Background
Smirnov was born in Shchuchinsk, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.
Smirnov was born in Shchuchinsk, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.
He is also a vice president of the International Biathlon Union. During the Soviet period, he trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Alma-Ata. Smirnov made his debut in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup on 18 December 1982 at Davos in a 15 km race, finishing in a 17th place.
His first victory came in 1986, a classic style 15 km in Kavgolovo (United Research Services).
Smirnov gained a total of 30 victories in the World Cup, with 21 second and 15 third places. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships from 1987 to 1997, Smirnov totalled four gold (1989: 30 km, 1995: 10 km, 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit, 30 km), four silver (1987: 4x10 km, 1991: 30 km, 1993: 10 km, 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit) and three bronze medals (1991: 15 km, 1993: 30 km, 1995: 50 km).
A very regular and effective cross-country skier, especially in long-distance classic style races, Smirnov took part to the Winter Olympics from 1988 to 1998. His best known victory was the 50 km gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the first Olympic gold medal for Kazakhstan.
He was one of the leading characters of that Olympics, as his unending rivalry with home ever-winning Bjørn Dæhlie had gained him the affection of the Norwegian audience.
He also became good friends with his rival Dæhlie, even participating with Dæhlie in several popular Norwegian television shows. Smirnov headed the bid committee to have Almaty, Kazakhstan, host the 2014 Winter Olympics, a bid that failed to make the short list that was announced by the International Olympic Committee on 22 June 2006. In 2011, Smirnov participated at the opening ceremony of 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana.
Сonfirmed by Official FIS Results.
He is the first Olympic champion from independent Kazakhstan. In 1994, he won the aggregate World Cup, thanks to seven victories in the course of the season. His best result was in Thunder Bay, Ontario (1995), when he won three events. In 1994, he received the Holmenkollen Medal (shared with Lyubov Yegorova and Espen Bredesen). Smirnov also won twice at the Holmenkollen ski festival with a 15 km win in 1994 and a 50 km win in 1995. In 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Smirnov was flag-bearer of Kazakhstan Olympic team and won the bronze medal in the 25 km pursuit event. In the 1990s Smirnov lived in the Swedish city of Sundsvall, where he was a co-founder and co-owner of a local brewery.
Smirnov is a former member of International Olympic Committee.
