Bente Skari, née Martinsen, (born 10 September 1972) is a Norwegian former cross-country skier. She is one of the most successful cross-country skiers ever.

Career

She won her first Olympic medals in 1998, and won her first gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, coming from behind to beat the favourites Olga Danilova and Julija Tchepalova in the last kilometers of the 10 km classical event. She also won a bronze medal in 30 km classical as well as a silver medal in the relay.

Additionally, she won five gold medals (5 km: 1999, 10 km: 2001, 2003, and 15 km: 2001, 2003) from the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as two silver (4 × 5 km relay: 1997, 2001) medals. She won the overall cross-country skiing World Cup four times before retiring after the 2003 season.

Skari also won the women's 30 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 2003. In 2001, she received the Holmenkollen medal (shared with Adam Małysz and Thomas Alsgaard). Her father, Odd Martinsen, earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1969. They are the only father-daughter combination to ever win this prestigious honour.

In 1998, she won Tjejvasan.^[1]

After retirement

In 2007, Skari was named as the first female race administrator in cross-country skiing. She assisted in the 2007-08 Tour de Ski, working as an assistant technical delegate in the events held in the Czech Republic. This is part of the Norwegian Ski Federation's effort to promote more women in management positions in skiing.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).^[2]

Olympic Games

5 medals – (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay
1994	21	—	—	20	—	—	—	—
1998	25	Bronze	—	6	9	—	—	Silver
2002	29	—	Gold	—	6	Bronze	—	Silver

World Championships

7 medals – (5 gold, 2 silver)

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km relay
1995	22	—	—	13	—	—	—	—
1997	24	8	—	—	17	8	—	Silver
1999	26	Gold	—	—	8	DNF	—	4
2001	28	—	Gold	Gold	5	CNX^[a]	15	Silver
2003	30	—	Gold	Gold	DNS	—	—	—

a. ¹ Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

World Cup

Season titles

9 titles – (4 overall, 5 sprint)

Season
Season	Discipline
1998	Sprint
1999	Overall
1999	Sprint
2000	Overall
2000	Sprint
2001	Sprint
2002	Overall
2002	Sprint
2003	Overall

Season standings

Season	Age	Overall	Long Distance		Sprint
1992	20	NC	—		—
1994	22	32	—		—
1995	23	25	—		—
1996	24	12	—		—
1997	25	6	10		4
1998	26		10
1999	27		13
2000	28		5^[a]	6^[a]
2001	29		—
2002	30		—
2003	31		—

a. ¹ 5th in the Long Distance World Cup.
² 6th in the Middle Distance World Cup.

