Lillehammer, 13 February 1994, XVII Olympic Winter Games. Cross country skiing, medal ceremony for the women's 15km free event: Manuela DI CENTA displays her gold medal with a beaming smile. Credit: Getty Images/BRUNSKILL Clive

Born: 31 January 1963

Birthplace: Paluzzo (Italy)

Nationality: Italy

Sport: Skiing

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Sarajevo 1984

Calgary 1988

Albertville 1992

Lillehammer 1994

Nagano 1998

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 2

Silver: 2

Bronze: 3

Other results:

World Championships

Silver: 4 (91, 93, 95)

Bronze: 3 (91, 95)

A Medal At Every Distance

Manuela Di Centa had competed in 23 Olympic and world championship races without winning a gold medal. At the 1992 Albertville Games, she won a bronze medal with the italian team in the 4x5km relay. Then it was discovered that she had a malfunctioning thyroid gland. After being hospitalised and treated, she returned to the Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994 and earned medals in every one of the five cross-country skiing events: gold at 15km and 30km, silver in the 5km race and the pursuit, and a bronze in the 4x5km relay. She added one more relay bronze at the 1998 Olympics (4x5km relay).