Virpi Sarasvuo

Virpi Katriina Sarasvuo^[1] (née Kuitunen, born 20 May 1976) is a Finnish former cross-country skier who competed from 1995 to 2010. She won a bronze medal in the team sprint event (with Aino-Kaisa Saarinen) at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and earned her best individual finish of fifth in the individual sprint event in those same games. Four years later in Vancouver, Kuitunen won another bronze, this time in the 4 × 5 km relay.^[2]

Virpi Kuitunen leading the group in the quarterfinals of Tour de Ski, Prague 2007

Virpi Sarasvuo
Country	Finland
Full name	Virpi Katriina Sarasvuo
Born	(1976-05-20) 20 May 1976 (age 48) Kangasniemi, Finland
Height	174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Ski club	Kangasniemen Kalske
World Cup career
Seasons	14 – (1995, 1997–2001, 2003–2010)
Indiv. starts	173
Indiv. podiums	52
Indiv. wins	27
Team starts	32
Team podiums	16
Team wins	4
Overall titles	2 – (2007, 2008)
Discipline titles	3 – (2 DI, 1 SP)
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Finland International nordic ski competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 0 2 World Championships 6 1 1 Total 6 1 3 Olympic Games 2006 Turin Team sprint 2010 Vancouver 4 × 5 km relay World Championships 2001 Lahti 5 km + 5 km combined pursuit 2007 Sapporo Team sprint 2007 Sapporo 30 km classical 2007 Sapporo 4 × 5 km relay 2009 Liberec Team sprint 2009 Liberec 4 × 5 km relay 2005 Oberstdorf 30 km classical 2007 Sapporo Individual sprint Disqualified 2001 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Junior World Championships 1995 Gällivare 4 × 5 km relay

Kuitunen has eight medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with six golds (2001: 5 km + 5 km combined pursuit, 2007: Team sprint, with Riitta-Liisa Roponen, 30 km, & 4 × 5 km; 2009: Team sprint, 4 × 5 km), one silver (2005: 30 km), one bronze (2007: Individual sprint). She also has thirty-four additional individual victories at various levels of various distances since 2000.

Kuitunen won the first ever Tour de Ski competition for women in 2006–07, winning over Norway's Marit Bjørgen by 1:17.5. She also won the overall 2006–07 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, as well as the sprint World Cup the same season. In the season 2007–08 Kuitunen won the overall again.

Because of Kuitunen's successes in cross-country skiing in 2007, she was awarded Finnish Sportswoman of the Year. Kuitunen also won the Tour de Ski in 2008–09.

Virpi Kuitunen married Jari Sarasvuo on 16 July 2010.^[1]

Doping controversy

At the 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Kuitunen was disqualified when she tested positive for hydroxyethyl starch, a banned blood plasma expander. She was forced to relinquish her silver medal earned in the 4 × 5 km and served a two-year suspension until the 2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).^[3]

Olympic Games

• 2 medals – (2 bronze)

Year	Age	10 km   individual	15 km   skiathlon	30 km   mass start	Sprint	4 × 5 km   relay	Team   sprint
2006	29	9	—	DNF	5	7	Bronze
2010	33	—	—	13	9	Bronze	—

World Championships

• 8 medals – (6 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

Year	Age	5 km	10 km	15 km	Pursuit	30 km	Sprint	4 × 5 km   relay	Team   sprint
1999	22	35	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	24	—	—	—	Gold	CNX[a]	—	DSQ	—
2003	26	—	—	—	16	—	—	—	—
2005	28	—	4	—	—	Silver	5	5	—
2007	30	—	—	—	DNF	Gold	Bronze	Gold	Gold
2009	32	—	4	—	13	DNF	—	Gold	Gold

a. ¹ Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

World Cup

Season titles

• 5 titles – (2 overall, 2 distance, 1 sprint)