Individual podiums

42 victories
60 podiums

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place
1	1996–97	18 December 1996	Oberstdorf, Germany	10 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
2	1996–97	3 November 1997	Sunne, Sweden	1.0 km Sprint F	World Cup	3rd
3	1997–98	22 November 1997	Beitostølen, Norway	5 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
4		10 December 1997	Milan, Italy	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
5		13 December 1997	Val di Fiemme, Italy	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
6		8 January 1998	Ramsau, Austria	10 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
7		9 January 1998	Ramsau, Austria	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
8	1998–99	10 December 1998	Milan, Italy	0.6 km Sprint F	World Cup	3rd
9		13 December 1998	Toblach, Italy	10 km Pursuit C	World Cup	1st
10		19 December 1998	Davos, Switzerland	15 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
11		27 December 1998	Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
12		28 December 1998	Engelberg, Switzerland	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
13		29 December 1998	Kitzbühel, Austria	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
14		5 January 1999	Otepää, Estonia	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
15		9 January 1999	Nové Město, Czech Republic	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
16		22 February 1999	Ramsau, Austria	5 km Individual C	World Championships^[1]	1st
17		7 March 1999	Lahti, Finland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
18	1999–00	27 November 1999	Kiruna, Sweden	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
19		18 December 1999	Davos, Switzerland	15 km Individual C	World Cup	3rd
20		28 December 1999	Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
21		29 December 1999	Kitzbühel, Austria	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
22		12 January 2000	Nové Město, Czech Republic	10 km Individual C	World Cup	3rd
23		28 February 2000	Stockholm, Sweden	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
24		3 March 2000	Lahti, Finland	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
25		5 March 2000	Lahti, Finland	15 km Mass Start C	World Cup	2nd
26		8 March 2000	Oslo, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
27		17 March 2000	Bormio, Italy	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
28	2000–01	25 November 2000	Beitostølen, Norway	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
29		16 December 2000	Brusson, Italy	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
30		20 December 2000	Davos, Switzerland	15 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
31		28 December 2000	Engelberg, Switzerland	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
32		14 January 2001	Soldier Hollow, United States	1.0 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
33		1 February 2001	Asiago, Italy	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
34		10 February 2001	Otepää, Estonia	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
35		7 March 2001	Oslo, Norway	1.0 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
36		10 March 2001	Oslo, Norway	30 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
37		18 March 2001	Falun, Sweden	10 km Individual C	World Cup	2nd
38	2001–02	24 November 2001	Kuopio, Finland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
39		8 December 2001	Cogne, Italy	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
40		15 December 2001	Davos, Switzerland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
41		19 December 2001	Asiago, Italy	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
42		5 January 2002	Val di Fiemme, Italy	5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F	World Cup	2nd
43		8 January 2002	Val di Fiemme, Italy	15 km Mass Start C	World Cup	1st
44		5 March 2002	Stockholm, Sweden	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
45		13 March 2002	Oslo, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
46	2002–03	30 November 2002	Rukatunturi, Finland	10 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
47		7 December 2002	Davos, Switzerland	10 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
48		14 December 2002	Cogne, Italy	15 km Mass Start C	World Cup	1st
49		15 December 2002	Cogne, Italy	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
50		21 December 2002	Ramsau, Austria	5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F	World Cup	1st
51		12 January 2003	Otepää, Estonia	15 km Mass Start C	World Cup	1st
52		18 January 2003	Nové Město, Czech Republic	10 km Individual F	World Cup	1st
53		25 January 2003	Oberhof, Germany	10 km Mass Start C	World Cup	1st
54		15 February 2003	Asiago, Germany	5 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
55		6 March 2003	Oslo, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
56		8 March 2003	Oslo, Norway	30 km Individual C	World Cup	1st
57		11 March 2003	Drammen, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
58		16 March 2003	Lahti, Finland	10 km Individual F	World Cup	3rd
59		20 March 2003	Borlänge, Sweden	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
60		22 March 2003	Falun, Sweden	5 km + 5 km Pursuit C/F	World Cup	1st

Team podiums

5 victories – (4 RL, 1 TS)
23 podiums – (22 RL, 1 TS)

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place	Teammate(s)
1	1994–95	29 January 1995	Lahti, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	3rd	Moen / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
2	1994–95	7 February 1995	Hamar, Norway	4 × 3 km Relay F	World Cup	2nd	Moen / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
3	1995–96	14 January 1996	Nové Město, Czech Republic	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz
4		10 March 1996	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz / Moen
5		17 March 1996	Oslo, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Mikkelsplass / Sorkmo / Moen
6	1996–97	24 November 1996	Kiruna, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Dybendahl-Hartz / Mikkelsplass / Moen
7		8 December 1996	Davos, Switzerland	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	1st	Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz
8		28 February 1997	Trondheim, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Championships^[1]	2nd	Mikkelsplass / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
9		9 March 1997	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Dybendahl-Hartz / Nilsen / Sorkmo
10	1997–98	23 November 1997	Beitostølen, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Moen / Mikkelsplass / Dybendahl-Hartz
11	1997–98	6 March 1998	Lahti, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Mikkelsplass / Nilsen / Dybendahl-Hartz
12	1998–99	28 November 1998	Muonio, Finland	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	3rd	Nilsen / Moen / Sorkmo
13		10 January 1999	Nové Město, Czech Republic	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Sorkmo / Moen / Nilsen
14		21 March 1999	Oslo, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	3rd	Glomsås / Nilsen / Moen
15	1999–00	28 November 1999	Kiruna, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Cup	3rd	Nilsen / Pedersen / Moen
16		8 December 1999	Asiago, Italy	Team Sprint F	World Cup	1st	Moen
17		19 December 1999	Davos, Switzerland	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	2nd	Moen / Glomsås / Nilsen
18		13 January 2000	Nové Město, Czech Republic	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Moen / Nilsen / Sorkmo
19	2000–01	9 December 2000	Santa Caterina, Italy	4 × 3 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Bay / Nilsen / Pedersen
20	2001–02	16 December 2001	Davos, Switzerland	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Bay / Pedersen / Skofterud
21	2002–03	24 November 2002	Kiruna, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Moen / Sorkmo / Skofterud
22		8 December 2002	Davos, Switzerland	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Skofterud / Pedersen / Sorkmo
23		23 March 2003	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Moen / Pedersen / Steira
Source: ^[3]

