Lyudmila Smirnova

Olympic medal record
Figure skating
Competitor for  Soviet Union
1972 Sapporo Pairs
Lyudmila Smirnova
Personal information
Full name Lyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova
Country represented  Soviet Union
Born (1947-11-04) November 4, 1947
Moscow
Former partner Andrei Suraikin
Alexei Ulanov
Former coach Maya Belenkaya

Lyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova (Russian: Людмила Станиславовна Смирнова; born July 21, 1949 in Leningrad[1]) is a retired pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union. With partner Andrei Suraikin, she is the 1972 Winter Olympic silver medalist. With later partner Alexei Ulanov, she is a two-time World silver medalist.

Career

Smirnova began figure skating in 1955 and became a member of the USSR National Team in 1968.[1] She trained in Leningrad at Spartak and competed initially with Suraikin.[2] Smirnova and Suraikin were coached by Maya Belenkaya.[3] They were the 2nd strongest Soviet pair behind Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov, and placed second behind them at both the World and European Championships three times (1970–1972).

Smirnova and Ulanov, skating for rival teams, fell in love. The pairs decided to separate—a decision they made before the 1972 Games. Rodnina and Ulanov won the gold, and Smirnova and Suraikin the silver. Thereafter Smirnova began skating with Ulanov.

Smirnova and Ulanov competed for two seasons. They won silver medals at the 1973 World and European Championships. The next season, they won European bronze and World silver medals.

In 1972 Smirnova was awarded the Medal For Labour Heroism.[1]

Personal life

Smirnova and Ulanov married and later divorced after having two children, Nikolai Ulanov and Irina Ulanova.[4] Their daughter, Irina Ulanova, is a former pair skater who skated with Alexander Smirnov,[5] and Maxim Trankov for about three years.[6]

Competitive highlights

With Suraikin

Event 1969–1970 1970–1971 1971–1972
Winter Olympic Games 2nd
World Championships 2nd 2nd 2nd
European Championships 2nd 2nd 2nd
Soviet Championships 2nd 2nd
Prize of Moscow News 2nd 1st 2nd
Winter Universiade 1st

With Ulanov

Event 1972–1973 1973–1974
World Championships 2nd 2nd
European Championships 2nd 3rd
Soviet Championships 3rd
Prize of Moscow News 1st

References

  1. 1 2 3 [Panorama of the 1972 Sports Year] (in Russian). Moscow: Fizkultura i sport. 1973. p. 50.
  2. Khavin, Boris (1979). [All about the Olympic Games] (in Russian) (2nd ed.). Moscow: Fizkultura i sport. p. 448.
  3. Легендарная фигуристка М.П.Беленькая (in Russian). Ledyanaya Fabrika. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010.
  4. Deryagin, Nikolai (17 December 2010). Алексей Уланов: «Талантливый человек в любой момент может предать» [Alexei Ulanov interview]. yagazeta.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  5. http://www.icedinasty.com/Dinasty/Ice_Dinasty_Family.html
  6. Izotov, Ilya (29 April 2011). Первый лед Транькова [Trankov's early years on the ice]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.

External links

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