	Season
		Discipline
	2007	Overall
		Distance
		Sprint
	2008	Overall
		Distance

Season standings

Season	Age	Discipline standings					Ski Tour standings
		Overall	Distance	Long Distance	Middle Distance	Sprint	Tour de Ski	World Cup Final
1995	18	NC	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997	20	NC	—	NC	—	—	—	—
1998	21	NC	—	NC	—	—	—	—
1999	22	81	—	NC	—	79	—	—
2000	23	34	—	33	28	35	—	—
2001	24	18	—	—	—	NC	—	—
2003	26	23	—	—	—	20	—	—
2004	27	6	7	—	—	4	—	—
2005	28	3	8	—	—	2	—	—
2006	29	6	7	—	—	10	—	—
2007	30	1	1	—	—	1	1	—
2008	31	1	1	—	—	3	2	1
2009	32	5	6	—	—	11	1	DNF
2010	33	22	21	—	—	20	DNF	28

Individual podiums

• 27 victories – (21 WC, 6 SWC)
• 52 podiums – (44 WC, 8 SWC)

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place
1	2000–01	17 December 2000	Brusson, Italy	1.5 km Sprint F	World Cup	3rd
2		10 February 2001	Otepää, Estonia	5 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
3	2002–03	11 March 2003	Drammen, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd
4	2003–04	13 December 2003	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
5		18 January 2004	Nové Město, Czech Republic	1.2 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
6		26 February 2004	Drammen, Norway	1.5 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
7		7 March 2004	Lahti, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
8	2004–05	20 November 2004	Gällivare, Sweden	10 km C Individual	World Cup	3rd
9		14 December 2004	Asiago, Italy	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
10		13 February 2005	Reit im Winkl, Germany	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
11		5 March 2005	Lahti, Finland	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd
12		9 March 2005	Drammen, Norway	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
13		12 March 2005	Oslo, Norway	30 km C Individual	World Cup	3rd
14		16 March 2005	Göteborg, Sweden	1.1 km Sprint F	World Cup	3rd
15	2005–06	19 November 2005	Beitostølen, Norway	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
16		26 November 2005	Rukatunturi, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
17		4 February 2006	Davos, Switzerland	1.0 km Sprint F	World Cup	2nd
18		5 February 2006		10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
19	2006–07	25 November 2006	Rukatunturi, Finland	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
20		26 November 2006		10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
21		13 December 2006	Cogne, Italy	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
22		16 December 2006	La Clusaz, France	15 km F Mass Start	World Cup	1st
23		3 January 2007	Oberstdorf, Germany	10 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	3rd
24		5 January 2007	Asiago, Italy	1.2 km Sprint F	Stage World Cup	1st
25		6 January 2007	Cavalese, Italy	15 km C Mass Start	Stage World Cup	1st
26		29 December 2006 – 7 January 2007	Tour de Ski	Overall Standings	World Cup	1st
27		27 January 2007	Otepää, Estonia	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
28		28 January 2007		1.0 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
29		3 February 2007	Davos, Switzerland	10 km F Individual	World Cup	1st
30		10 March 2007	Lahti, Finland	1.2 km Sprint F	World Cup	1st
31		14 March 2007	Drammen, Norway	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
32		17 March 2007	Oslo, Norway	30 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
33		21 March 2007	Stockholm, Sweden	1.1 km Sprint C	World Cup	2nd
34	2007–08	8 December 2007	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
35		28 December 2007	Nové Město, Czech Republic	3.3 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	1st
36		2 January 2008		10 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	2nd
37		5 January 2008	Val di Fiemme, Italy	10 km C Mass Start	Stage World Cup	1st
38		28 December 2007 – 6 January 2008	Tour de Ski	Overall Standings	World Cup	2nd
39		9 February 2008	Otepää, Estonia	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
40		10 February 2008		1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd
41		27 February 2008	Stockholm, Sweden	1.1 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
42		2 March 2008	Lahti, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
43		5 March 2008	Drammen, Norway	1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	1st
44		16 March 2008	Bormio, Italy	10 km F Pursuit	World Cup	1st
45	2008–09	30 November 2008	Rukatunturi, Finland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	2nd
46		13 December 2008	Davos, Switzerland	10 km C Individual	World Cup	1st
47		28 December 2008	Oberhof, Germany	10 km C Pursuit	Stage World Cup	1st
48		31 December 2008	Nové Město, Czech Republic	9 km C Individual	Stage World Cup	1st
49		3 January 2009	Val di Fiemme, Italy	10 km C Mass Start	Stage World Cup	1st
50		27 December 2008 – 4 January 2009	Tour de Ski	Overall Standings	World Cup	1st
51		24 January 2009	Otepää, Estonia	10 km C Individual	World Cup	3rd
52		25 January 2009		1.2 km Sprint C	World Cup	3rd

