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. Skari was the first Norwegian woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing. 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.
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).
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 4 2001 28 Gold Gold 5 15Silver 2003 30 Gold Gold ———
a. Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.
World Cup Season titles 9 titles – (4 overall, 5 sprint) SeasonDiscipline1998 Sprint1999 OverallSprint2000 OverallSprint2001 Sprint2002 OverallSprint2003 Overall
Season standings Season Age Overall Long Distance Sprint 1992 20 colspan="2" 1994 22 32 colspan="2" 1995 23 25 colspan="2" 1996 24 12 colspan="2" 1997 25 6 10 4 1998 26 10 1999 27 13 2000 28 5 6 2001 29 colspan="2" 2002 30 colspan="2" 2003 31 colspan="2"
a. 5th in the Long Distance World Cup. 6th in the Middle Distance World Cup.
Individual podiums 42 victories 60 podiums No. Season Date Location Race Level Place1 1996–97 18 December 1996 Oberstdorf, Germany 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd2 3 November 1997 Sunne, Sweden 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd3 1997–98 22 November 1997 Beitostølen, Norway 5 km Individual CWorld Cup 2nd4 10 December 1997 Milan, Italy 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st5 13 December 1997 Val di Fiemme, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st6 8 January 1998 Ramsau, Austria 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd7 9 January 1998 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st8 1998–99 10 December 1998 Milan, Italy 0.6 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd9 13 December 1998 Toblach, Italy 10 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st10 19 December 1998 Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd11 27 December 1998 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st12 28 December 1998 Engelberg, Switzerland 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st13 29 December 1998 Kitzbühel, Austria 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st14 5 January 1999 Otepää, Estonia 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st15 9 January 1999 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st16 22 February 1999 Ramsau, Austria 5 km Individual C World Championships 1st17 7 March 1999 Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd18 1999–00 27 November 1999 Kiruna, Sweden 5 km Individual CWorld Cup 1st19 18 December 1999 Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd20 28 December 1999 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd21 29 December 1999 Kitzbühel, Austria 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st22 12 January 2000 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd23 28 February 2000 Stockholm, Sweden 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st24 3 March 2000 Lahti, Finland 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd25 5 March 2000 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 2nd26 8 March 2000 Oslo, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st27 17 March 2000 Bormio, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st28 2000–01 25 November 2000 Beitostølen, Norway 10 km Individual CWorld Cup 1st29 16 December 2000 Brusson, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st30 20 December 2000 Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual CWorld Cup 2nd31 28 December 2000 Engelberg, Switzerland 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st32 14 January 2001 Soldier Hollow, United States 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 1st33 1 February 2001 Asiago, Italy 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st34 10 February 2001 Otepää, Estonia 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st35 7 March 2001 Oslo, Norway 1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup 2nd36 10 March 2001 30 km Individual C World Cup 2nd37 18 March 2001 Falun, Sweden 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd38 2001–02 24 November 2001 Kuopio, Finland 10 km Individual CWorld Cup 1st39 8 December 2001 Cogne, Italy 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st40 15 December 2001 Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st41 19 December 2001 Asiago, Italy 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st42 5 January 2002 Val di Fiemme, Italy 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd43 8 January 2002 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st44 5 March 2002 Stockholm, Sweden 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st45 13 March 2002 Oslo, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st46 2002–03 30 November 2002 Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual CWorld Cup 1st47 7 December 2002 Davos, Switzerland 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st48 14 December 2002 Cogne, Italy 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st49 15 December 2002 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st50 21 December 2002 Ramsau, Austria 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st51 12 January 2003 Otepää, Estonia 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st52 18 January 2003 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st53 25 January 2003 Oberhof, Germany 10 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st54 15 February 2003 Asiago, Germany 5 km Individual C World Cup 1st55 6 March 2003 Oslo, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st56 8 March 2003 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st57 11 March 2003 Drammen, Norway 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st58 16 March 2003 Lahti, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 3rd59 20 March 2003 Borlänge, Sweden 1.5 km Sprint F World Cup 1st60 22 March 2003 Falun, Sweden 5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st
Team podiums 5 victories – (4 , 1 ) 23 podiums – (22 , 1 ) No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammate(s)1 1994–95 29 January 1995 Lahti, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Moen / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz2 7 February 1995 Hamar, Norway 4 × 3 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Moen / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz3 1995–96 14 January 1996 Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz4 10 March 1996 Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz / Moen 5 17 March 1996 Oslo, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Mikkelsplass / Sorkmo / Moen 6 1996–97 24 November 1996 Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Dybendahl-Hartz / Mikkelsplass / Moen7 8 December 1996 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 1st Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz8 28 February 1997 Trondheim, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Championships 2nd Mikkelsplass / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz9 9 March 1997 Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Dybendahl-Hartz / Nilsen / Sorkmo10 1997–98 23 November 1997 Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz11 6 March 1998 Lahti, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Mikkelsplass / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz 12 1998–99 28 November 1998 Muonio, Finland 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Nilsen / Moen / Sorkmo13 10 January 1999 Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Sorkmo / Moen / Nilsen14 21 March 1999 Oslo, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Glomsås / Nilsen / Moen15 1999–00 28 November 1999 Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Nilsen / Pedersen / Moen 16 8 December 1999 Asiago, Italy Team Sprint F World Cup 1st Moen17 19 December 1999 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Moen / Glomsås / Nilsen18 13 January 2000 Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Moen / Nilsen / Sorkmo19 2000–01 9 December 2000 Santa Caterina, Italy 4 × 3 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Bay / Nilsen / Pedersen202001–02 16 December 2001 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup 1st Bay / Pedersen / Skofterud212002–03 24 November 2002 Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup 1st Moen / Sorkmo / Skofterud22 8 December 2002 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Skofterud / Pedersen / Sorkmo23 23 March 2003 Falun, Sweden 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Moen / Pedersen / Steira Source:
Note: Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.
Overall record ResultDistance RacesSprintSkiToursIndividualEvents Team EventsAll Events≤ 5 km ≤ 10 km≤ 15 km ≤ 30 km≥ 30 km PursuitTeam Sprint RelayMixed Relay1st place 8 11 3 1 – 2 17 – 42 1 4 – 472nd place 1 4 3 1 – 1 3 – 13 – 12 – 253rd place – 2 1 – – – 2 – 5 – 6 – 11Podiums 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 – – – – 1 – – – 1 – – – 1 Starts 30 41 22 11 2 9 28 – 143 1 26 1 171
a. Classification is made according to FIS classification. b. Includes individual and mass start races. c. Includes pursuit and double pursuit races. d. 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
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 February 12, 2008 article on Skari's role in the championships. - accessed March 12, 2008. Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file
Notes