# Claudia Nystad

Claudia Nystad (née Künzel, born 1 February 1978) is a German top-level woman cross-country skier. She was born in Zschopau, East Germany, and represents the sports club WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal. Besides her civilian sports career, she serves as a sports soldier with the German Federal Armed Forces.

## Cross-country skiing results

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

### Olympic Games

* 6 medals – (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | Sprint | 4 × 5 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 2002 | 24 | — | 26 | 55 | — | 4 | Gold | — |
| 2006 | 28 | 17 | — | 18 | 6 | Silver | Silver | — |
| 2010 | 32 | 16 | — | — | — | — | Silver | Gold |
| 2014 | 36 | — | — | 42 | — | 34 | Bronze | — |

### World Championships

* 5 medals – (1 gold, 4 silver)
| Year | Age | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | Sprint | 4 × 5 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 2001 | 23 | — | 17 | 27 | CNX | 14 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 25 | — | — | 11 | 19 | Silver | Gold | — |
| 2005 | 27 | — | — | 10 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 4 |
| 2007 | 29 | 15 | — | 17 | — | 26 | Silver | Silver |
| 2009 | 31 | — | — | DNF | 22 | 18 | Silver | — |
| 2015 | 37 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
    a. $^1$ Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

### World Cup
#### Season standings

| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings |
| Season | Age | Overall | Distance | Long Distance | Middle Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening | Tour de Ski | World Cup Final |
| 1998 | 20 | NC | — | NC | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 21 | NC | — | NC | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 22 | 71 | — | — | NC | 51 | — | — | — |
| 2001 | 23 | 23 | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 24 | 41 | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | — |
| 2003 | 25 | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — |
| 2004 | 26 | 7 | 6 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 27 | 5 | 7 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 28 | 7 | 9 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 29 | 13 | 15 | — | — | 14 | — | 19 | — |
| 2008 | 30 | 8 | 5 | — | — | 13 | — | 6 | |
| 2009 | 31 | 13 | 14 | — | — | 21 | — | 16 | 7 |
| 2010 | 32 | 43 | 31 | — | — | 31 | — | DNF | — |
| 2014 | 36 | 38 | 27 | — | — | 67 | 36 | 19 | DNF |
| 2015 | 37 | 50 | 34 | — | — | 65 | 17 | DNF | — |

#### Individual podiums

* 4 victories – (2 WC, 2 SWC)
* 26 podiums – (21 WC, 5 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
| 1 | 2000–01 | 4 February 2001 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 1.0 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 2 | 2002–03 | 23 November 2002 | Kiruna, Sweden | 5 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 3 | 2002–03 | 11 December 2002 | Clusone, Italy | 1.4 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 4 | 2003–04 | 23 November 2002 | Beitostølen, Norway | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 5 | 2003–04 | 6 December 2003 | Toblach, Italy | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 6 | 2003–04 | 21 December 2003 | Ramsau, Austria | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 7 | 2003–04 | 10 January 2004 | Otepää, Estonia | 15 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 1st |
| 8 | 2003–04 | 17 January 2004 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 9 | 2003–04 | 24 February 2004 | Trondheim, Norway | 1.5 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 10 | 2004–05 | 4 Decemeer 2004 | Bern, Switzerland | 0.8 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 11 | 2004–05 | 16 January 2005 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 1.2 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 12 | 2004–05 | 22 January 2005 | Pragelato, Italy | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 13 | 2005–06 | 26 November 2005 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 14 | 2005–06 | 11 December 2005 | Vernon, Canada | 1.3 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 15 | 2005–06 | 17 December 2005 | Canmore, Canada | 15 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 16 | 2005–06 | 30 December 2005 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 1.2 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 17 | 2005–06 | 21 January 2006 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 18 | 2006–07 | 21 January 2007 | Rybinsk, Russia | 1.2 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 19 | 2007–08 | 1 January 2008 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 20 | 2007–08 | 5 January 2008 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 10 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 21 | 2007–08 | 6 January 2008 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 22 | 2007–08 | 8 March 2008 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 23 | 2007–08 | 14 March 2008 | Bormio, Italy | 2.5 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 24 | 2007–08 | 16 March 2008 | Bormio, Italy | 10 km Pursuit F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 25 | 2008–09 | 27 December 2008 | Oberhof, Germany | 2.8 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 26 | 2008–09 | 20 March 2009 | Falun, Sweden | 2.5 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st |

