Bente Skari

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Bente Skari
Country Norway
Born
Bente Martinsen

(1972-09-10) 10 September 1972 (age 51)
Nittedal, Akershus, Norway
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Ski clubNittedal IL
World Cup career
Seasons11 – (1992, 1994–2003)
Starts147
Podiums60
Wins42
Overall titles4 – (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003)
Discipline titles5 – (5 SP: 1998–2002)
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing  Norway
International nordic ski competitions
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 2 2
World Championships 5 2 0
Total 6 4 2
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City 10 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1998 Nagano 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 2002 Salt Lake City 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Nagano 5 km classical
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Salt Lake City 30 km classical
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Ramsau 5 km classical
Gold medal – first place 2001 Lahti 10 km classical
Gold medal – first place 2001 Lahti 15 km classical
Gold medal – first place 2003 Val di Fiemme 10 km classical
Gold medal – first place 2003 Val di Fiemme 15 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1997 Trondheim 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 2001 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Reit im Winkl 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1992 Vuokatti 5 km classical

Bente Skari, née Martinsen, (born 10 September 1972) is a Norwegian former cross-country skier. She is one of the most successful cross-country skiers ever.

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 × 5 km relay: 1997, 2001) medals. She won the overall cross-country skiing World Cup four times before retiring after the 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 Małysz 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.

In 1998, she won Tjejvasan.[1]

After retirement

In 2007, Skari was named as the first female race administrator 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.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[2]

Olympic Games

  • 5 medals – (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
 Year   Age   5 km   10 km   15 km   Pursuit   30 km   Sprint   4 × 5 km 
 relay 
1994 21 — — 20 — — — —
1998 25 Bronze — 6 9 — — Silver
2002 29 — Gold — 6 Bronze — Silver

World Championships

  • 7 medals – (5 gold, 2 silver)
 Year   Age   5 km   10 km   15 km   Pursuit   30 km   Sprint   4 × 5 km 
 relay 
1995 22 — — 13 — — — —
1997 24 8 — — 17 8 — Silver
1999 26 Gold — — 8 DNF — 4
2001 28 — Gold Gold 5 CNX[a] 15 Silver
2003 30 — Gold Gold DNS — — —
a. 1 Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

World Cup

Season titles

  • 9 titles – (4 overall, 5 sprint)
Season
Discipline
1998 Sprint
1999 Overall
Sprint
2000 Overall
Sprint
2001 Sprint
2002 Overall
Sprint
2003 Overall

Season standings

 Season   Age  Overall Long Distance Sprint
1992 20 NC — —
1994 22 32 — —
1995 23 25 — —
1996 24 12 — —
1997 25 6 10 4
1998 26 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1999 27 1st place, gold medalist(s) 13 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2000 28 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5[a] 6[a] 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2001 29 2nd place, silver medalist(s) — 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2002 30 1st place, gold medalist(s) — 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2003 31 1st place, gold medalist(s) — 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
a. 1 5th in the Long Distance World Cup.
    2 6th in the Middle Distance World Cup.

Individual podiums

  • 42 victories
  • 60 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1  1996–97  18 December 1996 Germany Oberstdorf, Germany 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
2 3 November 1997 Sweden Sunne, Sweden 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd
3  1997–98  22 November 1997 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 5 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
4 10 December 1997 Italy Milan, Italy 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
5 13 December 1997 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
6 8 January 1998 Austria Ramsau, Austria 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
7 9 January 1998 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
8  1998–99  10 December 1998 Italy Milan, Italy 0.6 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd
9 13 December 1998 Italy Toblach, Italy 10 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st
10 19 December 1998 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
11 27 December 1998 Germany Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
12 28 December 1998 Switzerland Engelberg, Switzerland 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
13 29 December 1998 Austria Kitzbühel, Austria 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
14 5 January 1999 Estonia Otepää, Estonia 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
15 9 January 1999 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
16 22 February 1999 Austria Ramsau, Austria 5 km Individual C World Championships[1] 1st
17 7 March 1999 Finland Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
18 1999–00 27 November 1999 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
19 18 December 1999 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
20 28 December 1999 Germany Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd
21 29 December 1999 Austria Kitzbühel, Austria 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
22 12 January 2000 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
23 28 February 2000 Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
24 3 March 2000 Finland Lahti, Finland 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd
25 5 March 2000 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 2nd
26 8 March 2000 Norway Oslo, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
27 17 March 2000 Italy Bormio, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
28 2000–01 25 November 2000 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
29 16 December 2000 Italy Brusson, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
30 20 December 2000 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
31 28 December 2000 Switzerland Engelberg, Switzerland 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
32 14 January 2001 United States Soldier Hollow, United States 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
33 1 February 2001 Italy Asiago, Italy 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
34 10 February 2001 Estonia Otepää, Estonia 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
35 7 March 2001 Norway Oslo, Norway 1.0 km Sprint C World Cup 2nd
36 10 March 2001 30 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
37 18 March 2001 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
38 2001–02 24 November 2001 Finland Kuopio, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
39 8 December 2001 Italy Cogne, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
40 15 December 2001 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
41 19 December 2001 Italy Asiago, Italy 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
42 5 January 2002 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd
43 8 January 2002 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st
44 5 March 2002 Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
45 13 March 2002 Norway Oslo, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
46 2002–03 30 November 2002 Finland Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
47 7 December 2002 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
48 14 December 2002 Italy Cogne, Italy 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st
49 15 December 2002 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
50 21 December 2002 Austria Ramsau, Austria 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st
51 12 January 2003 Estonia Otepää, Estonia 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st
52 18 January 2003 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
53 25 January 2003 Germany Oberhof, Germany 10 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st
54 15 February 2003 Italy Asiago, Germany 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st
55 6 March 2003 Norway Oslo, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
56 8 March 2003 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
57 11 March 2003 Norway Drammen, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
58 16 March 2003 Finland Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
59 20 March 2003 Sweden Borlänge, Sweden 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
60 22 March 2003 Sweden Falun, Sweden 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st

