{{Short description|Finnish cross-country skier (1920–2019)}} {{Expand Finnish|date=April 2019|topic=bio}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = | image = Lydia Wideman 1952.jpg | image_size = | caption = Wideman at the 1952 Olympics | birth_name = | fullname = | nationality = | residence = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1920|5|17||1}} | birth_place = Vilppula, Finland | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2019|4|13|1920|5|17}} | death_place = Tampere, Finland | height = 163 cm | weight = 61–62 kg | country = | sport = Cross-country skiing | event = | pb = | club = Tampereen Hiihtoseura | retired = | olympics = | highestranking = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's cross-country skiing }} {{MedalCountry|{{FIN}}}} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }} {{MedalGold|1952 Oslo|10 km}} }}
'''Lydia Wideman''' (later ''Wideman-Lehtonen'', 17 May 1920 – 13 April 2019) was a cross-country skier from Finland and the first female Olympic medalist in cross-country skiing. In 1952 she competed in thirteen 10 km races and won all of them, including the 1952 Winter Olympics, national championships and Lahti Ski Games.<ref name=sr/>
Wideman and her twin sister Tyyne were born in a family of ten siblings. Many members of her family were skilled cross-country skiers.<ref name=b2/> In particular, Tyyne won the national 10 km title in 1949–1951, beating Lydia in 1951, but retiring the same year.<ref name=b1/>
In February 2018, following the death of Durward Knowles, she became the oldest living Olympic champion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eight Bells: Sir Durward Knowles >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News|url=http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2018/02/25/eight-bells-sir-durward-knowles/|website=Scuttlebutt Sailing News|accessdate=25 February 2018|date=25 February 2018}}</ref> She died on 13 April 2019, aged 98.<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympiavoittaja Lydia Wideman-Lehtonen on kuollut 98-vuotiaana |url=https://www.is.fi/maastohiihto/art-2000006069566.html |publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |accessdate=13 April 2019 |language=fi |date=13 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=98-vuotiaana Tampereella kuollut Lydia Wideman-Lehtonen oli maailman vanhin elossa ollut olympiavoittaja - muistetaan hiihtohistoriaa tehneestä saavutuksesta|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/talviurheilu/a/cb565619-2abf-4869-ba15-66194aa7dbd1 |publisher=Iltalehti |accessdate=14 April 2019 |language=fi |date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
==Cross-country skiing results== All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).<ref name="FISprofile">{{cite web |url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sector=CC&competitorid=66089&type=st-WC |title=WIDEMAN Lydia |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=FIS-Ski |publisher=International Ski Federation |access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref> ===Olympic Games=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; background:#ffffff;" ! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:60px;"| Year ! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:40px;"| Age ! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| 10 km |- | 1952 || ''31'' || style="background:gold;"| '''Gold''' |- |}
==References== {{reflist|2|refs= <ref name=sr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417161821/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/lydia-wideman-1.html Lydia Wideman]. sports-reference.com</ref> <ref name=b1>Arponen, Antti O.; Hannus, Matti; Honkavaara, Aarne; Leinonen, Kimmo; Mäki-Kuutti, Tarmo; Raatikainen, Voitto; Raevuori, Antero (1986) ''Talviurheilun tähdet'', p. 123. WSOY. {{ISBN|951-0-13095-8}}</ref> <ref name=b2>Seppänen, Pekka (1980) ”Lydia Widemanin täysosumatalvi”, Kultaa, kunniaa, kyyneleitä, 3. osa, pp. 293–300. Pohjanlahden Kustannus Oy. {{ISBN|951-95416-5-9}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Lydia Wideman}} * {{FIS cross-country skier|66089}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com}} * {{Olympiakomitea.fi|lydia-wideman}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 10km XC Women}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wideman, Lydia}} Category:1920 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Cross-country skiers at the 1952 Winter Olympics Category:Finnish female cross-country skiers Category:Medalists at the 1952 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic cross-country skiers for Finland Category:Olympic medalists in cross-country skiing Category:Olympic gold medalists for Finland Category:People from Mänttä-Vilppula Category:Skiers from Pirkanmaa Category:20th-century Finnish sportswomen