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Stefania Belmondo

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Stefania Belmondo
Country Italy
Born (1969-01-13) 13 January 1969 (age 55)
Vinadio, Cuneo, Italy
Height158 cm (5 ft 2 in)
Ski clubG.S. Forestale
World Cup career
Seasons14 – (19892002)
Indiv. starts162
Indiv. podiums66
Indiv. wins23
Team starts47
Team podiums27
Team wins4
Overall titles0 – (2nd in 1991, 1992, 1997 & 1999)
Discipline titles1 – (1 SP: 1997)
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing  Italy
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Albertville 30 km freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City 15 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1992 Albertville 5 km + 10 km
combined pursuit
Silver medal – second place 1998 Nagano 30 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2002 Salt Lake City 30 km classical
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Albertville 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Lillehammer 5 km + 10 km
combined pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Lillehammer 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Nagano 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Salt Lake City 10 km classical
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1993 Falun 5 km + 10 km
combined pursuit
Gold medal – first place 1993 Falun 30 km freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1999 Ramsau 5 km + 10 km
combined pursuit
Gold medal – first place 1999 Ramsau 15 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1993 Falun 4  5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1997 Trondheim 5 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1997 Trondheim 15 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1997 Trondheim 30 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1997 Trondheim 5 km + 10 km
combined pursuit
Silver medal – second place 1999 Ramsau 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km classical
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Vang 5 km classical
Gold medal – first place 1989 Vang 15 km freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Saalfelden 5 km classical
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Saalfelden 3 × 5 km relay

Stefania Belmondo (affectionately known as the Tiny Tornado,[1] born 13 January 1969) is an Italian former cross-country skier,[2][3] a two-time Olympic champion[4] and four-time world champion.

Biography

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Debut

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Belmondo was born in Vinadio, in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont), the daughter of a housewife and an electric company employee. In her career she skied with the G.S. Forestale.

She started to ski at the age of three in the Piedmontese mountains of her native city. She made her debut at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1987. The next season she joined the main national team of Italy, and then participated at the 1988 Winter Olympics, held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1989, she won a World Cup event for her first time, in Salt Lake City,[5] and ended that season second overall.

Early success, injury, return

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At the 1991 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, she won a bronze medal in the 15 km trial, and a silver in the 4 × 5 km relay. The 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville brought the first gold medal for Belmondo, in the 30 km specialty. At the 1993 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, she won golds in the 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit and the 30 km, and a silver in the 4 × 5 km relay, before an injury to her right hallux required a surgery, and caused a 4-month absence from competition.

After a second operation, Belmondo participated to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, gaining just two bronze medals; after this disappointing performance she decided to continue skiing, against the advice of her physician. The 1996–97 season was one of her best since the surgeries, when she won three silver medals (5 km, 15 km, 30 km), all were behind Russian Yelena Välbe though she tied with Välbe in the 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit event. In the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, she won a third place with the 4 × 5 km relay, and an individual silver in the 30 km. The bronze medal in the relay was remarkable because the Italian team was ninth as Belmondo started the last leg. The 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships saw Stefania Belmondo win two gold medals (5 km + 10 km combined pursuit, 15 km) and a silver (4 × 5 km relay).

In her final year of competition, 2002, she won a gold medal, as well as a silver and a bronze, in the Winter Olympics. She concluded that year's World Cup in third place.

Other career successes

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1997 World Championships

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In the 15 km (9 mi) pursuit event at the 1997 World Championships in Trondheim the organizers had to resort to Photo finish to determine who between Belmondo and Yelena Välbe had won the race. Eventually the gold medal is awarded to the Russian and the Italian Silver for just 2 cm (0.8 in),[6] both athletes are still credited the same time.[7]

2006 Winter Olympics

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At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, in her native region of Piedmont, she lit the Olympic Flame at the opening ceremony. During the 2006 Winter Olympics, Belmondo had a series of webpages on the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games website regarding her reaction and emotions during the games.

Personal life

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Belmondo is a mother and has kids.[8][9]

Cross-country skiing results

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All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[10]

Olympic Games

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  • 10 medals – (2 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)
 Year   Age   5 km   10 km   15 km   Pursuit   20 km   30 km   Sprint   4 × 5 km 
 relay 
1988 19 19 29 10
1992 23 4 5 Silver Gold Bronze
1994 25 13 4 Bronze Bronze
1998 29 12 8 5 Silver Bronze
2002 33 Bronze Gold 11 Silver 6

World Championships

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  • 13 medals – (4 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze)
 Year   Age   5 km   10 km 
 classical 
 10 km 
 freestyle 
 15 km   Pursuit   30 km   Sprint   4 × 5 km 
 relay 
1989 20 11 10 6
1991 22 10 7 Bronze 4 Silver
1993 24 5 6 Gold Gold Silver
1995 26 8 12 5 4
1997 28 Silver Silver Silver Silver 4
1999 30 8 Gold Gold 13 Silver
2001 32 4 4 8 CNX[a] Bronze
a. 1 Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

World Cup

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Season titles

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  • 1 title – (1 sprint)
Season
Discipline
1997

Sprint

Season standings

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 Season   Age 
Overall Long Distance Middle Distance Sprint
1989 20 13
1990 21 8
1991 22 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1992 23 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1993 24 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
1994 25 4
1995 26 7
1996 27 6
1997 28 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1998 29 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
1999 30 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5
2000 31 6 7 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 37
2001 32 4 7
2002 33 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) NC

Individual podiums

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  • 23 victories
  • 66 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1 1989–90 10 December 1989 United States Soldier Hollow, United States 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
2 1990–91 8 December 1990 Austria Tauplitzalm, Austria 10 km + 15 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st
3 20 December 1990 France Les Saisies, France 5 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd
4 8 February 1991 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 15 km Individual C World Championships[1] 3rd
5  1991–92  7 December 1991 Canada Silver Star, Canada 5 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
6 8 December 1991 10 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st
7 8 December 1991 Italy Cogne, Italy 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
8 15 February 1992 France Albertville, France 10 km Pursuit F Olympic Games[1] 2nd
9 21 February 1992 30 km Individual F Olympic Games[1] 1st
10 1 March 1992 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
11 14 March 1992 Norway Vang, Norway 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
12  1992–93  9 January 1993 Switzerland Ulrichen, Switzerland 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
13 16 January 1993 Italy Cogne, Italy 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
14 23 February 1993 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km Pursuit F World Championships[1] 1st
15 27 February 1993 30 km Individual F World Championships[1] 1st
16 6 March 1993 Finland Lahti, Finland 5 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
17  1993–94  11 December 1993 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
18 18 December 1993 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
19 17 February 1994 Norway Lillehammer, Norway 10 km Pursuit F Olympic Games[1] 3rd
20 6 March 1994 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
21  1994–95  7 January 1995 Sweden Östersund, Sweden 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
22 1995–96 29 November 1995 Sweden Gällivare, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
23 9 January 1996 Slovakia Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia 30 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
24 2 February 1996 Austria Seefeld, Austria 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
25 2 March 1996 Finland Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
26  1996–97  23 November 1996 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
27 7 December 1996 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
28 14 December 1996 Italy Brusson, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
29 11 January 1997 Japan Hakuba, Japan 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
30 12 January 1997 10 km Pursuit F World Cup 1st
31 18 January 1997 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
32 21 February 1997 Norway Trondheim, Norway 15 km Individual F World Championships[1] 2nd
33 23 February 1997 5 km Individual C World Championships[1] 2nd
34 24 February 1997 10 km Pursuit F World Championships[1] 2nd
35 1 March 1997 30 km Individual C World Championships[1] 2nd
36 8 March 1997 Sweden Falun, Sweden 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
37 15 March 1997 Norway Oslo, Norway 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
38  1997–98  16 December 1997 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
39 4 January 1998 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
40 11 January 1998 Austria Ramsau, Austria 10 km Pursuit F World Cup 1st
41 7 March 1998 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
42 11 March 1998 Sweden Falun, Sweden 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
43  1998–99  28 November 1998 Finland Muonio, Finland 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
44 12 January 1999 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
45 14 February 1999 Austria Seefeld, Austria 5 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
46 19 February 1999 Austria Ramsau, Austria 15 km Individual F World Championships[1] 1st
47 23 February 1999 10 km Pursuit F World Championships[1] 1st
48 20 March 1999 Norway Oslo, Norway 30 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
49 1999–00 2 February 2000 Norway Trondheim, Norway 5 km Individual F World Cup 1st
50 16 February 2000 Switzerland Ulrichen, Switzerland 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
51 20 February 2000 France Transjurassienne, France 44 km Mass Start F World Cup 1st
52 26 February 2000 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
53 18 March 2000 Italy Bormio, Italy 10 km Pursuit F World Cup 2nd
54  2000–01  25 November 2000 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
55 29 November 2000 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
56 8 December 2000 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
57 29 December 2000 Switzerland Engelberg, Switzerland 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd
58 10 January 2001 United States Soldier Hollow, United States 5 km + 5 km Pursuit World Cup 3rd
59 4 March 2001 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
60  2001–02  12 December 2001 Italy Brusson, Italy 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
61 15 December 2001 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
62 22 December 2001 Austria Ramsau, Austria 15 km Mass Start F World Cup 2nd
63 12 January 2002 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 5 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
64 2 March 2002 Finland Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
65 9 March 2002 Sweden Falun, Sweden 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st
66 16 March 2002 Norway Oslo, Norway 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st

