Virpi Sarasvuo

Virpi Sarasvuo
Virpi Sarasvuo
Full name	Virpi Katriina Sarasvuo
Born	20 May 1976; Kangasniemi, Finland
Height	174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Ski club	Kangasniemen Kalske
World Cup career
Seasons	1997–2001, 2003–2010
Individual wins	27
Indiv. podiums	52
Overall titles	2 – (2007, 2008)
Discipline titles	3 – (2 DI, 1 SP)
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing Finland
International nordic ski competitions
Olympic Games
World Championships
Junior World Championships

Virpi Katriina Sarasvuo^[1] (née Kuitunen, born 20 May 1976) is a Finnish former cross-country skier who competed from 1995 to 2010. She won a bronze medal in the team sprint event (with Aino-Kaisa Saarinen) at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and earned her best individual finish of fifth in the individual sprint event in those same games. Four years later in Vancouver, Kuitunen won another bronze, this time in the 4 × 5 km relay.

Virpi Kuitunen leading the group in the quarterfinals of Tour de Ski, Prague 2007

Kuitunen has eight medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with six golds (2001: 5 km + 5 km combined pursuit, 2007: Team sprint, with Riitta-Liisa Roponen, 30 km, & 4 x 5 km; 2009: Team sprint, 4 x 5 km), one silver (2005: 30 km), one bronze (2007: Individual sprint). She also has thirty-four additional individual victories at various levels of various distances since 2000.

Kuitunen won the first ever Tour de Ski competition for women in 2006–07, winning over Norway's Marit Bjørgen by 1:17.5. She also won the overall 2006–07 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, as well as the sprint World Cup the same season. In the season 2007–08 Kuitunen won the overall again.

Because of Kuitunen's successes in cross-country skiing in 2007, she was awarded Finnish Sportswoman of the Year. Kuitunen also won the Tour de Ski in 2008–09.

Virpi Kuitunen married Jari Sarasvuo on 16 July 2010.^[1]

Doping controversy

At the 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Kuitunen was disqualified when she tested positive for hydroxyethyl starch, a banned blood plasma expander. This forced her to relinquish her silver medal earned in the 4 x 5 km and serve a two-year suspension that would not end until the 2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

World Cup results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).^[2]

Season titles

5 titles – (2 overall, 2 distance, 1 sprint)

Season
	Discipline
2007	Overall
	Distance
	Sprint
2008	Overall
	Distance

Season standings

Season	Age	Overall	Distance		Sprint
1999	22	81	N/A		79
2000	23	34	28^[a]	33^[a]	35
2001	24	18	N/A		–
2002	25	suspended: not allowed to compete
2003	26	23	N/A		20
2004	27	6	7		4
2005	28	3	8		2
2006	29	6	7		10
2007	30	1	1		1
2008	31	1	1		3
2009	32	5	6		11
2010	33	22	21		20

a. ¹ 28th in the Long Distance World Cup.
² 33rd in the Middle Distance World Cup.

Individual podiums

27 victories – (20 WC, 7 SWC)
52 podiums – (43 WC, 9 SWC)

