Lazutina Larisa Evgenievna is a great skier. She is one of the most titled athletes in the history of the Russian Federation.

Childhood and youth

The future legend was born in the summer of 1965 in Kondopoga. She was an ordinary child and was no different from the others. At the age of seven, the girl went to first grade. As a little girl, she loved active games and never sat still. At the age of twelve he began training in the skiing section. Initially, it was an ordinary childhood hobby, but later it grew into something more. After school, he decides to enter a higher education institution. It didn't take long to choose. Larisa Lazutina goes to study at the Institute of Physical Education. At the same time, she is engaged in skiing and plans to connect her life with it. It is worth noting that the athlete has two higher educations. She also studied at the Pedagogical Institute.

During his student years, he began to compete in various skiing competitions. In 1985, she was the best among juniors in the three by five relay. A year later he becomes Master of Sports of the Soviet Union.

Professional career

At twenty-two years old, she became the world champion at a distance of 4 to 5 kilometers, and also won bronze for third place in the twenty-kilometer race. The competition took place in Germany. Already in 1989, Lazutina Larisa received a call to the national team. For some time he participates in small tournaments, but does not achieve serious success.

The Soviet Union collapses, and now the skier represents the Russian Federation. In 1993, he went to the World Championships in Sweden and won two and one silver there. Two years later, the competition took place in the United States of America, and there the Russian woman performed unusually successfully. She won four golds in different disciplines. In 1997, he again took part in the world tournament and this time was content with one medal - for the 4 x 5 kilometer relay race. Despite winning gold, she stated that she planned to do better. In 1999, she was partially rehabilitated and became the best at two distances. 2001 gave the athlete the last gold award in her career. The championship was held in Finland, and at the same time Larisa Lazutina managed to win bronze.

It is worth noting that, in addition to performing at world championships, the woman became the winner of the Russian championships many times.

Performances at the Olympic Games

The skier participated in four international competitions. The first time this happened was in 1992 in Albertville. Larisa Lazutina managed to bring home one gold. In 1994 she went to Lillehammer and again won a medal of the highest standard. Four years later, the tournament took place in Nagano, and here she showed why she was one of the best skiers of the late twentieth century. The girl took home three first places, one second and one third. It was then that the whole world learned that Russian athletes were capable of competing for the highest awards.

She had a sad experience at the Olympics in 2002. She was disqualified for doping. As a result, I lost two and one gold. In 2003, this case was discussed at a high level, and it was decided that all results that were recorded after 2001 should be annulled. Officials believed that even then Larisa Lazutina began using illegal drugs.

Life outside of sports

After finishing her sports career, the seven-time Olympic champion leads a fairly active lifestyle. She was a deputy of the regional Duma of two convocations. He is an active politician and strongly promotes sports and a healthy lifestyle.

The former athlete has a family. The husband's name is Gennady Nikolaevich, and the children are Daniil and Alisa. Despite the fact that the woman spends a lot of time at work, she tries to devote every free minute to her family.

Awards and more

Larisa is a fourteen-time world champion, winner of a huge number of state-level awards. Of all, the main one is the title of Hero of Russia, which she received for her incredible performance at the Olympics in 1998. In addition, the collection contains several insignia.

To immortalize the athlete in history, such an object as the Larisa Lazutina Track was opened in Odintsovo. Naturally, the former skier could not hold back her tears when she found out about this. She has repeatedly noted that this is the most significant achievement for her. In various interviews, the woman proudly recalls this event and thanks everyone who contributed to this in one way or another.

It is worth noting that in 2015 the Larisa Lazutina Park was also opened. From the same year, the route became part of the park.

Lazutina is a great champion who gave Russian fans a huge amount of positive emotions. She deserves to have a monument erected to her during her lifetime.

22.06.2012

This year is special. We have already repeatedly mentioned that by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation it was named the year of Russian history. The heroes of the Russian Federation can also safely consider it their holiday: after all, it became their twentieth anniversary.
The first to be awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation was pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev for the longest stay in space orbit of the Mir station (Gold Star medal No. 1). Moreover, before that he was already a Hero of the Soviet Union. There are four such heroes today, in addition to Krikalev, pilot-cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, pilot, Colonel Nikolai Maidanov and the legendary polar explorer, Professor Arthur Chilingarov.

Law of the Russian Federation

On the establishment of the title of Hero of the Russian Federation and the establishment of a sign of special distinction - the Gold Star medal

The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation decides:

• Establish the title of Hero of the Russian Federation to be awarded for services to the state and people associated with the accomplishment of a heroic feat.
• In order to specially distinguish citizens awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, establish a sign of special distinction - the Gold Star medal.
• Approve the Regulations on the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
• Approve the description of the Gold Star medal.

President of Russian Federation
B. Yeltsin

This year is special. We have already repeatedly mentioned that by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation it was named the year of Russian history. The heroes of the Russian Federation can also safely consider it their holiday: after all, it became their twentieth anniversary.

The first to be awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation was pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev for the longest stay in space orbit of the Mir station (Gold Star medal No. 1). Moreover, before that he was already a Hero of the Soviet Union. There are four such heroes today, in addition to Krikalev, pilot-cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, pilot, Colonel Nikolai Maidanov and the legendary polar explorer, Professor Arthur Chilingarov.

Among the first to be awarded this high title are pilot-cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, Valery Polyakov, generals Vladimir Shamanov, Gennady Troshev, Viktor Kazantsev, the current governor of the Moscow region Sergei Shoigu, athletes Lyubov Egorova, Alexander Karelin and Larisa Lazutina.

Many of them tied their fates with the Moscow region. But our first story is about the great and legendary skier Larisa Evgenievna Lazutina.

Our questions are answered by the Hero of the Russian Federation, major of the Russian Army, deputy of the Moscow Regional Duma, legendary skier, five-time Olympic champion Larisa Evgenievna Lazutina.

In the north of the country, in the Republic of Karelia, the future champion was born. Now this region is called a unique winter resort. In May, when everything turns green in Moscow, winter is in full swing in Karelia, and there is an endless polar day on the clock. Experts say that you can ski there 24 hours a day. But then, in the sixties of the 20th century, the Karelian city of Kondopoga was just emerging. At the call of the party, young people from all over the vast country came here to construction sites.

Larisa's future parents, who came to build the city-forming enterprise (pulp and paper mill), met each other here. Their first daughter was born in 1962, and two years later their second daughter appeared, who was named Larisa. In the fifth grade she started skiing. In the 80s she graduated from the Khabarovsk Physical Education Institute and already in the nineties she began to successfully build a sports career.

From 1990 to 1998 Larisa Lazutina twice wins the World Cup, becomes a five-time winner of the Olympic Games and an eleven-time world champion, and is awarded the title “Honored Master of Sports.” Larisa's husband, Gennady Nikolaevich, is an Honored Ski Racing Coach of the Russian Federation. Their shared love for sports helped them find each other. Together they raise their daughter Alice and son Daniel.

Few people know that Gennady Lazutin was at that time a six-time world champion among juniors, and Larisa (before her marriage - Ptitsyna) was a world champion among juniors. They were twenty years old, their whole lives, including a huge sports career, were ahead of them. Gennady was then considered a promising skier (no one in the world had won six gold medals at the Junior World Championships before him). And Larisa, despite the fact that she had three times fewer such victories, looked confidently into the future. And how cruel sports fate turned out to be in relation to Gennady Lazutin - a brilliant, extremely gifted skier who played for the USSR national team for several years, then the CIS, and then Russia. Injuries, failures... and he had to end his career in big sports as a six-time world junior champion.

“I myself was an athlete and I know very well at what price victory comes. Why is Russian athletes so respected in the world? Yes, because they always fight to the end. I will never forget how our four skiers finished in Nagano. How beautiful it was when the Russian flag fluttered in the hands of Larisa Lazutina. I would not like to now divide your sporting achievements into gold, silver or bronze. I think that Russia won this Olympics. Millions of Russians applauded you on TV and were proud of their country. Thank you for what you have done for Russia."

Larisa Evgenievna, how many Heroes of Russia are there among the athletes?

Among the skiers, probably only Lyuba Egorova and I are. And she is the first. And we are very proud of it!

Remember the day when you became a Hero of Russia?

It was in 1998, right after the end of the season, I remember that it was a warm spring day. I was in an excellent mood - I won the last stages of the World Cup and became the winner of the main prize. At the awards ceremony for successful achievements at the Olympic Games in the Kremlin, many athletes and coaches were honored with me.

