ISU on the death of double Olympic champion Protopopov: “We will remember him with great love”

The International Skating Union (ISU) has paid tribute to the late double Olympic pairs skating champion Oleg Protopopov.

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.

“It is with deep regret and sadness that the union learned of the death of two-time Olympic pair skating champion Oleg Alekseevich Protopopov. The ISU pays tribute to him and will remember him with great affection,” read a statement published on the official ISU website.

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.

UIS