Russian cross-country skier and three-time Olympic gold medalist, winning all her golds in the 4 x 5 meter race.
She won her first gold medal in international competition at the 1989 World Championships.
She won a total of five medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics, including one gold.
She was married to Estonian cross-country skier Urmas Välbe, but the couple divorced in 2005.
She won gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics where skier Bjorn Daehlie won three gold medals.
