Vladimir Kuzin

Although a successful skier in local competitions as a youth, Vladimir Kuzin’s talent as a cross-county skier was not discovered until he joined the Soviet Army in 1952. Within a year, Kuzin won his first Soviet Championship title in 18 km in 1953, and in 1954 he was selected to the Soviet team that competed at the World Championships in Falun, where he was a big surprise, winning both the 30 and 50 km races, and also earned a silver medal as a member of the Soviet relay team. At the 1956 Winter Olympics, Kuzin was tenth at 15 km, fifth at 30 km and won a gold as a member of the Soviet relay team. Kuzin won his second and last Soviet title in 1958 over 15 km. He was also selected to the Soviet 1960 Winter Olympic team, but did not compete due to illness. After his sporting career Kuzin worked as a ski coach and also studied at the Moscow University of Physical Culture. In 1972 Kuzin defended a dissertation for the Candidate of Science degree in biology and after that he worked as a professor at his alma mater (now re-named the Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism).