Belousova and Protopopov 1970 or 1971 USSR Championship

Belousova and Protopopov 1970 or 1971 USSR Championship

Oleg and Ludmilla said that they were very prepared for the 1972 Olympics but the Soviet government and, by extension, the skating federation prevented them from competing because they thought Oleg and Ludmilla would become too popular in the West and defect.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Belousova
• Protopopov
• figure
• skating

[bemar1972]

This is exactly 35 USSR Champs.: held 12-16.01.1971, in Riga

Belousova and Protopopov took 6th place overall

his marks for the technical merit

53 52 55 54 55 55 54 54 (last mark not present at this video)

@bardtoob - remember so many soviet paris had more difficult moves in the program, such as double axel jump, one-hand overhead, ans THAT'S was the reason to raging Protopopov's down in placements, and send other pairs at the Olympics 1972!

[bardtoob]

@bemar1972 Wrong. Top competitive freeskates did not include 2A in 1972, but more like 1980. In fact, it was an experimental move in 1976 and Zaitzev fell on it in the Freeskate at the 1976 Olympics and did not hurt Rodnina/Zaitzev's marks. The one handed lift was expected from the very top skaters, but Belousova/Protopopov had been doing it for years in exhibitions and continued to do it into the mid-1980s when they were in their mid-50s.

[bemar1972]

@bardtoob No! Rodnina/Zaitsev complete 2A at soviet championships in 1969, at Euro 69, Worlds 1971 and 1972 and many other times, really in 1969 done a first jumps combination. For example Irina Cherniaeva - Vasili Blagov here at Soviet champs 1971 in Riga placed 4th, but complete a throw2A, all the pairs include combinations of double jumps, throws! But really 2A, well done by Rodnina/Zaitsev in 1969 was the reason of Protopopovs decline.

[bardtoob]

@bemar1972 {{Chuckle to self- most diehard skating fans will know how to respond to this}}

[bardtoob]

@bemar1972

Here is Belousova (Age: 35) and Protopopov (Age: 38) in 1970- WKSk0YVrRCQ

Here is Belousova (Age: 50) and Protopopov (Age: 53) in 1985- 022hMpMiMxo

After 15 years, there was no decay, in fact increased difficulty, and included an extended one handed lift, no less. Rodnina was not the only skater that could have continued to progress with support. However, Belousova and Protopopov had too many romantic bourgeois sensibilities in their skating and general attitude for the Soviets.

[bardtoob]

Oleg and Ludmilla said that they were very prepared for the 1972 Olympics but the Soviet government and, by extension, the skating federation prevented them from competing because they thought Oleg and Ludmilla would become too popular in the West and defect.

[faeryquene]

Breathtaking. Boo the Soviet powers that be that kept the Protopopovs off the '72 Olympic team.