Nordic skiing superstar and Winter Olympic biathlon gold medallist Anastasiya Kuzmina (27), of Slovakia, is scheduled to arrive in Wanaka next month to train and possibly compete in the Winter Games.
Kuzmina is the second nordic skiing superstar heading Wanaka's way this winter.
Polish crosscountry Olympic gold medallist Justyna Kowalczyk's entry in the Winter Games was confirmed on Wednesday.
Snow Farm operations manager Ray O'Brien said Kuzmina had requested accommodation at the lodge next month.
Winter Games sports manager Mags Helles yesterday said no entry from Kuzmina had been received to date.
"To be honest, a lot don't enter before they get here. They are coming out here to train anyway," Ms Helles said.
Strong nations competing in crosscountry include Canada (four confirmed) and Russia (eight confirmed), she said.
Kuzmina is married to Israeli crosscountry skier and coach, Daniel Kuzmin and they have a son, Yelisey.
She won a gold medal at last year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver in the 7.5km sprint biathlon. Kuzmina also won silver in the 10km pursuit race.
Biathlon combines the skills of crosscountry skiing with rifle target shooting.
New Zealand Olympian biathlete Sarah Murphy yesterday said the biathlon community was "tight-knit" and Kuzmina's visit would be motivating for New Zealanders entering the sport.
Murphy has competed against Kuzmina on the world cup circuit.
Kuzmina was impressive because she trained on her own, with help from her husband, Murphy said.
"She goes into races quite relaxed ... She is friendly and supportive of other athletes, an all-round good athlete ... At her level it is the dedication and the drive that is quite impressive.
To be able to see her out there training on her own will be motivating for everyone," Murphy said.
Murphy competed in biathlon at Vancouver, then won the 2010 Canadian Open and competed in the world cup in Russia.
She has been studying adventure tourism management in Queenstown for six months and is taking part in an International Biathlon Union training camp being conducted by coach Ubaldo Prucker, of Italy, until July 27.
Murphy intends to compete in three crosscountry races and the winter triathlon at the Winter Games.
