Lyudmila Buldakova

Lyudmila Stepanovna Buldakova (May 25, 1938 – November 7, 2006) was a Soviet and Russian volleyball player. She was a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the Soviet national team.

Lyudmila Buldakova
Personal information
Full nameLyudmila Stepanovna Buldakova (Meshcheryakova)
Born(1938-05-25)May 25, 1938
Leningrad, RSFSR, Soviet Union
DiedNovember 7, 2006(2006-11-07) (aged 68)
Moscow, Russia
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight146 lb (66 kg)
Volleyball information
PositionSetter, spiker
National team
1955-1972 Soviet Union
Honours
Women’s volleyball
Representing  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1968 Mexico CityTeam
Gold medal – first place1972 MunichTeam
Silver medal – second place1964 TokyoTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place1956 FranceTeam
Gold medal – first place1960 BrazilTeam
Gold medal – first place1970 BulgariaTeam
Silver medal – second place1962 Soviet UnionTeam
European Championship
Gold medal – first place1958 CzechoslovakiaTeam
Gold medal – first place1967 TurkeyTeam
Gold medal – first place1971 ItalyTeam
Silver medal – second place1955 RomaniaTeam

Buldakova had a long career in the Soviet national team, from 1955 through 1972, serving as the team captain in the last few years. At that time, the Soviet Union and Japan were the dominant nations in women's volleyball, and Buldakova and her team captured many titles. At the World Championships, she won the title in 1956, 1960 and 1970, while placing second in 1962 (the USSR boycotted the 1967 edition). The Soviet Union placed second behind Japan in the sport's Olympic debut in 1964, but then went on to win the gold in 1968 and 1972. Buldakova also became European Champion in 1958, 1967 and 1971, placing second in 1955, while missing the 1963 edition (which was won by the Soviet Union). In club play, Buldakova first played for Zalgiris Kaunas, before moving to Dynamo Moskva. With them, she won five USSR titles, and eight European Cups. After her retirement in 1975, she continued to be involved in volleyball as a children's coach.[1]

The Lyudmila Buldakova Award, named after her, is the prize for the Russian Women's Volleyball Super League best player, created by the Russian Volleyball Federation after her death.[2]

She became an inductee of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2012.[3]

References
  1. "Lyudmila Buldakova". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. "Goncharova awarded the best player of Superleague second year in a row". russiavolley.com. 12 June 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  3. "Lyudmila Buldakova". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
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