Nikita Kryukov
Nikita Kriukov | |
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Full name | Nikita Valeryevich Kriukov |
Born |
Dzerzhinsky, Russia | May 30, 1985
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) |
Ski club | Sdusor 81 |
World Cup career | |
Seasons | 2006– |
Individual wins | 3 |
Indiv. podiums | 13 |
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)