| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Figure skating | ||
| Competitor for Soviet Union | ||
| Silver | 1972 Sapporo | Pairs |
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Lyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented | Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 4, 1947 Moscow |
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| Former partner | Andrei Suraikin Alexei Ulanov |
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Medal record
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Lyudmila Stanislavovna Smirnova (Russian: Людмила Станиславовна Смирнова; b. July 21, 1949 in Leningrad[1]) 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.[2]
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 was first paired with Suraikin.[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. They married and had 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]
In 1972 Smirnova was awarded the Medal For Labour Heroism.[1]
(with Suraikin)
| Event | 1969-70 | 1970-71 | 1971-72 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games | 2nd | ||
| World Championships | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |
| European Championships | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |
| Soviet Championships | 2nd | 2nd | |
| Prize of Moscow News | 2nd | 1st | 2nd |
| Winter Universiade | 1st |
(with Ulanov)
| Event | 1972-73 | 1973-74 |
|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 2nd | 2nd |
| European Championships | 2nd | 3rd |
| Soviet Championships | 3rd | |
| Prize of Moscow News | 1st |