Note: ¹ Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

Overall record

Result	Distance Races^[a]						Sprint	Ski Tours	Individual Events	Team Events^[3]			All Events
Result	≤ 5 km^[b]	≤ 10 km^[b]	≤ 15 km^[b]	≤ 30 km^[b]	≥ 30 km^[b]	Pursuit^[c]	Sprint	Ski Tours	Individual Events	Team Sprint	Relay^[d]	Mixed Relay	All Events
1st place	8	11	3	1	–	2	17	–	42	1	4	–	47
2nd place	1	4	3	1	–	1	3	–	13	–	12	–	25
3rd place	–	2	1	–	–	–	2	–	5	–	6	–	11
Podiums	9	17	7	2	–	3	22	–	60	1	22	–	83
Top 10	16	24	13	5	–	7	25	–	90	1	26	1	118
Points	29	41	21	11	1	9	28	–	140	1	26	1	168
Others	1	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	2	–	–	–	2
DNF	–	–	–	–	1	–	–	–	1	–	–	–	1
Starts	30	41	22	11	2	9	28	–	143	1	26	1	171

a. ¹ Classification is made according to FIS classification.

b. ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ Includes individual and mass start races.

c. ¹ Includes pursuit and double pursuit races.

d. ¹ May be incomplete due to lack of appropriate sources for some relay races prior to 1995/96 World Cup season.

Note: Until 1999 World Championships and 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races are part of the World Cup. Hence results from those races are included in the World Cup overall record.

Personal life

Bente Skari was named Martinsen before marrying Geir Skari in 1999. She is the mother of three children, Filip, Oda and Selma.

References

Bente Skari Martinsen at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 February 12, 2008 article on Skari's role in the championships. - accessed March 12, 2008.
Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file (in Norwegian)
Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file (in Norwegian)

Notes

^ "Tjejvasan" (PDF) (in Swedish). Vasloppet. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
^ "SKARI MARTINSEN Bente". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Bente Skari". SkiSport365. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

Olympic champions in women's 10 km cross-country skiing

v t e World champions in women's 5 km cross-country skiing
1962: Alevtina Kolchina (URS) 1966: Alevtina Kolchina (URS) 1970: Galina Kulakova (URS) 1974: Galina Kulakova (URS) 1978: Helena Takalo (FIN) 1982: Berit Aunli (NOR) 1985: Anette Bøe (NOR) 1987: Marjo Matikainen (FIN) 1991: Trude Dybendahl (NOR) 1993: Larisa Lazutina (RUS) 1995: Larisa Lazutina (RUS) 1997: Yelena Välbe (RUS) 1999: Bente Martinsen (NOR)

World champions in women's 10 km cross-country skiing

1954: Lyubov Kozyreva (URS)
1958: Alevtina Kolchina (URS)
1962: Alevtina Kolchina (URS)
1966: Klavdiya Boyarskikh (URS)
1970: Alevtina Olyunina (URS)
1974: Galina Kulakova (URS)
1978: Zinaida Amosova (URS)
1982: Berit Aunli (NOR)
1985: Anette Bøe (NOR)
1987: Anne Jahren (NOR)
1989 classical: Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (FIN)
1989 freestyle: Yelena Välbe (URS)
1991: Yelena Välbe (URS)
2001: Bente Skari (NOR)
2003: Bente Skari (NOR)
2005: Kateřina Neumannová (CZE)
2007: Kateřina Neumannová (CZE)
2009: Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (FIN)
2011: Marit Bjørgen (NOR)
2013: Therese Johaug (NOR)
2015: Charlotte Kalla (SWE)
2017: Marit Bjørgen (NOR)
2019: Therese Johaug (NOR)
2021: Therese Johaug (NOR)
2023: Jessie Diggins (USA)

