Ludmila Belousova
Encyclopedia
Ludmila Yevgenyevna Belousova (b. November 22, 1935 in Ulyanovsk
, Russian SFSR) is a Russia
n pair skater
who represented the Soviet Union. With her partner Oleg Protopopov
, she is a two-time Olympic champion (1964, 1968) and four-time World champion
(1965–1968).
and competed internationally for the USSR.
Belousova and Protopopov debuted at the World Championships in 1958
, finishing 13th. Two years later they competed at their first Olympics
, placing 9th. In 1962, they made the World Championship
podium for the first time, earning the silver medal. They were the first pair from the Soviet Union or Russia to win a World medal since the discipline's introduction at the 1908 World Championships
(which had only three pairs competing). They also won silver at the European Championships
, becoming the second Soviet pair to medal after Nina Zhuk / Stanislav Zhuk
(who won silver from 1958 to 1960).
Belousova and Protopopov's first major international gold medal came at the 1964 Winter Olympics
. It was the first Olympic pairs gold for the Soviet Union. Belousova and Protopopov began the forty-year Soviet/Russian gold medal streak in pair skating, the longest in Olympic sports history, from 1964 to 2006.
Belousova and Protopopov won their first World
and European
gold medals in 1965, and in so doing, also became the first Soviet/Russian pair to win those titles.
They became Olympic champions for the second time at the 1968 Winter Olympics
. At 32 and 35 years old respectively, they were among the oldest champions in figure skating.
The following season, they won the silver medal at the European Championships
and bronze at the World Championships
as Irina Rodnina
began her reign with her first partner, Alexei Ulanov
. Those were the pair's final appearances at major international competitions but they would continue to compete within the Soviet Union until 1972.
In total, Belousova and Protopopov won two Olympic titles and medalled eight times at both the World and European Championships, including four consecutive World and European gold medals. After retiring from competition, they skated in shows and continue to do so into their 70's.
Belousova and Protopopov contributed to the development of pair skating, including introducing three death spirals – the backward inside (BIDS), forward inside (FIDS), and forward outside (FODS), which they dubbed the Cosmic spiral, Life spiral, and Love spiral, respectively. Dick Button
stated: "The Protopopovs are great skaters not only because they were the finest of Olympic champions, but also because their creative impact was extraordinary."
On September 24, 1979, Belousova and Protopopov defected to Switzerland
while on tour and applied for political asylum. Switzerland remains their winter home while their summer home and training center is Lake Placid, New York
.
Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk The city is the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin , for whom it is named.-History:Simbirsk was founded in 1648 by the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo. The fort of "Simbirsk" was strategically placed on a hill on the Western bank of the Volga River...
, Russian SFSR) is a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n 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. With her partner Oleg Protopopov
Oleg Protopopov
Oleg Alekseyevich Protopopov is a Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With his partner Ludmila Belousova, he is a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion .- Career :Protopopov started skating relatively late, at age 15...
, she is a two-time Olympic champion (1964, 1968) and four-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...
(1965–1968).
Career
Belousova started skating relatively late, at age 16. She met Protopopov in 1954 and they began skating together. They trained at VSS LokomotivLokomotiv (sports society)
Lokomotiv is the Russian sports club and a member of the International Railway Sports Association.Lokomotive traces its history to the All-Union Voluntary Sports Society of rail transport workers' Trade Unions, one of the first sports societies of workers of the USSR. Established in 1936, it...
and competed internationally for the USSR.
Belousova and Protopopov debuted at the World Championships in 1958
1958 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....
, finishing 13th. Two years later they competed at their first Olympics
Figure skating at the 1960 Winter Olympics
The figure skating 1960 Winter Olympics results in Squaw Valley, California, United States.-Men's Singles:-Ladies Singles:-Pairs:-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Rudolf MarxAssistant Referee:* Harold G. Storke...
, placing 9th. In 1962, they made the World Championship
1962 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....
podium for the first time, earning the silver medal. They were the first pair from the Soviet Union or Russia to win a World medal since the discipline's introduction at the 1908 World Championships
1908 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....
(which had only three pairs competing). They also won silver at the European Championships
1962 European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion....
, becoming the second Soviet pair to medal after Nina Zhuk / 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...
(who won silver from 1958 to 1960).
Belousova and Protopopov's first major international gold medal came at the 1964 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1964 Winter Olympics
-Medal table:-Men Singles:Referee:* Henry M. BeattyAssistant Referee:* Oskar MadlJudges: Adolf Walker Gérard Rodrigues Henriques Geoffrey S...
. It was the first Olympic pairs gold for the Soviet Union. Belousova and Protopopov began the forty-year Soviet/Russian gold medal streak in pair skating, the longest in Olympic sports history, from 1964 to 2006.
Belousova and Protopopov won their first World
1965 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....
and European
1965 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1965 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1964-1965 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
gold medals in 1965, and in so doing, also became the first Soviet/Russian pair to win those titles.
They became Olympic champions for the second time at the 1968 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1968 Winter Olympics
The figure skating 1968 Winter Olympics results in Grenoble, France. Ice Dance was a demonstration event and was won by the team of Diane Towler and Bernard Ford of Great Britain.-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Josef DědičAssistant Referee:...
. At 32 and 35 years old respectively, they were among the oldest champions in figure skating.
The following season, they won the silver medal at the European Championships
1969 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1969 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1969-1970 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
and bronze at the World Championships
1969 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....
as 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...
began her reign with her first 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...
. Those were the pair's final appearances at major international competitions but they would continue to compete within the Soviet Union until 1972.
Belousova and Protopopov contributed to the development of pair skating, including introducing three death spirals – the backward inside (BIDS), forward inside (FIDS), and forward outside (FODS), which they dubbed the Cosmic spiral, Life spiral, and Love spiral, respectively. Dick Button
Dick Button
Richard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
stated: "The Protopopovs are great skaters not only because they were the finest of Olympic champions, but also because their creative impact was extraordinary."
Personal life
Belousova and Protopopov married in 1957. Although she kept her maiden name after their marriage, the pair are commonly referred to as "The Protopopovs".On September 24, 1979, Belousova and Protopopov defected to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
while on tour and applied for political asylum. Switzerland remains their winter home while their summer home and training center is Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
.
Competitive highlights
(with Protopopov)| Event | 1954–55 | 1955–56 | 1956–57 | 1957–58 | 1958–59 | 1959–60 | 1960–61 | 1961–62 | 1962–63 | 1963–64 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games 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... |
9th | 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... |
13th | 8th | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | |||||
| 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... |
10th | 7th | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | ||||
| 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... |
3rd | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Event | 1964–65 | 1965–66 | 1966–67 | 1967–68 | 1968–69 | 1969–70 | 1970–71 | 1971–72 | 1972–73 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games 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 | ||||||||
| 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 | 3rd | ||||
| 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 | 2nd | ||||
| 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 | 2nd | 4th | 6th | 3rd | ||
| 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... |
3rd | 1st | 2nd |