Alexander BOLSHUNOV

ITALIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION
In May 2021, along with his teammates Federico Pellegrino and Francesco De Fabiani, he joined the Russian training group of their common national trainer Markus Cramer. The Russian and the Italian Federations signed a contract in order to exchange experiences and new ideas so athletes of both countries are training together during summer and fall 2021. The goal is to have the best possible preparation for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games for the athletes of both countries. His personal goal during this training year is to improve motivation, technique, and abilities. (xc-ski.de, 26 Jan 2021)

THE RUSSIAN KLAEBO
Since his World Cup debut in 2017, where he finished most of the time in the top-10, he has been considered as the Russian shooting star, even compared to the Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Klaebo (the three-time Olympic champion), who is only two months older than he is. (xc-ski.de, 31 Mar 2019)

DISQUALIFIED IN LAHTI 2021
Was disqualified for unsportsmanlike behaviour, when as last-leg skiers in the 4x7.5km relay, he body checked Finn Joni Maki after a battle for the silver medal in the 4x7.5km relay at the 2021 World Cup in Lahti. He and his entire team lost their medal. (insidethegame.biz, 24 Jan 2021)

AN ENIGMA
Avoids interviews and keeps his dreams mostly to himself. Depending on the source, he's been referred to as a machine, a deranged hooligan, the most hated man in cross-country skiing, a virtuous hero, a quiet, hard-working, humble, and serious, patriotic poster boy with a discipline compared to that of a monk. The lighter side suggests that he is quite funny, kind, and gentle. For his own part, he describes himself as a soft simpleton. (tellerreport.com, 27 Jan 2021)

FAMILY LIFE ON THE FARM
His father farmed and ran a sawmill out of their barn and his mother worked in forestry. After school, he would work on the farm or in the mill. His “real workout” was often not until eight or nine at night, when the work was done. For fun, he hunted mushrooms, fished, and skied. He still enjoys the work when he goes home. “It does good to my head." (fasterskier.com, 26 Feb 2021)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
In his debut at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, he became a four-time medallist, winning three silver (50km mass start, team sprint, 4x10km relay), and one bronze (sprint). The Olympic gold medal alludes him.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Eight-time World Championship medallist with one gold (2021 skiathlon), six silver (three individual, one team sprint, two relay), and one bronze (2021 team sprint).

Competed at two Junior World Championships (2015-16) winning one relay silver medal in 2016 (Rasnov).

Won an individual medal in every race in which he was entered at the 2017 U23 World Championships, with two gold (15km free, skiathlon), and one silver (sprint).

WORLD CUP
Had his 100th World Cup start on 5 December 2021 (in Lillehammer), with a career 56 podiums and 27 victories.

The 2020 and 2021 World Cup overall winner (second in 2019).

Second male skier to claim three successive World Cup pursuit wins, after Bjoern Daehlie (NOR) from 1992-93 and from 1997-98.

Won the 2019/20 Tour de Ski.