14 Facts About Lidiya Skoblikova

Lidiya Pavlovna Skoblikova is a retired Russian speed skater and coach.

Lidiya Skoblikova represented the USSR Olympic team during the Winter Olympic Games in 1960,1964 and 1968, and won a total of six gold medals, a record she shares with Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust.

Lidiya Skoblikova won 25 gold medals at the world championships and 15 gold medals at the USSR National Championships in several distances.

Lidiya Skoblikova was the first athlete to earn six gold medals in the Winter Olympics and the first to earn four gold medals at a single Olympic Winter Games.

Lidiya Skoblikova was the most successful athlete at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics, sharing the honour for 1960 Games with her compatriot Yevgeny Grishin.

Lidiya Skoblikova trained at Burevestnik and later at Lokomotiv sports societies.

Lidiya Skoblikova repeated that performance at the world championships, winning two distance medals as well.

In Karuizawa, conditions were excellent, and Lidiya Skoblikova won all four races, setting a new 1000 m world record in the process.

Lidiya Skoblikova withdrew from speed skating for two seasons, but returned in 1967, setting a new 3000 m world record in January.

Lidiya Skoblikova failed to reach the podium at the world championships however, and placed fourth.

Lidiya Skoblikova later earned a PhD in history and became a professor.

Lidiya Skoblikova was born in a working-class family and had three sisters and one brother.

Lidiya Skoblikova married Aleksandr Polozkov, who was a competitive racewalker and a member of the national team.

Lidiya Skoblikova's first wife, Natalya Polozkova, was a speed skater and competed at the 1992,1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics, whereas his second wife, Tanya, won four national titles.