Gabriella Paruzzi

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameGabriella•Paruzzi
Used nameGabriella•Paruzzi
Born21 June 1969 in Udine, Udine (ITA)
Measurements173 cm / 62 kg
AffiliationsG.S. Forestale, Roma (ITA)
NOC Italy
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 4
Total 5

Biography

Originally a resident of Tarvisio, Gabriella Paruzzi made her début in the international arena at the 1991 World Championships in Val di Fiemme, winning silver in the relay and placing eighth in the 30 km free technique. For nearly a decade she did not achieve significant results at an individual level, but won several medals at the Olympics and the World Championships as part of the Italian relay team including silver medals at the World Championships in 1991, 1993 and 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2005.

Her first individual podium in a World Cup race came in 2001, when she was second in the pre-Olympic pursuit. The following year, on the same tracks, Paruzzi won her only individual international medal, the gold in the 30km mass start classic technique at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. During the race one of her poles broke. Her coach was nearby, and she took his pole, although it was too long. She kept on racing and near the end of the race the coach handed her the correct size pole. At the finish line the Italian cross-country skier was second behind the Russian Larisa Lazutina, trailing by almost two minutes. But in December 2003 it was revealed that Lazutina had tested positive for darpopoietin, an erythropoietin analogue, and was disqualified from all events in Salt Lake City, which gave Paruzzi a very surprising gold medal. Her first victory in the World Cup came in 2003 in the 10 km free technique in Lahti. The following season was her best in the World Cup with three wins, nine podiums in total and first place in the overall standings at the end of the season, with second places in both specialty rankings (distance and sprint). In her career she had 38 World Cup podiums (18 individuals, 20 teams). At home, Paruzzi won 14 Italian Championships with 40 podiums between 1990 and 2005. Paruzzi retired at the end of the 2006 season, after winning her last medal in 2006 in Torino.

Following a high school education Paruzzi trained as a forest ranger. She later ran a hotel and restaurant with her husband. She was elected as an adviser athlete for the new Federal Council of the FIS in 2007. For her achievements she was appointed Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2002.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1992 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) ITA Gabriella Paruzzi
5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 23
15 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 9
30 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 12
5/10 kilometres Pursuit, Women (Olympic) 16
4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Italy 3 Bronze
1994 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) ITA Gabriella Paruzzi
5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 24
15 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 12
30 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 30
5/10 kilometres Pursuit, Women (Olympic) 18
4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Italy 3 Bronze
1998 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) ITA Gabriella Paruzzi
5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 9
15 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 14
30 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 10
5/10 kilometres Pursuit, Women (Olympic) 12
4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Italy 3 Bronze
2002 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) ITA Gabriella Paruzzi
Sprint, Women (Olympic) 8
15 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 6
30 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
5/5 kilometres Pursuit, Women (Olympic) 8
4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Italy 6
2006 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) ITA Gabriella Paruzzi
10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 13
30 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 5
15 kilometres Skiathlon, Women (Olympic) 5
4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Italy 3 Bronze
Team Sprint, Women (Olympic) Arianna Follis 7

Special Notes