Team podiums

• 4 victories – (4 RL)
• 16 podiums – (13 RL, 3 TS)

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place	Teammate(s)
1	2000–01	25 November 2000	Beitostølen, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Manninen / Jauho / Varis
2		16 December 2000	Santa Caterina, Italy	4 × 3 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Manninen / Salonen / Jauho
3	2003–04	11 January 2004	Otepää, Estonia	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Välimaa / Saarinen / Sarasoja-Lilja
4	2004–05	21 November 2004	Gällivare, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Välimaa / Saarinen / Roponen
5		15 December 2004	Asiago, Italy	6 × 1.2 km Team Sprint C	World Cup	2nd	Saarinen
6		20 March 2005	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Saarinen / Välimaa / Roponen
7	2005–06	20 November 2005	Beitostølen, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Saarinen / Välimaa / Roponen
8		15 January 2006	Val di Fiemme, Italy	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Saarinen / Roponen / Varis
9	2006–07	29 October 2006	Düsseldorf, Germany	6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F	World Cup	3rd	Saarinen
10		19 November 2006	Gällivare, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Välimaa / Roponen / Saarinen
11		27 March 2007	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Manninen / Roponen / Saarinen
12	2007–08	28 October 2007	Düsseldorf, Germany	6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F	World Cup	3rd	Muranen
13		24 February 2008	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Saarinen / Roponen / Sarasoja-Lilja
14	2008–09	23 November 2008	Gällivare, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	2nd	Muranen / Saarinen / Roponen
15		7 December 2008	La Clusaz, France	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	1st	Muranen / Roponen / Saarinen
16	2009–10	22 November 2009	Beitostølen, Norway	4 × 5 km Relay C/F	World Cup	3rd	Muranen / Roponen / Saarinen

Overall record

Result	Distance Races[a]						Sprint	Ski tours	Individual events	Team Events		All events
	≤ 5 km[b]	≤ 10 km[b]	≤ 15 km[b]	≤ 30 km[b]	≥ 30 km[b]	Pursuit[c]				Team sprint	Relay[d]
1st place	1	12	2	–	–	2	8	2	27	–	2	29
2nd place	1	6	–	1	–	–	6	1	15	–	4	19
3rd place	–	3	–	1	–	–	6	–	10	2	4	16
Podiums	2	21	2	2	–	2	20	3	52	2	10	64
Top 10	5	29	8	4	–	11	39	3	99	5	16	120
Points	10	55	13	6	–	22	58	4	168	6	16	190
Others	3	1[e]	3	–	–	2[e]	1	1[f]	11	–	–	11
Starts	13	56	16	6	–	24	59	5	179	6	16	201

a. ¹ Classification is made according to FIS classification.

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

c. ¹ Includes handicap start, pursuit and double pursuit races.

d. ¹ Incomplete due to lack of appropriate sources prior to 2001.

e. ^{1 2} Did not finish the race (DNF).

f. ¹ Withdrawn from 2009–10 Tour de Ski.

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

References

1. "Virpi ja Jari Sarasvuo avioon kokovalkoisissa asuissa". HS.fi (in Finnish). Helsinki: Helsingin Sanomat Oy. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Virpi Kuitunen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016.
3. "KUITUNEN Virpi". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

• Virpi Sarasvuo at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
• Tour de Virpi report – Accessed 11 January 2007.

External links

Media related to Virpi Sarasvuo at Wikimedia Commons

• Virpi Kuitunen at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
• Virpi Kuitunen at Olympedia (archive)
• Virpi Kuitunen at Olympics.com