Nikolay Zimyatov

Nikolay Semyonovich Zimyatov (Russian: Николай Семёнович Зимятов; born 28 June 1955), is one of the most successful Soviet/Russian male cross-country skiers. He was the first man in the sport to win three gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, in the 30 km, 50 km and 4 × 10 km relay at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. In the 50 km race he finished two and half minutes ahead of the second place.[1] He also won the 30 km event at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and was awarded Order of Friendship of Peoples that year.[2]

Nikolay Zimyatov
Nikolay Zimyatov in 2008
Country	Russia
Born	(1955-06-28) June 28, 1955[1] Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
World Cup career
Seasons	1982–1985, 1988
Individual wins	2
Team wins	0
Indiv. podiums	2
Team podiums	1
Indiv. starts	17
Team starts	2
Overall titles	0 – (6th in 1984)
Medal record Men's cross-country skiing Representing  Soviet Union Olympic Games 1980 Lake Placid 30 km 1980 Lake Placid 50 km 1980 Lake Placid 4 × 10 km relay 1984 Sarajevo 30 km 1984 Sarajevo 4 × 10 km relay World Championships 1978 Lahti 30 km

At the world championships Zimyatov won only one medal, a silver over 30 km in 1978. Nationally he collected four Soviet titles: in the 30 km and 4 × 10 km relay in 1978, and in the 15 and 30 km in 1979. After retiring from competitions he had a long career as a cross-country skiing coach and prepared the Russian team for the 2002 Olympics. In 1980 he married a fellow international skier Lyubov Sykova.