Alevtina Pavlovna Kolchina ( alternate spelling: Alevtina Koltsjina, born 11 November 1930 in village Pavlovsk, Ochersky District, Perm Oblast

Perm Oblast

Until December 1, 2005, Perm Oblast was a federal subject of Russia in Privolzhsky Federal District. According to the results of the referendum held in October 2004, Perm Oblast was merged with Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug to form Perm Krai.The oblast was named after its administrative center,...

) was a Soviet

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 cross country skier who competed during the 1950s and 1960s for Burevestnik and later for Dynamo sports societies. She competed in four Winter Olympics, earning a total of five medals. Kolchina also competed several times at the Holmenkollen ski festival

Holmenkollen ski festival

The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...

, winning three times at 10 km (1961-1963) and once at 5 km (1966). She was married to four-time Olympic cross country medalist Pavel Kolchin

Pavel Kolchin

Pavel Konstantinovich Kolchin was a Soviet cross-country skier who competed during the 1950s and 1960s, training at Dynamo in Moscow. He was born in Yaroslavl....

 until his 2010 death.

Kolchina's biggest success was at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...

, where she won 3 medals in 10 km (golds in 1958 and 1962, silver in 1966), 3 medals in the 3 x 5 km relay (golds in 1958, 1962, and 1966), and 2 medals in 5 km (golds in 1962 and 1966).

For her successes in the world championships and at the Holmenkollen, Kolchina received the Holmenkollen medal

Holmenkollen medal

The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....

 in 1963 (shared with her husband, Astrid Sandvik

Astrid Sandvik

Astrid Sandvik is a Norwegian Alpine skier who finished tied for sixth dog in the women's slalom at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo. In 1963, Sandvik almost earned the Holmenkollen medal...

, and Torbjørn Yggeseth

Torbjørn Yggeseth

Torbjørn Yggeseth was a Norwegian ski jumper who was active in the 1960s. He was born in Asker.Yggeseth won the ski jumping competition at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1963, the same year he earned the Holmenkollen medal . He also had two career victories...

). Kolchina is the third woman, first Soviet

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

/Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n, and first female Nordic skier

Nordic skiing

Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....

to ever win the Holmenkollen medal. Kolchina and her husband are the first husband and wife team to ever win the Holmenkollen Medal.