Soviet Women Sweep Ski Race

Soviet skiers swept all three Olympic medals today in the women’s 20-kilometer cross-country ski race. Tamara Tikhonova won the gold medal in Olympic record time of 55:53.6, Anfissa Reztsova won the silver medal and Raisa Smetanina took the bronze medal.

Smetanina, a physical education teacher who turns 36 next Monday, tied a Winter Olympics record for most lifetime medals by winning her ninth medal. The four-time Olympian had previously won three gold medals and five silvers.