Tarasova called the question of the burial of Protopopov and Belousova in St. Petersburg a matter of national importance

Honored Coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova told that the question of the burial of two-time Olympic figure skating champions Oleg Protopopov and Lyudmila Belousova in St. Petersburg is a matter of national importance.

Vyacheslav Fetisov, a two-time Olympic hockey champion and family friend, told that Protopopov’s will indicated that he should be buried with his wife Belousova in St. Petersburg. Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee of Physical Culture and Sports Anton Shantyr also said that the organization was ready to help with the burial of Protopopov and Belousova.

— I have long believed that this was a matter of national importance (burying the two in St. Petersburg). In general, they could have invited him to live in our country a long time ago. I did it, but it was completely useless. I just think… God, people want to be buried in St. Petersburg.

Of course, the authorities should help. And not even to help, but to do it. Belousova and Protopopov are people everyone knows. And they know what they have done for all of us. You don’t have to tell anyone who you are. Everyone knows them. What’s so hard about burying them together? Why aren’t people at the highest levels getting involved? We need to connect,” Tarasova told .

Protopopov 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 and Protopopov were invited to Switzerland for demonstrations in 1979, where they stayed. In August 1995, they obtained Swiss nationality.

Belousova died in September 2017.