Lydia Wideman

{{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 = Tamperen Hiihtoseura

| retired =

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| 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.

Wideman and her twin sister Tyyne were born in a family of ten siblings. Many members of her family were skilled cross-country skiers. In particular, Tyyne won the national 10 km title in 1949–1951, beating Lydia in 1951, but retiring the same year.

In February 2018, following the death of Durward Knowles, she became the oldest living Olympic champion.{{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}} She died on 13 April 2019, aged 98.{{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}}{{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}}