Anatoly Akentyev

Anatoly Akentyev was a Russian cross-country skier who represented the Soviet national team for 12 years. He was a seven-time Soviet champion in multiple individual and team events during the 1960s. In 1967 Akentyev won the 15 kilometres race at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Oslo. The following year he competed in four events at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics where he finished in fourth place with the Soviet team in the 4 × 10 kilometres relay. His best individual performance came in the 30 kilometres with a top-10 finish.

After his retirement from the sport Akentyev became a senior sports official. In 1979 he was the Vice-President of the International Ski Federation (FIS). After serving as the head coach of the Soviet and Russian ski teams for 15 years Akentyev then became the President of the Russian Ski Union from 1996 to 2004.