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Young Irina and Aleksei entered their first WOrld Championship in 1969 and not only defeated the reigning Olympic Champions, the legendary Protopopovs, but also won the gold medal! Rodnina and Ulanov were a daring and innovative pair, a study in contrasts to the reigning champions. They proceeded to win everything in sight for the next three years including the 1972 Olympic gold medal. But their harmony on the ice masked their true emotions. Aleksei had fallen in love with Lyudmila Smirnova of the second-ranked Soviet team. In 1972, they became engaged and Irina was heartbroken. The 1972 World Championships was the last competition for Rodnina and Ulanov. Aleksei skated with Lyudmila while Irina paired with Aleksandr Zaitsev to win two more Olympic gold medals and six World titles.
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More Info About Rodnina and Ulanov Results Irina's Partners Aleksei's Partners |
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