Varvara Zelenskaya
Encyclopedia
Varvara Vladimirovna Zelenskaya ' onMouseout='HidePop("44852")' href="/topics/Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky">Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
) is a retired Russia
n alpine ski racer
. She is the most successful Russian female World Cup ski racer, winning a total of 4 races (Svetlana Gladysheva is the only other Russian woman to win a World Cup race).
, on the Kamchatka Peninsula
in far eastern Russia. She was coached by Lyudmila Agranovskaya, the famed mountaineer and innovative skiing coach who ran the most successful training center for Soviet (and later Russian) alpine skiers.
Zelenskaya made her debut on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit in February 1989 at the age of 16 and competed for 14 seasons through 2002. She won four World Cup races in 1996 and 1997, all in downhill
. She also placed on the World Cup podium (top three) in 12 downhill races and one Super G from 1990 to 1997, with her first podium at the age of 18 on December 21, 1990, in Morzine
, France. She placed third in the World Cup downhill standings and tenth overall in 1997
, her best year on the circuit.
She also competed in four Winter Olympics (1992
, 1994
, 1998
, 2002
) and five FIS Alpine World Ski Championships (1991
, 1993
, 1996
, 1997
, 2001
), representing the Soviet Union
(1991), Unified Team
(1992), and Russia
(subsequently). She placed in the top-ten several times in those competitions, but failed to win any medals.
Zelenskaya retired from top-level competition in April 2002, after the end of the World Cup season and the Russian national championships in which she won the Super G and placed second in the downhill. Following the birth of her daughter in 2003, she returned to limited competition in 2004, winning the downhill and Super G at the Russian national championships that year, and repeating as national champion in Super G again in 2006.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia. Population: .-History:It was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the service of the Russian Navy...
) is a retired 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 alpine ski racer
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
. She is the most successful Russian female World Cup ski racer, winning a total of 4 races (Svetlana Gladysheva is the only other Russian woman to win a World Cup race).
Career
Zelenskaya began skiing at the age of 6 in her native Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyPetropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia. Population: .-History:It was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the service of the Russian Navy...
, on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
in far eastern Russia. She was coached by Lyudmila Agranovskaya, the famed mountaineer and innovative skiing coach who ran the most successful training center for Soviet (and later Russian) alpine skiers.
Zelenskaya made her debut on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit in February 1989 at the age of 16 and competed for 14 seasons through 2002. She won four World Cup races in 1996 and 1997, all in downhill
Downhill
Downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1921 British National Ski Championships....
. She also placed on the World Cup podium (top three) in 12 downhill races and one Super G from 1990 to 1997, with her first podium at the age of 18 on December 21, 1990, in Morzine
Morzine
Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune...
, France. She placed third in the World Cup downhill standings and tenth overall in 1997
1997 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 31st World Cup season began in October 1996 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded in March 1997 at the World Cup finals in Vail, Colorado, U.S.A. The overall winners were Luc Alphand of France and Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden....
, her best year on the circuit.
She also competed in four Winter Olympics (1992
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
, 1994
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
, 1998
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
, 2002
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
) and five FIS Alpine World Ski Championships (1991
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1991
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1991 were held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria between January 22 and February 3, 1991....
, 1993
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1993
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1993 were held in Morioka, Japan, from February 4-14, 1993. The men's Super-G race was cancelled due to persistent bad weather and the title went unassigned.-Medals table:...
, 1996
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 were held at Sierra Nevada near Granada city in southeastern Spain, February 12-25, 1996. The championships were to be held in 1995, but were postponed due to lack of snow.-Medals table:...
, 1997
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1997
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1997 were held in Sestriere, northwestern Italy, from February 3-15, 1997.Nine years later, the area would later host the alpine events for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino.-Medals table:...
, 2001
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2001
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 were held in St. Anton, Austria, between January 29 and February 10, 2001.-Medals table:...
), representing the Soviet Union
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....
(1991), Unified Team
Unified Team
The Unified Team was the name used for the sports team of the former Soviet Union at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The IOC country code was EUN, after the French name, Équipe Unifiée...
(1992), and 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...
(subsequently). She placed in the top-ten several times in those competitions, but failed to win any medals.
Zelenskaya retired from top-level competition in April 2002, after the end of the World Cup season and the Russian national championships in which she won the Super G and placed second in the downhill. Following the birth of her daughter in 2003, she returned to limited competition in 2004, winning the downhill and Super G at the Russian national championships that year, and repeating as national champion in Super G again in 2006.
World Cup victories
| Season | Date | Location | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 1996 Alpine Skiing World Cup The 30th World Cup season began in November 1995 in Tignes, France, and concluded in March 1996 at the World Cup finals in Lillehammer, Norway. The overall champions were Lasse Kjus of Norway and Katja Seizinger of Germany.... |
March 1, 1996 |  NarvikNarvik is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle... , Norway |
Downhill |
| 1997 1997 Alpine Skiing World Cup The 31st World Cup season began in October 1996 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded in March 1997 at the World Cup finals in Vail, Colorado, U.S.A. The overall winners were Luc Alphand of France and Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden.... |
February 1, 1997 |  LaaxLaax Laax is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Laax has an area, , of . Of this area, 35.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.6% is forested... , Switzerland |
Downhill |
| February 28, 1997 |  Happo OneHappo'one Resort Happōone Resort is a resort located on Mount Karamatsu in Hakuba, Japan. For the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, it hosted the alpine skiing downhill, super giant slalom, and combined slalom events.The resort was constructed in 1958... , Japan |
Downhill | |
| March 2, 1997 | Happo One, Japan |
Downhill |