Anatoly Akentyev

Anatoly Vasilyevich Akentyev (Анатолий Васильевич Акентьев; 14 February 1942 – 23 April 2023) was a Soviet cross-country skier who won the 15 km race at the 1967 Holmenkollen Ski Festival. He competed at the 1968 Winter Olympics in the 15, 30, 50 and 4 × 10 km events and finished 10th–20th individually and fourth in the relay. After retiring from competitions Akentyev became a prominent skiing administrator. He was vice president of the International Ski Federation (FIS) since 1979 and its honorary vice president since 2006. Nationally he headed the Soviet and Russian cross-country skiing teams for 15 years and served as president of the Russian Ski Union from 1996 to 2004.

Akentyev died on 23 April 2023, at the age of 81.