Ludmila Belousova

Ludmila Yevgenyevna Belousova (; 22 November 1935 Belousova and Protopopov began the forty-year Soviet/Russian gold medal streak in pair skating, the longest in Olympic sports history, from 1964 to 2006. They won their first World and European gold medals in 1965, becoming the first Soviet/Russian pair to win those titles.

They became Olympic champions for the second time at the 1968 Winter Olympics. At 32 and 35 years old, respectively, they were among the oldest champions in figure skating. The following season, they won the silver medal at the European Championships and bronze at the World Championships as Irina Rodnina began her reign with her first partner, Alexei Ulanov. Those were the pair's final appearances at major international competitions but they continued competing in the Soviet Union until 1972.

In total, Belousova and Protopopov won two Olympic titles and medalled eight times at both the World and European Championships, including four consecutive World and European gold medals. After retiring from competition, they continued to skate together in shows for many years. As Kestnbaum stated, "Their performances set a benchmark for romantic heterosexuality on the ice and for classical line and expressiveness that influenced not only pair skating but also singles and [ice] dance". Eager to keep skating, the couple decided not to have children.

Belousova died on 29 September 2017, at the age of 81. Oleg Protopopov died on 31 October 2023, at the age of 91. They were buried in Saint Petersburg on 11 September 2024.

Competitive highlights Event 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 Winter Olympic Games 9th 1st World Championships 13th 8th 2nd 2nd 2nd European Championships 10th 7th 4th 2nd 2nd 2nd Soviet Championships 3rd 4th 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st

Event 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 Winter Olympic Games 1st World Championships 1st 1st 1st 1st 3rd European Championships 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd Soviet Championships 1st 1st 1st 2nd 4th 6th 3rd Prize of Moscow News 3rd 1st 2nd