Maxim Mikhailovich Vylegzhanin (Russian: Максим Михайлович Вылегжанин; born 18 October 1982) is a Russian former cross country skier and a three-time Olympic silver medalist at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in 50 km freestyle, 4 × 10 km relay and team sprint. He was stripped of his 2014 Olympic medals by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 9 November 2017, however on 1 February 2018, his results were restored as a result of the successful appeal.[1] [2]
| Maxim Vylegzhanin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Maxim Vylegzhanin at the FIS World Cup Royal Palace Sprint, Stockholm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Russia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Maxim Mikhailovich Vylegzhanin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 October 1982 Sharkan, Udmurt ASSR, Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ski club | Dynamo Sports Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seasons | 15 – (2005–2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starts | 208 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Podiums | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall titles | 0 – (5th in 2013) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline titles | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| Updated on 2 April 2019. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vylegzhanin has competed since 2002. His first World Cup start was on 22 January 2005 in Pragelato, Italy. He won a silver medal in the 50 km event (time: 1:59:38:8 – average speed 25,1 km/h) at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec.
Career
Vylegzhanin's best individual World Cup finish was first place in the 30 km in La Clusaz in December 2010. He has a total of four victories ranging from pursuit to 50 km between 2007 and 2008, all in lesser events. He also finished eighth in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Doping case
In December 2016, the International Ski Federation provisionally suspended six Russian cross-country skiers due to doping violations during the 2014 Winter Olympics, including Vylegzhanin.[3] In December 2017, Vylegzhanin was disqualified for doping offences by the International Olympic Committee, and his 2014 Olympic results were annulled.[4][5] In February 2018, the international Court of Arbitration for Sport reinstated Vylegzhanin results in Sochi 2014, including three medals, and annulled disqualification imposed by IOC.[6][7] On 19 January 2019 the IOC's appeal of Vylegzhanin case was dismissed by the Swiss Federal Tribunal.[8][9]
Cross-country skiing results
All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[10]
Olympic Games
- 3 medals – (3 silver)
| Year | Age | 15 km individual | 30 km skiathlon | 50 km mass start | Sprint | 4 × 10 km relay | Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 27 | 9 | 17 | 8 | — | 8 | — |
| 2014 | 31 | — | 4 | Silver | — | Silver | Silver |
World Championships
- 5 medals – (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
| Year | Age | 15 km individual | 30 km skiathlon | 50 km mass start | Sprint | 4 × 10 km relay | Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 26 | 45 | 24 | Silver | — | — | — |
| 2011 | 28 | 10 | Silver | Silver | — | 7 | — |
| 2013 | 30 | 57 | 5 | 8 | — | Bronze | — |
| 2015 | 32 | — | Gold | 4 | — | 4 | — |
| 2019 | 36 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
World Cup
Season standings
| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening | Tour de Ski | World Cup Final | Ski Tour Canada | ||
| 2005 | 22 | 67 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 23 | 152 | 110 | NC | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 24 | 79 | 52 | NC | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | 25 | 51 | 51 | 51 | — | 21 | — | — |
| 2009 | 26 | 23 | 16 | 96 | — | 15 | 27 | — |
| 2010 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 25 | — | DNF | 4 | — |
| 2011 | 28 | 11 | 6 | NC | 5 | — | 14 | — |
| 2012 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 39 | 18 | 8 | 12 | — |
| 2013 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 39 |  |  | 12 | — |
| 2014 | 31 | 10 | 8 | 92 | | — | 5 | — |
| 2015 | 32 | 10 | 8 | 86 | 14 | 9 | — | — |
| 2016 | 33 | 13 | 9 | 50 | 11 | 25 | — | 18 |
| 2017 | 34 | 81 | 77 | 60 | 19 | — | — | — |
| 2018 | 35 | 27 | 26 | NC | 20 | — | 5 | — |
| 2019 | 36 | 30 | 20 | NC | 25 | 19 | — | — |
Individual podiums
- 7 victories – (5 WC, 2 SWC)
- 24 podiums – (15 WC, 9 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009–10 | 29 November 2009 |  Rukatunturi, Finland | 15 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 2 | 20 December 2009 |  Rogla, Slovenia | 30 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 3 | 2 January 2010 |  Oberhof, Germany | 15 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 4 | 19 March 2010 |  Falun, Sweden | 3.3 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 5 | 21 March 2010 | 15 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | ||
| 6 | 2010–11 | 18 December 2010 |  La Clusaz, France | 30 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 1st |
| 7 | 22 January 2011 |  Otepää, Estonia | 15 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 8 | 18 March 2011 | Falun, Sweden | 3.3 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 9 | 2011–12 | 1 January 2012 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 10 km + 10 km Skiathlon C/F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 10 | 5 February 2012 | Rybinsk, Russia | 15 km + 15 km Skiathlon C/F | World Cup | 1st | |
| 11 | 11 February 2012 |  Nové Město, Czech Republic | 30 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 12 | 2012–13 | 2 December 2012 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 15 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 13 | 30 November – 2 December 2012 | Nordic Opening | Overall Standings | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 14 | 30 December 2012 | Oberhof, Germany | 15 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 1st | |
| 15 | 29 December 2012 – 6 January 2013 |   Tour de Ski | Overall Standings | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 16 | 22 March 2013 | Falun, Sweden | 15 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 17 | 2013–14 | 29 November – 1 December 2013 | Nordic Opening | Overall Standings | World Cup | 2nd |
| 18 | 19 January 2014 |  Szklarska Poręba, Poland | 15 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 1st | |
| 19 | 2014–15 | 25 January 2015 | Rybinsk, Russia | 15 km + 15 km Skiathlon C/F | World Cup | 1st |
| 20 | 2015–16 | 6 February 2016 |  Oslo, Norway | 50 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 21 | 13 February 2016 | Falun, Sweden | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 1st | |
| 22 | 2017–18 | 10 March 2018 | Oslo, Norway | 50 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 23 | 18 March 2018 | Falun, Sweden | 15 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 24 | 2018–19 | 9 March 2019 | Oslo, Norway | 50 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 2nd |
Team podiums
- 4 victories – (2 RL, 2 TS)
- 10 podiums – (8 RL, 2 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006–07 | 25 March 2007 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Pankratov / Rochev / Legkov |
| 2 | 2009–10 | 22 November 2009 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Pankratov / Legkov / Chernousov |
| 3 | 2010–11 | 21 November 2010 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Belov / Sedov / Legkov |
| 4 | 19 December 2010 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Belov / Legkov / Sedov | |
| 5 | 6 February 2011 | Rybinsk, Russia | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Belov / Sedov / Legkov | |
| 6 | 2011–12 | 12 February 2012 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Yaparov / Volzhentsev / Glavatskikh |
| 7 | 2012–13 | 25 November 2012 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Belov / Legkov / Chernousov |
| 8 | 3 February 2013 | Sochi, Russia | 6 × 1.8 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 1st | Yaparov | |
| 9 | 2013–14 | 8 December 2013 | Lillehammer, Norway | 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Yaparov / Bessmertnykh / Legkov |
| 10 | 12 January 2014 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 6 × 1.6 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 1st | Kryukov |
