“Belousova and Protopopov became the standard of Russian pair skating style” – Trankov

Oleg Protopopov and Lyudmila Belousova became the standard of Russian pair skating style and were an example for many generations of skaters, the two-time Olympic champion told . Maxim Trankov .

Protopopov, a two-time Olympic pair skating champion, died on October 31 at the age of 91. During his sports career, the skater performed in tandem with his wife Lyudmila Belousova. The duo won the USSR championships six times, the world and European championships four times, and won gold at the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.

— Belousova/Protopopov is not only the couple who laid the foundation for the great victories of pair figure skating at the Olympics of our country, but also became the standard of the style of Russian pair skating, when this type of skating artistic has become the elite. Their contribution cannot be overestimated or underestimated. They were a great duo, they were always together and were an example for many generations of greenhouses.

I have been lucky in my life that our paths have crossed several times. The most memorable meeting took place when Tatiana (Volosozhar) and I became Olympic champions in Sochi, it was the 50th anniversary year of the first victory of Belousova and Protopopov at the Olympic Games in 1964. In Sochi they are came down to the side to congratulate us on our victory. It was touching and important for us, it was a kind of recognition from great masters, and we will always remember it. I would like to express my condolences to my loved ones and all my fans.

— Have you tried to adopt anything from Protopopov in his skating?

— There are elements that they invented and which are still present in our pairs skating. These are some of the most beautiful elements, for example the “death spiral”, as it is called around the world. Oleg Protopopov has always been very sensitive to the fact that it is not a question of “todes”, as it is called today, but rather a “death spiral”. When I was an athlete watching (performances), it was a standard performance of that element.

— Is it possible to repeat the original with reference accuracy?

“I think it’s quite difficult, because a lot of time has passed and people’s skates are different, figure skating today is a little different,” Trankov told .

Belousova and Protopopov were invited to Switzerland for demonstrations in 1979, where they remained. In August 1995, they obtained Swiss nationality and settled in the town of Grindelwald. Belousova died in September 2017.