#### Team podiums

* 7 victories – (4 RL, 3 TS)
* 26 podiums – (17 RL, 9 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
| 1 | 2001–02 | 10 March 2002 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Henkel / Bauer / Sachenbacher |
| 2 | 2002–03 | 24 November 2002 | Kiruna, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Bauer / Sachenbacher |
| 3 | 2002–03 | 8 December 2002 | Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Henkel / Bauer / Sachenbacher |
| 4 | 2002–03 | 19 January 2003 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Bauer / Henkel / Sachenbacher |
| 5 | 2002–03 | 26 January 2003 | Oberhof, Germany | 6 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel |
| 6 | 2002–03 | 14 February 2003 | Asiago, Italy | 6 × 1.4 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Sachenbacher |
| 7 | 2002–03 | 23 March 2003 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Henkel / Bauer / Sachenbacher |
| 8 | 2003–04 | 26 October 2003 | Düsseldorf, Germany | 6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Disl |
| 9 | 2003–04 | 23 November 2003 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Böhler / Sachenbacher |
| 10 | 2003–04 | 7 December 2003 | Toblach, Italy | 6 × 1.2 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Sachenbacher |
| 11 | 2003–04 | 14 December 2003 | Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Böhler / Henkel / Sachenbacher |
| 12 | 2003–04 | 11 January 2004 | Otepää, Estonia | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Bauer / Sachenbacher |
| 13 | 2003–04 | 7 February 2004 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Bauer / Reschwam Schulze |
| 14 | 2003–04 | 15 February 2004 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Sachenbacher |
| 15 | 2004–05 | 21 November 2004 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Böhler / Sachenbacher / Reschwam Schulze |
| 16 | 2004–05 | 5 December 2004 | Bern, Switzerland | 6 × 1.1 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Böhler |
| 17 | 2004–05 | 12 December 2004 | Lago di Tesero, Italy | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Böhler / Sachenbacher |
| 18 | 2004–05 | 23 January 2005 | Pragelato, Italy | 6 × 1.2 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 1st | Bauer |
| 19 | 2005–06 | 20 November 2005 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Böhler / Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 20 | 2005–06 | 18 March 2006 | Sapporo, Japan | 6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 21 | 2006–07 | 19 November 2006 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Henkel / Zeller / Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 22 | 2006–07 | 17 December 2006 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Böhler / Bauer / Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 23 | 2006–07 | 25 March 2007 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Bauer / Böhler / Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 24 | 2007–08 | 25 November 2007 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Böhler / Zeller / Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 25 | 2007–08 | 24 February 2008 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Böhler / Zeller / Sachenbacher-Stehle |
| 26 | 2008–09 | 21 December 2008 | Düsseldorf, Germany | 6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd | Böhler |

## Personal life

On June 27, 2005, Künzel married Trond Nystad from Norway, ex-coach of the American cross-country ski team.
In the summer of 2007, Künzel donated her gold medal from the 2002 Winter Olympics to benefit the 'Hansel und Gretel' foundation (Hansel and Gretel in German) committed to helping abused children.

## Honours and awards

* Saxon Sportswoman of the Year (2007 and 2010)
* Silver Bay Leaf (2002, 2006 and 2010)
* Badge of Honour of the German Ski Association in Gold (2010)
* Bundeswehr Cross of Honour in Gold (2004)
* Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr (2002)