Alexander Zaitsev (skater)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Gennadiyevich Zaitsev ' onMouseout='HidePop("48156")' href="/topics/Leningrad">Leningrad
) is a retired pair skater
who represented the Soviet Union
. With partner Irina Rodnina
, he is a two-time (1976
, 1980
) Olympic champion, six-time World champion
and seven-time European champion
. From 1973 to 1980 they won every event they entered. They were coached by Stanislav Zhuk
and later Tatiana Tarasova
in Moscow
. He is now a figure skating coach. His hometown is Saint Petersburg
.
to Irina Rodnina as a potential partner. She was already a four-time World champion and 1972 Olympic gold medalist with her previous partner Alexei Ulanov
, who had left her to skate with Lyudmila Smirnova
. Zaitsev was three years younger than Rodnina and was much less seasoned but learned quickly. He was from Leningrad (Saint Petersburg)
while she was from Moscow
.
Rodnina and Zaitsev's music stopped during their short program at the 1973 World Championships
, possibly due to a Czech worker acting in retaliation for the suppression of the Prague Spring
. Known for intense concentration, they finished the program in silence, earning a standing ovation and a gold medal upon completion, ahead of Smirnova and Ulanov, whom they again defeated in 1974
.
In 1974, Rodnina and Zaitsev left Zhuk, with whom the working relationship had become strained, to train with Tatiana Tarasova
. They were married in April 1975. They won six consecutive World titles together, as well as seven European gold medals, and won their first Olympic title together in 1976
. Rodnina and Zaitsev did not compete during the 1978-79 season because she was pregnant with their son, Alexander Junior, who was born on February 23, 1979. They returned in 1980 to capture their second Olympic title
together and Rodnina's third. They then retired from competitive skating.
After retiring from competition, Zaitsev became a coach and for a time was involved in the administration of the sport. He and Rodnina are divorced.
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
) is a retired pair skater
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
who represented the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. With partner Irina Rodnina
Irina Rodnina
Irina Konstantinovna Rodnina is one of the most successful figure skaters ever and the only pair skater to win 10 successive World Championships and three successive Olympic gold medals . She initially competed with Alexei Ulanov and later teamed up with Alexander Zaitsev...
, he is a two-time (1976
Figure skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympic Games figure skating results. Ice dancing was introduced as an Olympic event in these Olympics.-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Sonia BianchettiAssistant Referee:* Emil Skákala...
, 1980
Figure skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics
These are the 1980 Winter Olympic Games Figure skating results.-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Sonia BianchettiAssistant Referee:* Elemér Terták...
) Olympic champion, six-time World champion
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
and seven-time European champion
European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
. From 1973 to 1980 they won every event they entered. They were coached by Stanislav Zhuk
Stanislav Zhuk
Stanislav Alekseevich Zhuk was a pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With partner and wife Nina, he won three silver medals at the European Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at the 1960 Winter Olympics.He later went on to a long career as a coach...
and later Tatiana Tarasova
Tatiana Tarasova
Tatiana Anatolyevna Tarasova is a Russian figure skating coach and national figure skating team adviser. Tarasova has been coach to more world and Olympic champions than any other coach in skating history. As of 2003, her students have won a total of 41 gold medals at the European and World...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He is now a figure skating coach. His hometown is Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
Career
In April 1972, Zaitsev was recommended by Stanislav ZhukStanislav Zhuk
Stanislav Alekseevich Zhuk was a pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With partner and wife Nina, he won three silver medals at the European Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at the 1960 Winter Olympics.He later went on to a long career as a coach...
to Irina Rodnina as a potential partner. She was already a four-time World champion and 1972 Olympic gold medalist with her previous partner Alexei Ulanov
Alexei Ulanov
Alexei Nikolaevich Ulanov is a retired pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With Irina Rodnina, he is the 1972 Olympic champion and a four-time World champion. They were coached by Stanislav Zhuk and trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow. He later competed with wife...
, who had left her to skate with Lyudmila Smirnova
Lyudmila Smirnova
Lyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova was a Russian figure skater. She won the silver medal in pair skating at the 1972 Winter Olympics with Andrei Suraikin. They were coached by Maya Belenkaya....
. Zaitsev was three years younger than Rodnina and was much less seasoned but learned quickly. He was from Leningrad (Saint Petersburg)
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
while she was from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Rodnina and Zaitsev's music stopped during their short program at the 1973 World Championships
1973 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
, possibly due to a Czech worker acting in retaliation for the suppression of the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
. Known for intense concentration, they finished the program in silence, earning a standing ovation and a gold medal upon completion, ahead of Smirnova and Ulanov, whom they again defeated in 1974
1974 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
.
In 1974, Rodnina and Zaitsev left Zhuk, with whom the working relationship had become strained, to train with Tatiana Tarasova
Tatiana Tarasova
Tatiana Anatolyevna Tarasova is a Russian figure skating coach and national figure skating team adviser. Tarasova has been coach to more world and Olympic champions than any other coach in skating history. As of 2003, her students have won a total of 41 gold medals at the European and World...
. They were married in April 1975. They won six consecutive World titles together, as well as seven European gold medals, and won their first Olympic title together in 1976
Figure skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympic Games figure skating results. Ice dancing was introduced as an Olympic event in these Olympics.-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Sonia BianchettiAssistant Referee:* Emil Skákala...
. Rodnina and Zaitsev did not compete during the 1978-79 season because she was pregnant with their son, Alexander Junior, who was born on February 23, 1979. They returned in 1980 to capture their second Olympic title
Figure skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics
These are the 1980 Winter Olympic Games Figure skating results.-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Sonia BianchettiAssistant Referee:* Elemér Terták...
together and Rodnina's third. They then retired from competitive skating.
After retiring from competition, Zaitsev became a coach and for a time was involved in the administration of the sport. He and Rodnina are divorced.
Results
Pairs with Irina RodninaIrina Rodnina
Irina Konstantinovna Rodnina is one of the most successful figure skaters ever and the only pair skater to win 10 successive World Championships and three successive Olympic gold medals . She initially competed with Alexei Ulanov and later teamed up with Alexander Zaitsev...
| Event | 1972-73 | 1973-74 | 1974-75 | 1975-76 | 1976-77 | 1977-78 | 1978-79 | 1979-80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
1st | 1st | ||||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
| Soviet Championships Soviet Figure Skating Championships The Soviet Figure Skating Championships were a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of the Soviet Union... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||||
| Prize of Moscow News Prize of Moscow News The Prize of Moscow News , also known as the Moscow Skate, Nouvelles de Moscou, and the Moscow News Trophy, was an international, senior-level figure skating competition held in the former Soviet Union from 1966 to 1990... |
1st |