Grenoble, Autrans, 9 February 1968: Toini GUSTAFSSON from Sweden, 1st, in action in the cross-country skiing 10km event at the X Olympic Winter Games. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections
Other names: RĂ–NNLUND, Toini
Born: 17 January 1938
Birthplace: Soumisalmi (Sweden)
Nationality: Sweden
Sport: Skiing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Innsbruck 1964
Grenoble 1968
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Silver: 2
Other results:
World Championships
Silver: 1 (62)
Bronze: 2 (66)
Cross-Country Teacher
At the 1964 Winter Games, Toini Gustafsson finished in eighth place in the 10km race and sixth at 5km before earning a silver medal in the 3x5km relay. Four years later, Gustafsson, by now a 30-year-old physical education teacher, was the best in the world. She won the 10km race by 68 seconds.
Four days later she was the last of the 34 starters in the 5km event. Four seconds off the pace of leader Galina Kulakova with one kilomtere to go, Gustafsson poured it on and won with three seconds to spare. She completed her Olympic career by leading Sweden to second place in the 3x5km relay after recording the fastest leg of the race.