Lyudmila Smirnova
Encyclopedia
Lyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova ' onMouseout='HidePop("8370")' href="/topics/Leningrad">Leningrad
) 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
.
Smirnova began figure skating in 1955 and became a member of the USSR National Team in 1968. She trained in Leningrad at Spartak
and was first paired with Suraikin. 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. They married and had two children, Nikolai Ulanov and Irina Ulanova. Their daughter, Irina Ulanova, is a former pair skater who skated with Alexander Smirnov
, and Maxim Trankov
for about three years.
In 1972 Smirnova was awarded the Medal For Labour Heroism.
(with Ulanov)
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...
) was a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. She won the silver medal in pair skating
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,...
at the 1972 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1972 Winter Olympics
Figure skating was contested at the 1972 Winter Olympic Games . The competition took place at the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink.Results of both the men's and ladies' singles events were dominated by placements in the compulsory figures, which at this time were nominally worth 50% of the total...
with Andrei Suraikin
Andrei Suraikin
Andrei Alexandrovich Suraikin was a Russian figure skater. They were coached by Maya Belenkaya....
. They were coached by Maya Belenkaya
Maya Belenkaya
Maya Petrovna Belenkaya is a former Soviet figure skater. With her partner Igor Moskvin, she was the 1953-1954 USSR national champion. She skated both in singles and pairs....
.
Smirnova began figure skating in 1955 and became a member of the USSR National Team in 1968. She trained in Leningrad at Spartak
Spartak (sports society)
Spartak is the International Fitness and Sports Society of Nikolai Starostin.-Overview:Spartak was the first and the largest All-Union Voluntary Sports Society of workers of state trade, producers' cooperation, light industry, civil aviation, education, culture, health service etc...
and was first paired with Suraikin. They were the 2nd strongest Soviet pair behind 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...
and 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...
, and placed second behind them at both the World
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 European
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...
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
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....
and European Championships
1973 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1973 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1972-1973 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
. The next season, they won European bronze
1974 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1974 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1973-1974 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
and World silver
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....
medals. They married and had two children, Nikolai Ulanov and Irina Ulanova. Their daughter, Irina Ulanova, is a former pair skater who skated with Alexander Smirnov
Alexander Smirnov (figure skater)
Alexander Viktorovich Smirnov is a Russian pair skater. Smirnov teamed up with Yuko Kavaguti in the spring of 2006. They are the 2010 European champions, 2009 and 2010 World bronze medalists, and 2008-2010 Russian Champions. They have won a total of four European medals...
, and Maxim Trankov
Maxim Trankov
Maxim Leonidovich Trankov is a Russian pair skater. With current partner Tatiana Volosozhar, he won the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, their first major international competition together...
for about three years.
In 1972 Smirnova was awarded the Medal For Labour Heroism.
Competitive highlights
(with Suraikin)| Event | 1969-70 | 1970-71 | 1971-72 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
2nd | ||
| 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... |
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... |
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... |
2nd | 2nd | |
| 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... |
2nd | 1st | 2nd |
| Winter Universiade | 1st |
(with Ulanov)
| Event | 1972-73 | 1973-74 |
|---|---|---|
| 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... |
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... |
2nd | 3rd |
| 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 | |
| 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 |