v t e World champions in women's 15 km cross-country skiing
1989: Marjo Matikainen (FIN) 1991: Yelena Välbe (URS) 1993: Yelena Välbe (RUS) 1995: Larisa Lazutina (RUS) 1997: Yelena Välbe (RUS) 1999: Stefania Belmondo (ITA) 2001: Bente Skari (NOR) 2003: Bente Skari (NOR)

Cross-country skiing World Cup champions – women's overall

v t e Holmenkollen Medal
Until 1900	1895: Viktor Thorn (NOR) 1897: Asbjørn Nilssen (NOR) 1899: Paul Braaten (NOR), Robert Pehrson (NOR)
1900–1950	1901: Aksel Refstad (NOR) 1903: Karl Hovelsen (NOR) 1904: Harald Smith (NOR) 1905: Jonas Holmen (NOR) 1907: Per Bakken 1908: Einar Kristiansen (NOR) 1909: Thorvald Hansen 1910: Lauritz Bergendahl 1911: Otto Tangen (NOR), Knut Holst (NOR) 1912: Olav Bjaaland (NOR) 1914: Johan Kristoffersen (NOR) 1915: Sverre Østbye (NOR) 1916: Lars Høgvold (NOR) 1918: Hassa Horn (NOR), Jørgen Hansen (NOR) 1919: Thorleif Haug (NOR), Otto Aasen (NOR) 1923: Thoralf Strømstad (NOR) 1924: Harald Økern (NOR), Johan Grøttumsbråten (NOR) 1925: Einar Landvik (NOR) 1926: Jacob Tullin Thams 1927: Hagbart Haakonsen (NOR), Einar Lindboe (NOR) 1928: Torjus Hemmestveit (NOR), Mikkjel Hemmestveit (NOR) 1931: Hans Vinjarengen (NOR), Ole Stenen (NOR) 1934: Oddbjørn Hagen (NOR) 1935: Arne Rustadstuen (NOR) 1937: Olaf Hoffsbakken (NOR), Birger Ruud (NOR), Martin P. Vangsli (NOR) 1938: Reidar Andersen (NOR), Johan R. Henriksen (NOR) 1939: Sven Selånger (SWE), Lars Bergendahl (NOR), Trygve Brodahl (NOR) 1940: Oscar Gjøslien (NOR), Annar Ryen (NOR) 1947: Elling Rønes (NOR) 1948: Asbjørn Ruud (NOR) 1949: Sigmund Ruud (NOR) 1950: Olav Økern (NOR)
1951–2000	1951: Simon Slåttvik (NOR) 1952: Stein Eriksen (NOR), Torbjørn Falkanger (NOR), Heikki Hasu (FIN), Nils Karlsson (SWE) 1953: Magnar Estenstad (NOR) 1954: Martin Stokken (NOR) 1955: Haakon VII (NOR), Hallgeir Brenden (NOR), Veikko Hakulinen (FIN), Sverre Stenersen (NOR) 1956: Borghild Niskin (NOR), Arnfinn Bergmann (NOR), Arne Hoel (NOR) 1957: Eero Kolehmainen (FIN) 1958: Inger Bjørnbakken (NOR), Håkon Brusveen (NOR) 1959: Gunder Gundersen (NOR) 1960: Helmut Recknagel (GDR), Sixten Jernberg (SWE), Sverre Stensheim (NOR), Tormod Knutsen (NOR) 1961: Harald Grønningen (NOR) 1962: Toralf Engan (NOR) 1963: Alevtina Kolchina (URS), Pavel Kolchin (URS), Astrid Sandvik (NOR), Torbjørn Yggeseth (NOR) 1964: Veikko Kankkonen (FIN), Eero Mäntyranta (FIN), Georg Thoma (FRG), Halvor Næs (NOR) 1965: Arto Tiainen (FIN), Bengt Eriksson (SWE), Arne Larsen (NOR) 1967: Toini Gustafsson (SWE), Ole Ellefsæter (NOR) 1968: Olav V (NOR), Assar Rönnlund (SWE), Gjermund Eggen (NOR), Bjørn Wirkola (NOR) 1969: Odd Martinsen (NOR) 1970: Pål