Yelena Välbe

Who is Yelena Välbe?

Yelena Välbe, née Trubitsyna is a Russian former cross-country skier. She has been president of the Russian Cross-Country Ski Association since 2010, and manager of the Russian cross-country team since 2012.

At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, Välbe won a record-high fourteen gold, and three silver medals, including all five golds at the 1997 championships in Trondheim. She also won three gold and four bronze medals in various Winter Olympic Games as well as the FIS Cross-Country World Cup five times. Välbe also won the 5 km and 15 km competitions at the Holmenkollen ski festival. She received the Holmenkollen medal in 1992.

Together with Bjørn Dæhlie of Norway, she holds second place for the number of podiums in FIS Cross-Country World Cup events, behind Marit Bjørgen. She is placed third for the number of wins, behind Marit Bjørgen and Bjørn Dæhlie.