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.

Still alive in 2019: https://www.facebook.com/nalyzhi/posts/2660253714036104