Nikita Kryukov
| Nikita Kriukov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full name | Nikita Valeryevich Kriukov |
| Born |
May 30, 1985 Dzerzhinsky, Russia |
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Ski club | Sdusor 81 |
| World Cup career | |
| Seasons | 2006– |
| Individual wins | 3 |
| Indiv. podiums | 13 |
.svg.png){kind=icon}
.svg.png){kind=icon}
.svg.png){kind=icon}
Nikita Valeryevich Kriukov (Russian: Никита Валерьевич Крюков; born 30 May 1985) is a Russian cross country skier who has competed since 2005. He is a sprint specialist who has won an Olympic Gold, two World Championship gold medals, six World cup gold medals (three stage races, three individual World Cups), all in the sprint events. He is arguably the fastest skier ever when it comes to double-poling on the flat in sprints. But as he showed in the team sprint in the World Championship, in Val di Fiemme, he is also very strong in the freestyle sprint.
A crash involving a Norwegian skier which obstructed his path before the final 200 metres likely cost him a 2nd Olympic Gold in the team sprint event in Sochi where he won silver. He appeared to be past his prime with declining results but a World Cup win in February 2016 has ignited him and he now aims for more medals at the 2018 Games.
He is known for his friendly and easy going personality and is very popular with his fellow competitors. He has a pet dog back home he is very attached to.
Career highlights
- Olympic Games Medals
- 2010 –
2010 Vancouver 
1st, classical sprint
- FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Medals
- 2011 –
Oslo 
3rd, team sprint (with Panzhinskiy) - 2013 –
Val di Fiemme 1st, classical sprint - 2013 – Val di Fiemme 1st, team sprint (with Petukhov)
- 2015 –
Falun 
2nd, team sprint (with Petukhov)
- World Cup podiums
- 2009 –
Kuusamo 3rd, classical sprint - 2010 –
Otepää 3rd, classical sprint - 2010 –
Rybinsk 3rd, freestyle sprint - 2011 – Otepää 3rd, classical sprint
- 2011 –
Düsseldorf 2nd, team sprint (with Petukhov) - 2012 – Lahti 3rd, classical sprint
- 2012 – Quebec 2nd, team sprint (with Petukhov)
- 2012 – Canmore 3rd, freestyle sprint
- 2013 –
Liberec 3rd, team sprint (with Petukhov) - 2013 – Drammen 3rd, classical sprint
- 2013 – Asiago 1st, classical sprint
- 2014 – Nove Mesto 1st, team sprint (with Vylegzhanin)
- 2016 – Stockholm 1st, classical sprint
- Stage World Cup podiums
- 2010 – Stockholm 1st, classical sprint (WC Final)
- 2011 – Kuusamo 2nd, classical sprint (Nordic Opening)
- 2011 – Oberstdorf 1st, classical sprint (Tour de Ski)
- 2012 – Kuusamo 1st, classical sprint (Nordic Opening)
- 2013 – Stockholm 3rd, classical sprint (WC Final)
External links
|