Team podiums

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  • 4 victories – (22 RL, 5 TS)
  • 27 podiums – (24 RL, 4 TS)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammate(s)
1  1990–91  15 February 1991 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Championships[1] 2nd Vanzetta / Di Centa / Paruzzi
2  1991–92  18 February 1992 France Albertville, France 4 × 5 km Relay C/F Olympic Games[1] 3rd Vanzetta / Di Centa / Paruzzi
3  1992–93  26 February 1993 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Championships[1] 2nd Vanzetta / Di Centa / Paruzzi
4  1993–94  22 February 1994 Norway Lillehammer, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C/F Olympic Games[1] 3rd Vanzetta / Di Centa / Paruzzi
5  1994–95  7 February 1995 Norway Hamar, Norway 4 × 3 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Valbusa / Dal Sasso / Paluselli
6  1995–96  17 December 1995 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Paluselli / Paruzzi / Di Centa
7 14 January 1996 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Paluselli / Paruzzi / Di Centa
8 3 February 1996 Austria Seefeld, Austria 6 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F World Cup 1st Di Centa
9 10 March 1996 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Giacomuzzi / Di Centa / Dal Sasso
10  1996–97  15 December 1996 Italy Brusson, Italy 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Paruzzi / Valbusa / Dal Sasso
11 19 January 1997 Finland Lahti, Finland 8 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F World Cup 1st Valbusa
12 16 March 1997 Norway Oslo, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Paruzzi / Peyrot / Valbusa
13  1997–98  23 November 1997 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Moroder / Valbusa / Paruzzi
14 7 December 1997 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Paruzzi / Moroder / Valbusa
15 14 December 1997 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Paruzzi / Di Centa / Valbusa
16  1998–99  29 November 1998 Finland Muonio, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Moroder / Paruzzi / Valbusa
17 20 December 1998 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Paruzzi / Confortola / Valbusa
18 10 January 1999 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Paruzzi / Confortola / Valbusa
19 26 February 1999 Austria Ramsau, Austria 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Championships[1] 2nd Valbusa / Paruzzi / Confortola
20 14 March 1999 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Valbusa / Paruzzi / Confortola
21  1999–00  8 December 1999 Italy Asiago, Italy Team Sprint F World Cup 2nd Moroder
22 27 February 2000 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Paruzzi / Valbusa / Confortola
23  2000–01  13 December 2000 Italy Clusone, Italy 6 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F World Cup 2nd Valbusa
24 13 January 2001 United States Soldier Hollow, United States 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Valbusa / Paruzzi / Paluselli
25  2001–02  16 December 2001 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Paluselli / Paruzzi / Follis
26 2 March 2002 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F World Cup 3rd Philippot
27 10 March 2002 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Valbusa / Paruzzi / Paluselli

Note: 1 Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Belmondo bows out on a high". olympics.com. 9 February 2002. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Olympic flame lit over Turin as Winter Games begin". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  3. ^ "Meet Marit Bjoergen, now the most decorated female athlete in Winter Olympics history". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  4. ^ Hastings, Deborah. "Benvenuto!". The Herald-Times. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  5. ^ "Belmondo opens Europe's medal rush". 2002-02-09. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  6. ^ "Trondheim (NOR) 1997 World Ski Championships - Podium". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Trondheim (NOR) 1997 World Ski Championships - Results". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Games officially opened". www.eurosport.com. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Belmondo a no-go for Turin". www.eurosport.com. 15 September 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  10. ^ "BELMONDO Stefania". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
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