Irina Rodnina

Born Sept. 12, 1949, in Moscow. Soviet figure skater. Honored Master of Sport (1969) and teacher. Member of the CPSU since 1975.

In 1974, Rodnina graduated from the Central Institute of Physical Culture in Moscow. She has won many championships in pairs competition, including the USSR (1970–77) and European and world championships (1969–77). She won a gold medal in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games. During the period 1968–1972, she skated with A. N. Ulanov; since 1973 her partner has been A. G. Zaitsev. Rodnina has been coached by S. A. Zhuk and, since 1974, by T. A. Tarasova. She has been awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and various medals.