Nikolay Gusakov

Nikolay Gusakov made his first international appearance in Nordic combined at the 1956 Winter Olympics, where he finished in seventh place. At the 1958 World Championships Gusakov placed eighth. At the 1960 Olympics, Gusakov was only tenth after the jumping, but had the best ski time and moved up to third, thus winning the first Soviet Olympic medal in Nordic combined. In 1961, he also became the first non-Scandinavian athlete to win the Nordic combined at Holmenkollen. Gusakov made his last international appearance at the 1964 Olympic Games, placing fourth. Domestically Gusakov won only one Soviet title in 1958. His wife Mariya Gusakova was across-country skier, winning a full set of medals at the 1960-64 Winter Olympics and 1962 World Championships.