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place
1	2000–01	17 December 2000	Brusson, Italy	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	3rd
2	2000–01	10 February 2001	Otepää, Estonia	5 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
3	2002–03	11 March 2003	Drammen, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd
4	2003–04	13 December 2003	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
5		18 January 2004	Nové Město, Czech Republic	1.2 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
6		26 February 2004	Drammen, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
7		7 March 2004	Lahti, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
8	2004–05	20 November 2004	Gällivare, Sweden	10 km C Individual	World Cup	3rd
9		14 December 2004	Asiago, Italy	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
10		13 February 2005	Reit im Winkl, Germany	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
11		5 March 2005	Lahti, Finland	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd
12		9 March 2005	Drammen, Norway	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
13		12 March 2005	Oslo, Norway	30 km C Individual	World Cup	3rd
14		16 March 2005	Göteborg, Sweden	1.1 km Sprint F	World Cup	3rd
15	2005–06	19 November 2005	Beitostølen, Norway	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
16		26 November 2005	Kuusamo, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
17		4 February 2006	Davos, Switzerland	1.0 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
18		5 February 2006	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
19	2006–07	25 November 2006	Kuusamo, Finland	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
20		26 November 2006	Kuusamo, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
21		13 December 2006	Cogne/Val d'Aosta, Italy	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
22		16 December 2006	La Clusaz, France	15 km F Mass Start	World Cup	1st
23		3 January 2007	Oberstdorf, Germany	10 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	3rd
24		5 January 2007	Asiago, Italy	1.2 km Sprint F	Stage World Cup	1st
25		6 January 2007	Cavalese, Italy	15 km C Mass Start	Stage World Cup	1st
26		29 December 2006 – 7 January 2007	Tour de Ski	Overall Standings	World Cup	1st
27		27 January 2007	Otepää, Estonia	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
28		28 January 2007	Otepää, Estonia	1.0 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
29		3 February 2007	Davos, Switzerland	10 km F Individual	World Cup	1st
30		10 March 2007	Lahti, Finland	1.2 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
31		14 March 2007	Drammen, Norway	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
32		17 March 2007	Oslo, Norway	30 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
33		21 March 2007	Stockholm, Sweden	1.1 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
34	2007–08	8 December 2007	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
35		28 December 2007	Nové Město, Czech Republic	3.3 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	1st
36		2 January 2008	Nové Město, Czech Republic	10 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	2nd
37		5 January 2008	Val di Fiemme, Italy	10 km C Mass Start	Stage World Cup	1st
38		28 December 2007 – 6 January 2008	Tour de Ski	Overall Standings	World Cup	2nd
39		9 February 2008	Otepää, Estonia	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
40		10 February 2008	Otepää, Estonia	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd
41		27 February 2008	Stockholm, Sweden	1.1 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
42		2 March 2008	Lahti, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
43		5 March 2008	Drammen, Norway	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
44		16 March 2008	Bormio, Italy	10 km F Pursuit	World Cup	1st
45	2008–09	30 November 2008	Kuusamo, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
46		13 December 2008	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
47		28 December 2008	Oberhof, Germany	10 km C Pursuit	Stage World Cup	1st
48		31 December 2008	Nové Město, Czech Republic	9 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	1st
49		3 January 2009	Val di Fiemme, Italy	10 km C Mass Start	Stage World Cup	1st
50		27 December 2008 – 4 January 2009	Tour de Ski	Overall Standings	World Cup	1st
51		24 January 2009	Otepää, Estonia	10 km C Individual	World Cup	3rd
52		25 January 2009	Otepää, Estonia	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd

Team podiums

4 victories – (4 RL)
16 podiums – (13 RL, 3 TS)

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place	Teammate(s)
1	2000–01	25 November 2000	Beitostølen, Norway	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	1st	Manninen / Jauho / Varis
2	2000–01	16 December 2000	Santa Caterina, Italy	4 x 3 km Relay M	World Cup	3rd	Manninen / Salonen / Jauho
3	2003–04	11 January 2004	Otepää, Estonia	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	3rd	Välimaa / Saarinen / Sarasoja-Lilja
4	2004–05	21 November 2004	Gällivare, Sweden	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	2nd	Välimaa / Saarinen / Roponen
5		15 December 2004	Asiago, Italy	6 x 1.2 km Team Sprint C	World Cup	2nd	Saarinen
6		20 March 2005	Falun, Sweden	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	1st	Saarinen / Välimaa / Roponen
7	2005–06	20 November 2005	Beitostølen, Norway	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	3rd	Saarinen / Välimaa / Roponen
8	2005–06	15 January 2006	Val di Fiemme, Italy	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	1st	Saarinen / Roponen / Varis
9	2006–07	29 October 2006	Düsseldorf, Germany	6 x 0.8 km Team Sprint F	World Cup	3rd	Saarinen
10		19 November 2006	Gällivare, Sweden	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	3rd	Välimaa / Roponen / Saarinen
11		27 March 2007	Falun, Sweden	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	2nd	Manninen / Roponen / Saarinen
12	2007–08	28 October 2007	Düsseldorf, Germany	6 x 0.8 km Team Sprint F	World Cup	3rd	Muranen
13	2007–08	24 February 2008	Falun, Sweden	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	2nd	Saarinen / Roponen / Sarasoja-Lilja
14	2008–09	23 November 2008	Gällivare, Sweden	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	2nd	Muranen / Saarinen / Roponen
15	2008–09	7 December 2008	La Clusaz, France	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	1st	Muranen / Roponen / Saarinen
16	2009–10	22 November 2009	Beitostølen, Norway	4 x 5 km Relay M	World Cup	3rd	Muranen / Roponen / Saarinen

