1. Overview
Maria Ivanovna Gusakova (Мария Ивановна ГусаковаMariya Ivanovna GusakovaRussian; 2 February 1931 - 8 May 2022) was a prominent Soviet cross-country skiing athlete who competed from the late 1950s to the early 1960s. Representing VSS Spartak, she achieved a complete set of medals at the Winter Olympics, securing a gold in the 10 km event and a silver in the 3 × 5 km relay at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, followed by a bronze in the 10 km event at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. Gusakova also earned a complete set of medals at the 1962 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Zakopane, winning a gold in the 3 × 5 km relay, a silver in the 10 km, and a bronze in the 5 km. Her husband, Nikolay Gusakov, was also an Olympic medalist, earning a bronze in Nordic combined at the 1960 Winter Olympics, making them a notable Olympic medalist couple.
2. Early Life and Background
Maria Ivanovna Gusakova was born on 2 February 1931, in the village of Timoshkino, located in the Shilovsky District of Ryazan Oblast, then part of the Soviet Union.
3. Athletic Career
Maria Gusakova's athletic career spanned from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, during which she competed for the VSS Spartak sports society.
3.1. Early Career and International Debut
Gusakova made her international debut at the 1958 World Championships, where she competed in the 10 km event and finished in tenth position.
4. Major Achievements and Competition Participation
Throughout her career, Maria Gusakova participated in several major international competitions, earning a significant number of medals, including a complete set from both the Winter Olympics and the World Championships.
4.1. 1960 Winter Olympics
Maria Gusakova made her Olympic debut representing the Soviet Union at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, United States. Despite not being considered a top Soviet skier or a favorite to win a medal, she defied expectations. In the women's 10 km cross-country skiing event, she delivered a strong finish to claim the gold medal, outclassing her highly regarded teammates Lyubov Kozyreva, Radya Yeroshina, and Alevtina Kolchina. Her victory was particularly dramatic, as she was reportedly trailing by approximately 23 minutes behind the leader at the halfway point of the race before her remarkable comeback. This victory also marked a historic moment for the Soviet Union, as Soviet skiers achieved a clean sweep of the podium in the 10 km event. Gusakova further added to her medal tally at the 1960 Games by securing a silver medal in the 3 × 5 km relay event. Her husband, Nikolay Gusakov, also competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal in the Nordic combined event, making them a unique couple to both earn Olympic medals at the same Games.
4.2. 1964 Winter Olympics
Gusakova made her second Olympic appearance representing the Soviet Union at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. At these Games, she won the bronze medal in the women's 10 km event, which was her third and final Olympic medal of her career.
4.3. 1962 World Championships
At the 1962 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships held in Zakopane, Poland, Maria Gusakova achieved another remarkable feat by earning a complete set of medals. She secured a gold medal in the 3 × 5 km relay, a silver medal in the 10 km event, and a bronze medal in the 5 km event.
4.4. National Championships
In addition to her international successes, Maria Gusakova was a dominant force in domestic competitions, winning a total of six Soviet national titles throughout her career. Her national championship victories include the 10 km event in 1960 and 1961, the 5 km event in 1960, and the relay event in 1958, 1962, and 1966.
5. Personal Life
Maria Gusakova was married to Nikolay Gusakov, who was also a prominent athlete in Nordic combined. Their shared passion for winter sports led to a unique achievement: both competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, where Maria won a gold and a silver medal in cross-country skiing, and Nikolay earned a bronze medal in Nordic combined. This made them one of the few married couples to both become Olympic medalists at the same Games.
6. Competition Results
The following tables detail Maria Gusakova's specific competition results from the Olympic Games and World Championships.
6.1. Olympic Games Results
Maria Gusakova earned a total of three Olympic medals: one gold, one silver, and one bronze.
| Year | Age | 5 km | 10 km | 3 × 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 29 | - | Gold | Silver |
| 1964 | 33 | - | Bronze | - |
6.2. World Championships Results
Maria Gusakova secured three medals at the World Championships: one gold, one silver, and one bronze.
| Year | Age | 5 km | 10 km | 3 × 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 27 | - | 6 | - |
| 1962 | 31 | Bronze | Silver | Gold |