Tyldum (NOR) 1971: Marjatta Kajosmaa (FIN), Berit Mørdre (NOR), Reidar Hjermstad (NOR) 1972: Rauno Miettinen (FIN), Magne Myrmo (NOR) 1973: Einar Bergsland (NOR), Ingolf Mork (NOR), Franz Keller (FRG) 1974: Juha Mieto (FIN) 1975: Gerhard Grimmer (GDR), Oddvar Brå (NOR), Ivar Formo (NOR) 1976: Ulrich Wehling (GDR) 1977: Helena Takalo (FIN), Hilkka Kuntola (FIN), Walter Steiner (SUI) 1979: Ingemar Stenmark (SWE), Erik Håker (NOR), Raisa Smetanina (URS) 1980: Thomas Wassberg (SWE) 1981: Johan Sætre (NOR) 1983: Berit Aunli (NOR), Tom Sandberg (NOR) 1984: Lars Erik Eriksen (NOR), Jakob Vaage (NOR), Armin Kogler (AUT) 1985: Anette Bøe (NOR), Per Bergerud (NOR), Gunde Svan (SWE) 1986: Brit Pettersen (NOR) 1987: Matti Nykänen (FIN), Hermann Weinbuch (FRG) 1989: Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (FIN) 1991: Vegard Ulvang (NOR), Trond Einar Elden (NOR), Ernst Vettori (AUT), Jens Weißflog (GER) 1992: Yelena Välbe (RUS) 1993: Emil Kvanlid (NOR) 1994: Lyubov Yegorova (RUS), Vladimir Smirnov (KAZ), Espen Bredesen (NOR) 1995: Kenji Ogiwara (JPN) 1996: Manuela Di Centa (ITA) 1997: Bjarte Engen Vik (NOR), Stefania Belmondo (ITA), Bjørn Dæhlie (NOR) 1998: Fred Børre Lundberg (NOR), Larisa Lazutina (RUS), Alexey Prokurorov (RUS), Harri Kirvesniemi (FIN) 1999: Kazuyoshi Funaki (JPN)
Since 2001	2001: Adam Małysz (POL), Bente Skari (NOR), Thomas Alsgaard (NOR) 2003: Felix Gottwald (AUT), Ronny Ackermann (GER) 2004: Yuliya Chepalova (RUS) 2005: Andrus Veerpalu (EST) 2007: Frode Estil (NOR), Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset (NOR), Harald V (NOR), Sonja (NOR), Simon Ammann (SUI) 2010: Marit Bjørgen (NOR) 2011: Ole Einar Bjørndalen (NOR), Michael Greis (GER), Andrea Henkel (GER), Janne Ahonen (FIN) 2012: Magdalena Neuner (GER), Emil Hegle Svendsen (NOR) 2013: Tora Berger (NOR), Martin Fourcade (FRA), Therese Johaug (NOR), Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT) 2014: Magnus Moan (NOR), Eric Frenzel (GER), Thomas Morgenstern (AUT), Darya Domracheva (BLR) 2015: Eldar Rønning (NOR), Anders Bardal (NOR), Anette Sagen (NOR), Kamil Stoch (POL) 2016: Noriaki Kasai (JPN), Tarjei Bø (NOR) 2017: Marie Dorin Habert (FRA), Sara Takanashi (JPN) 2018: Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Princess Astrid (NOR), Hannu Manninen (FIN), Kaisa Mäkäräinen (FIN) 2021: Maren Lundby (NOR), Johannes Thingnes Bø (NOR), Dario Cologna (SWI), Johannes Rydzek (GER) 2022: Tiril Eckhoff (NOR), Marte Olsbu Røiseland (NOR), Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR), Jørgen Graabak (NOR) 2023: Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR), Stefan Kraft (AUT)