Born: 29 April 1942

Birthplace: Votkinsk (Russia)

Nationality: Russia

Sport: Skiing

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Grenoble 1968

Sapporo 1972

Innsbruck 1976

Lake Placid 1980

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 4

Silver: 2

Bronze: 2

Other results:

World Championships

Gold: 5 (70, 74)

Silver: 2 (78, 82)

Bronze: 2 (70, 78)

Nordic Sweep of the Sapporo Games

Galina Kulakova competed in the Winter Olympics for the first time in 1968. She earned a silver medal in the 5km race and a bronze medal as the anchor of the USSR's 3x5km relay team. At the 1972 Sapporo Games, Kulakova entered all three cross-country races for women and finished first in all of them. She won the 10km event by more than 36 seconds and the 5km by 5 seconds.

Finally, she anchored the Soviet relay team to a victory of more than 33 seconds. At the 1976 Winter Olympics, Kulakova finished third in the 5km race, but was disqualified when she tested positive for ephedrine. Despite her positive test, she was allowed to continue competing and she won two more medals : a bronze in the 10km and a gold in the 4x5km relay. Kulakova took part in her fourth Olympics in 1980 and earned a silver medal in the 4x5km relay to bring her career medal total to eight: 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.