Spitsov, Denis Sergeevich

Denis Sergeyevich Spitsov (born August 16, 1996, Vozhega, Vologda Region) is a Russian skier, Olympic champion in the relay (2022), four—time Olympic medalist (2018, 2022), bronze medalist of the overall multi-day race Tour de Ski 2021, winner and medalist of the World Cup stages. Honored Master of Sports of Russia.

Multiple winner of the World Junior Championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), including in 2015 he won gold in the relay and silver in the 10 km race, in 2016 he became a silver medalist in the 4x5 km relay, in 2017 in Park City (USA) he won "bronze" in skiathlon and "bronze" in the 15 km freestyle race[3], in 2018 in 8 Goms (Switzerland) he took first place in skiathlon and second in the 15 km classic style race.

Denis Spitsov is a serviceman of the National Guard of the Russian Federation. In February 2022, he was awarded the military rank of "captain".

Denis Sergeyevich Spitsov (born August 16, 1996, Vozhega, Vologda Region) is a Russian skier, Olympic champion in the relay (2022), four—time Olympic medalist (2018, 2022), bronze medalist of the overall multi-day race Tour de Ski 2021, winner and medalist of the World Cup stages. Honored Master of Sports of Russia.

Biography

He stands for the Tyumen Region and the CSKA Sports Society. Coaches — E. S. Vanyukov, A. N. Ivanov, in the national team — Yu. V. Borodavko.

Multiple winner of the World Junior Championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), including in 2015 he won gold in the relay and silver in the 10 km race, in 2016 he became a silver medalist in the 4x5 km relay, in 2017 in Park City (USA) he won "bronze" in skiathlon and "bronze" in the 15 km freestyle race[3], in 2018 in Goms (Switzerland) he took first place in skiathlon and second in the 15 km classic style race.

He has been participating in adult competitions since the 2015/2016 season. Silver medalist of the 2016 Russian Championship in relay, silver medalist of 2017 in relay and skiathlon. Winner of the Russian Cup stages. Silver medalist of the III Winter World War Games in Sochi-2017 in the 15 km freestyle race. Winner of international FIS races.

Since the 2017/2018 season, he has been taking part in the World Cup. At the final stage of the 2018 Tour de Ski (9 km climb), he showed the third clean time, but this result had no sporting significance, and in the overall standings he became the 13th. In the overall standings of the 2017/2018 World Cup, as of January 2018, he is in fourth place among athletes under 23 years of age.

At the Winter Olympic Games in Korea in skiathlon at the start, Denis found himself in a blockage together with the Norwegian athlete Kruger (as it turned out later — the Olympic champion at this distance). But, having managed to catch up with the leading group, during the second segment he was among the leaders and only at the finish passed three Norwegians ahead of him, taking fourth place and becoming the first among young athletes-skiers under the age of 23. In the race with a separate start for 15 km, Spitsov showed the third time and won the first Olympic medal for himself.

In the 4x10 km relay, Spitsov was entrusted with the last stage. The first two stages of the relay were very good for the Russians: Andrey Larkov at his stage was only slightly inferior to the representative of Kazakhstan Alexey Poltoranin, and Alexander Bolshunov even brought Russia to the first intermediate place, bringing the closest pursuers from Italy 24 seconds. However, Alexey Chervotkin, who ran the 3rd stage, who had recently recovered from an illness, passed the baton to Spitsov already 16 seconds behind the leader. Denis started the chase and by the beginning of the 3rd lap managed to get to a pair of leaders - Norwegian Klebo and Frenchman Bakshayder. Having fought heroically, Denis won Olympic silver for Russia.

At the XXIV Winter Olympic Games in February 2022 in Beijing, Denis won the Olympic silver medal on the second day of the competition on February 6, 2022 in individual competitions in skiathlon.

Denis Spitsov is a serviceman of the National Guard of the Russian Federation. In February 2022, he was awarded the military rank of "captain".