Overall record

Result	Distance Races^[a]						Sprint	Ski tours	Individual events	Team Events		All events
Result	≤ 5 km^[b]	≤ 10 km^[b]	≤ 15 km^[b]	≤ 30 km^[b]	≥ 30 km^[b]	Pursuit^[c]	Sprint	Ski tours	Individual events	Team sprint	Relay^[d]	All events
1st place	1	12	2	–	–	2	8	2	27	–	2	29
2nd place	1	6	–	1	–	–	6	1	15	–	4	19
3rd place	–	3	–	1	–	–	6	–	10	2	4	16
Podiums	2	21	2	2	–	2	20	3	52	2	10	64
Top 10	5	29	8	4	–	11	39	3	99	5	16	120
Points	10	55	13	6	–	22	58	4	168	6	16	190
Others	3	1^[e]	3	–	–	2^[e]	1	1^[f]	11	–	–	11
Starts	13	56	16	6	–	24	59	5	179	6	16	201

a. ¹ Classification is made according to FIS classification.

b. ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ Includes individual and mass start races.

c. ¹ Includes handicap start, pursuit and double pursuit races.

d. ¹ Incomplete due to lack of appropriate sources prior to 2001.

e. ¹ ² Did not finish the race (DNF).

f. ¹ Withdrawn from 2009–10 Tour de Ski.

Note: Until 1999 World Championships, World Championship races are part of the World Cup. Hence results from 1999 World Championships races are included in the World Cup overall record.

Olympic results

2 medals – (2 bronze)

Year	Age	10 km individual	2 × 7.5 km pursuit	30 km mass start	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay	Team sprint
2002	25	suspended: not allowed to compete
2006	29	9	–	DNF	5	7	3
2010	33	–	–	13	9	3	–

World Championship results

8 medals – (6 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

Year	Age	5 km individual	10 km individual	2 × 5 km pursuit	15 km individual	2 × 7.5 km pursuit	15 km mass start	30 km individual	30 km mass start	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay	Team sprint
1999	22	35	N/A	N/A	–	–	N/A	–	N/A	N/A	–	N/A
2001	24	N/A	5	1	5	N/A	N/A	CNX^[a]	N/A	–	DSQ	N/A
2003	26	N/A	–	16	N/A	N/A	–	–	N/A	–	–	N/A
2005	28	N/A	4	N/A	N/A	–	N/A	N/A	2	5	5	–
2007	30	N/A	–	N/A	N/A	DNF	N/A	N/A	1	3	1	1
2009	32	N/A	4	N/A	N/A	13	N/A	N/A	DNF	–	1	1

a. ¹ Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

References

1 2 "Virpi ja Jari Sarasvuo avioon kokovalkoisissa asuissa". HS.fi (in Finnish). Helsinki: Helsingin Sanomat Oy. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
↑ "Virpi Kuitunen". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

Virpi Sarasvuo at the International Ski Federation
Tour de Virpi report – Accessed 11 January 2007.

External links

Media related to Virpi Sarasvuo at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[hs.fi_20100716-1] 1 2 "Virpi ja Jari Sarasvuo avioon kokovalkoisissa asuissa". HS.fi (in Finnish). Helsinki: Helsingin Sanomat Oy. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

[FISprofile-2] "Virpi Kuitunen". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

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World champions in women's cross-country combined/double pursuit
5 km + 10 km combined	1993: Stefania Belmondo (ITA) 1995: Larisa Lazutina (RUS) 1997: Yelena Välbe (RUS) & Stefania Belmondo (ITA) 1999: Stefania Belmondo (ITA)
5 km + 5 km combined	2001: Virpi Kuitunen (FIN)
5 km + 5 km double	2003: Kristina Šmigun (EST)
7.5 km + 7.5 km double	2005: Yuliya Chepalova (RUS) 2007: Olga Zavyalova (RUS) 2009: Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) 2011: Marit Bjørgen (NOR) 2013: Marit Bjørgen (NOR) 2015: Therese Johaug (NOR) 2017: Marit Bjørgen (NOR)