Soviet Union (USSR) at the Winter Olympic Games
The Union Of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), also called as the Soviet Union, made its first appearance at the Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 1956 and took part in the event until 1988 in Calgary, Canada.
Soviet Union was a dominant team at the Winter Games in terms of medal count as it ranked first seven times and ranked second two times. In Squaw Valley 1960, The Soviet Union wounded up with more than two times as many medals as their closest pursuers, the United States.
The nation is strong in the sports of cross-country skiing, speed skating, figure skating, biathlon and ice hockey.
Lyubov Kozyreva became Soviet Union’s first gold medalist by capturing the women's cross-country skiing 10-km event in 1956.
In 1976, the mighty Soviet Union secured its fourth consecutive gold medal in the sports of ice hockey in Innsbruck. However, the nation’s gold medal run ended when, underdog USA ice hockey team dished out a shocking win over the highly-favored Soviet Union in a match which is now referred to as the 'Miracle on Ice'.
The USSR disbanded in 1991. At Albertville in 1992, athletes from the old USSR competed as the Unified Team, which finished second on the medal tally. See also about Russia, Armenia, Estonia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova and Georgia at the Winter Olympics.
Trivia
- In 1956, the Soviet Union (USSR) participated in its first-ever Winter Olympics, and were able to take home the most medals, including the gold medal in ice hockey.
- In Squaw Valley 1960, The Soviets ended up with more than twice as many medals as their closest rivals, the Americans.
- The USSR ice hockey team won its fourth straight gold medal at Innsbruck in 1976.
- In 1980 at Lake Placid, the USA ice hockey team pulled off an upset victory over the heavy favorites USSR in the match now called the 'Miracle on Ice'. (see video)
Related Pages
- See about Belarus, Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Latvia at the Winter Olympics.
- See about Russia at the Winter Olympics.
- The Unified Team at the Winter Olympics
- More Winter Olympics Countries
- Winter Olympics main page.
- USSR at the Summer Olympics
- About Sport in Russia
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