Lyudmila Smirnova

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 her then-husband Alexei Ulanov, she is a two-time World silver medalist.

Olympic medal record
Figure skating
Representing  Soviet Union
Silver medal – second place 1972 Sapporo Pairs
Lyudmila Smirnova
Full nameLyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova
Born (1947-11-04) November 4, 1947
Moscow
Figure skating career
Country Soviet Union
Retired1974
Medal record
Representing  Soviet Union
Pairs' Figure skating
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1972 Sapporo Pairs
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1974 MunichPairs
Silver medal – second place 1973 BratislavaPairs
Silver medal – second place 1972 CalgaryPairs
Silver medal – second place 1971 LyonPairs
Silver medal – second place 1970 LjubljanaPairs
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1974 ZagrebPairs
Silver medal – second place 1973 ColognePairs
Silver medal – second place 1972 GothenburgPairs
Silver medal – second place 1971 ZürichPairs
Silver medal – second place 1970 LeningradPairs

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

Results

(with Suraikin)

Event 1968-1969 1969–1970 1970–1971 1971–1972
Winter Olympic Games2nd
World Championships2nd2nd2nd
European Championships2nd2nd2nd
Prize of Moscow News2nd1st2nd
Winter Universiade1st
Soviet Championships4th2nd2nd
USSR Cup2nd

With Ulanov
Event 1972–1973 1973–1974
World Championships2nd2nd
European Championships2nd3rd
Soviet Championships3rd
Prize of Moscow News1st

References
  1. [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 3 June 2013.
  5. "Ice Dinasty Family".
  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 20 March 2012.
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