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Bente Skari, nèe Martinsen, (born September 10, 1972 in Oslo) is a former cross country skier from Nittedal, Norway.
[edit] Career
She won her first Olympic medals in 1998, and won her first gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, coming from behind to beat the favourites Olga Danilova and Julija Tchepalova in the last kilometers of the 10 km classical event. She also won a bronze medal in 30 km classical as well as a silver medal in the relay.
Additionally, she won five gold medals (5 km: 1999, 10 km: 2001, 2003, and 15 km: 2001, 2003) from the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as two silver (4 x 5 km: 1997, 2001) medals. She won the overall cross-country skiing World Cup four times before retiring after the 2002/2003 season.
Skari also won the women's 30 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 2003. In 2001 she received the Holmenkollen medal (shared with Adam Malysz and Thomas Alsgaard). Her father, Odd Martinsen, earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1969. They are the only father-daughter combination to ever win this prestigious honour.
[edit] FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011
In 2007, Skari was named as the first woman race administator in cross country skiing. She assisted in the 2007-08 Tour de Ski, working as an assistant technical delegate in the events held in the Czech Republic. This is part of the Norwegian Ski Federation's effort to promote more women in management positions in skiing.
[edit] Personal life
Bente Skari was named Martinsen before marrying Geir Skari in 1999. She is the mother of two children, Filip and Oda.
[edit] References