Team podiums

  • 5 victories – (4 RL, 1 TS)
  • 23 podiums – (22 RL, 1 TS)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammate(s)
1  1994–95  29 January 1995 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Moen / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
2 7 February 1995 Norway Hamar, Norway 4 × 3 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Moen / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
3  1995–96  14 January 1996 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz
4 10 March 1996 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz / Moen
5 17 March 1996 Norway Oslo, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Mikkelsplass / Sorkmo / Moen
6  1996–97  24 November 1996 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Dybendahl-Hartz / Mikkelsplass / Moen
7 8 December 1996 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 1st Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz
8 28 February 1997 Norway Trondheim, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Championships[1] 2nd Mikkelsplass / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
9 9 March 1997 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Dybendahl-Hartz / Nilsen / Sorkmo
10  1997–98  23 November 1997 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz
11 6 March 1998 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Mikkelsplass / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
12  1998–99  28 November 1998 Finland Muonio, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Nilsen / Moen / Sorkmo
13 10 January 1999 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Sorkmo / Moen / Nilsen
14 21 March 1999 Norway Oslo, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Glomsås / Nilsen / Moen
15  1999–00  28 November 1999 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Nilsen / Pedersen / Moen
16 8 December 1999 Italy Asiago, Italy Team Sprint F World Cup 1st Moen
17 19 December 1999 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Moen / Glomsås / Nilsen
18 13 January 2000 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Moen / Nilsen / Sorkmo
19  2000–01  9 December 2000 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 4 × 3 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Bay / Nilsen / Pedersen
20 2001–02 16 December 2001 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Bay / Pedersen / Skofterud
21 2002–03 24 November 2002 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Moen / Sorkmo / Skofterud
22 8 December 2002 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Skofterud / Pedersen / Sorkmo
23 23 March 2003 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Moen / Pedersen / Steira
Source: [3]

Note: 1 Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

Overall record

Result Distance Races[a] Sprint Ski
Tours 		Individual
Events 		  Team Events[3] All Events
≤ 5 km[b] ≤ 10 km[b] ≤ 15 km[b] ≤ 30 km[b] ≥ 30 km[b] Pursuit[c] Team Sprint   Relay[d] Mixed Relay
1st place 8 11 3 1 – 2 17 – 42 1 4 – 47
2nd place 1 4 3 1 – 1 3 – 13 – 12 – 25
3rd place – 2 1 – – – 2 – 5 – 6 – 11
Podiums 9 17 7 2 – 3 22 – 60 1 22 – 83
Top 10 16 24 13 5 – 7 25 – 90 1 26 1 118
Points 29 41 21 11 1 9 28 – 140 1 26 1 168
Others 1 – 1 – – – – – 2 – – – 2
DNF – – – – 1 – – – 1 – – – 1
Starts 30 41 22 11 2 9 28 – 143 1 26 1 171
a. 1 Classification is made according to FIS classification.
b. 1 2 3 4 5 Includes individual and mass start races.
c. 1 Includes pursuit and double pursuit races.
d. 1 May be incomplete due to lack of appropriate sources for some relay races prior to 1995/96 World Cup season.

Note: Until 1999 World Championships and 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races are part of the World Cup. Hence results from those races are included in the World Cup overall record.

Personal life

Bente Skari was named Martinsen before marrying Geir Skari in 1999. She is the mother of three children, Filip, Oda and Selma.

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Tjejvasan" (PDF) (in Swedish). Vasloppet. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. ^ "SKARI MARTINSEN Bente". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Bente Skari". SkiSport365. Retrieved 14 March 2018.