Stefania Belmondo

**Stefania Belmondo** (affectionately dem know am as the Tiny Tornado, born 13 January 1969) be Italian former cross-country skier, two-time Olympic champion den four-time world champion.

## Biography

### Debut
Na dem born Belmondo insyd Vinadio, insyd de province of Cuneo (Piedmont), de daughter of housewife den electric company employee. Insyd ein career she ski plus de G.S. Forestale.

She start dey ski for de age of three insyd de Piedmontese mountains of ein native city. She make ein debut for de FIS Nordic World Ski Championships insyd 1987. De next season she join de main national team of Italy, den then she participate for de 1988 Winter Olympics, dem hold insyd Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Insyd 1989, she win World Cup event for ein first time, insyd Salt Lake City, wey she end dat season second overall.

### Early success, injury, return
For de 1991 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, she win bronze medal insyd de 15 jm trial, den silver insyd de 4 × 5 km relay. De 1992 Winter Olympics insyd Albertville bring de first gold medal give Belmondo, insyd de 30 km specialty. For de 1993 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, she win golds insyd de 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit den de 30 km, den silver insyd de 4 × 5 km relay, before injury to ein right hallux require surgery, wey cause am 4-month absence from competition.

After second operation, Belmondo participate to de 1994 Winter Olympics insyd Lillehammer, wey she gain just two bronze medals; after dis disappointing performance she decide make she continue dey ski, against de advice of ein physician. Na de 1996–97 season be one of ein best since de surgeries, wen na she win three silver medals (5 km, 15 km, 30 km), all na ebe behind Russian Yelena Välbe though she tie plus Välbe insyd de 5 km + 10 km combined pursuit event. Insyd de 1998 Winter Olympics insyd Nagano, Japan, she win third place plus de 4 × 5 km relay, den individual silver insyd de 30 km. Na de bronze medal insyd de relay be remarkable secof de Italian team be ninth as Belmondo start de last leg. De 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships see Stefania Belmondo win two gold medals (5 km + 10 km combined pursuit, 15 km) den silver (4 × 5 km relay).

Insyd ein final year of competition, 2002, she win gold medal, as well as silver den bronze, insyd de Winter Olympics. She conclude dat year ein World Cup insyd third place.

### Oda career successes

* Belmondo sanso find success for de Holmenkollen ski festival, wey she win de 30 km women's event twice (1997, 2002).
* She be de one of two women per make she ever win de 30 km Olympic, World Championship, den Holmenkollen events (Norway ein Marit Bjørgen be de oda).
* Belmondo earn de Holmenkollen medal insyd 1997 (she share plus Bjarte Engen Vik den Bjørn Dæhlie).

### 1997 World Championships
Insyd de 15 km (9 mi) pursuit event for de 1997 World Championships insyd Trondheim na de organizers to resort to Photo finish make dem determine who between Belmondo den Yelena Välbe win de race. Eventually dem award de gold medal to de Russian den de Italian Silver for just 2 cm (0.8 in), dem still credit both athletes de same time.

### 2006 Winter Olympics
For de 2006 Winter Olympics insyd Turin, insyd ein native region of Piedmont, she light de Olympic Flame for de opening ceremony. During de 2006 Winter Olympics, Belmondo get series of webpages for de 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games website top dey regard ein reaction den emotions during de games.

## Ein life matter
Belmondo be mommie wey she get kids.

## Cross-country skiing results
Dem source all results from de International Ski Federation (FIS).

### Olympic Games

* 10 medals – (2 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)

### World Championships

* 13 medals – (4 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze)

: **a.** **<sup>1</sup>** Dem cancel secof extremely cold weather.

### World Cup

#### Season titles

* 1 title – (1 sprint)

#### Season standings

#### Individual podiums

* 23 victories
* 66 podiums

#### Team podiums

* 4 victories – (22 RL, 5 TS)
* 27 podiums – (24 RL, 4 TS)

**Note:** 1 Til de 1999 World Championships den de 1994 Olympics, na dem include de World Championship den Olympic races insyd de World Cup scoring system.

## References


## External links
Wikimedia Commons get media wey relate to ******.

* Stefania Belmondo at FIS (alpine)
* Stefania Belmondo at FIS (cross-country)
* Stefania Belmondo at Olympics.com
* Stefania Belmondo at Olympedia
* Stefania Belmondo at de Chinese Olympic Committee (archived)
* Official website
* Holmenkollen medalists – click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file
* Holmenkollen winners since 1892 – click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file