in Pragelato, again in the 15 km free. During her career she participated in five Winter Olympics winning her only medal in the 2006 relay, a bronze. She also competed at eight World Championships, winning three relay medals (1999 silver, 2001/2005 bronze). Individually her best result was a fourth place in Lahti in 2001 in the sprint. Valbusa’s best result in the overall World Cup was eighth in 2003. She achieved a total of 28 World Cup podiums, nine individually and 19 in the relay, including four wins, of which only one was an individual. She switched to long distance racing in 2010 and was fourth in 2011 in the Marathon Cup. Domestically, she won 15 Italian Championships, with 38 podiums between 1993 and 2010.

In 2006 Valbusa was appointed Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. She is the younger sister of cross-country skier and Olympic gold medalist Fulvio Valbusa. Following a high school education she was trained as a forest ranger.