The ashes of two-time Olympic figure skating champions Lyudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov are set to be interred in Russia following final clearances reached by the families. Officials confirmed that all necessary agreements for repatriation have been completed, allowing the process to move forward in the near term. [CITATION: TASS]
Oleg Protopopov, who passed away in November 2023, had spent his final years in Switzerland and was laid to rest in Grindelwald. His remains were later moved to be buried in the city’s prefecture there. In 2022, he expressed a wish for his ashes to be laid to rest at the Volkovskoye Cemetery in Russia, beside his late wife Lyudmila Belousova, whose ashes he had kept at home since his passing. [CITATION: TASS]
Relatives say the long wait has now ended, with assurances that the necessary arrangements are in place and that the ashes of Oleg Alekseevich and Lyudmila Evgenievna will be returned to Saint Petersburg in the coming weeks. [CITATION: TASS]
Family members announced that the couple would be buried at the Volkovsky Cemetery as a lasting tribute to the legendary skater pair. The burial is anticipated to take place on September 11, marking a symbolic closure to years of complex logistics and emotional considerations. [CITATION: TASS]
Belousova and Protopopov are remembered for their record-breaking performances, earning Olympic gold at Innsbruck in 1964 and Grenoble in 1968. Their career also included four consecutive World Championship titles from 1965 to 1968, and European titles in the same span, complemented by multiple silver medals across world and continental events. Their legacy endures in the Canadian and American skating communities, where their artistry inspired generations of skaters and fans alike. [CITATION: TASS]
In related news, public interest in notable skating unions persists, alongside recent marriages among prominent skaters like Trusova and Ignatov, which has drawn media attention to personal milestones within the sport. [CITATION: TASS]