Honored Masters of Sport of the USSR (1964, for pairs figure skating). Liudmila Evgen’evna Belousova, an engineer, was born on Nov. 22, 1935, in Ul’ianovsk. Oleg Alekseevich Protopopov, a teacher, was born on July 16, 1932, in Leningrad.
Belousova and Protopopov have been skating together since 1955. Champions of the USSR from 1965 to 1968, they were the first Soviet figure skaters to win European, world (1965—68), and Olympic championships (Innsbruck, 1964 and Grenoble, 1968). Their skating is distinguished by elegant form, refined performance, lyricism, and complete understanding of classical music. Each of them has been awarded two orders, as well as various medals.
S. V. GLIAZER