What did President B.N. personally tell you? Yeltsin?

Those words were meant only for me.

What did you answer him?

One word - thank you.

When you were going to the Kremlin, did you know that you would be awarded the Hero Star?

How did you feel when you found out about this?

I think any person will be overwhelmed with feelings when the first person of the state presents him with the country’s highest award.

How were you and the Golden Star received at home?

Restrained.

Larisa Evgenievna, you are truly a happy person. A roller ski track was named in your honor in Odintsovo, you are a deputy of the Moscow Regional Duma. You found yourself after great sports and are doing what you love. How did a girl from distant Kondopoga manage to do all this? What is the secret to achieving your goal?

A person, if he wants, can achieve a lot. I was lucky with the first coaches with whom we lived in the same house, and with mentors in the national teams of the USSR and Russia.

You can list a whole galaxy of friends from the national team. We - Lyubov Egorova, Tamara Tikhonova, Vida Vintsene, Raisa Smetanina, Nina Gavrylyuk, Elena Vyalbe, Anfisa Reztsova - skated along all the ski slopes of the world and won countless medals of various denominations at the highest rank competitions.

Let me give you a unique fact: every year the members of the national team ran an average of 12,000 km. And I was in the national team for 22 years. How much is it? 264,000 km... Or 6.5 times around the Earth!

Our information - multiple world and Olympic champion, Honored Master of Sports in cross-country skiing, major of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Armed Forces.

Born on June 1, 1965 in the city of Kondopoga, Republic of Karelia, into a working-class family. After graduating from school, she entered the Khabarovsk Institute of Physical Culture, from which she graduated, receiving the specialty of a trainer-teacher. Larisa Lazutina has been a member of the cross-country skiing team since she was nineteen years old and competed for the Rosneft SC. In 1989, as a member of the USSR national cross-country skiing team, she moved to the city of Odintsovo, Moscow Region, and entered the Armed Forces of the USSR.

She received her first two Olympic medals in the relay race at the Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 1994. For her successful performance at this Olympics, Lazutina was awarded the Order of Friendship. In 1995, at the World Championships in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, she managed to do something that no one had managed before her - within the framework of one championship, she became a four-time winner - three times in individual races and in the relay.

At the XVIII Olympic Games in the Japanese city of Nagano, Larisa Lazutina became the leader of the Russian national team. She won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals.

For outstanding achievements in sports, courage and heroism shown at the XVIII Winter Olympic Games in 1998, Larisa Evgenievna Lazutina was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with a special distinction - the Gold Star medal.

During her sports career, Larisa Lazutina became a five-time Olympic champion, an eleven-time world champion, a two-time World Cup winner, a multiple champion of the USSR and Russia, and an Honored Master of Sports.

Since February 1998 - sports coach of the 127th sports club of the Strategic Missile Forces. Larisa Evgenievna Lazutina is an honorary citizen of the city of Odintsovo. In June 1999 she was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Karelia.

Since 2003 - deputy of the Moscow Regional Duma. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Moscow Regional Duma Committee on Education and Culture.

Today, in our cross-country skiing teams, and indeed in other winter sports, there are no leaders like Larisa Lazutina, who alone collected all of our current gold medal baggage in Nagano, Japan.

Vladimir Putin stated the need to carefully analyze all the results of the Olympics: “Of course, we expected more from our team, but still this is not a reason to give up, sprinkle ashes on our heads and beat ourselves with chains. This is a reason for serious analysis and organizational conclusions. We need to correct the situation and create all the conditions for competing at the Olympics in Sochi in 2014.”

Dmitry Medvedev called the results of the performance of Russian athletes at the XXI Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010 sad and demanded a radical change in the system of sports training in the country. “We will be able to see the outstanding performances of Russian Olympians,” he said, “yes, yes, in 2014 in Sochi. Well, those responsible for the fact that the Russian team failed miserably at the Olympic Games in Vancouver must resign immediately.”

I asked our heroine to comment on the results of the Vancouver Olympics. The problem, according to Larisa Evgenievna, is the lack of a systematic approach to preparation; there is no normal work either with children or with those who are applying for a place in the first national teams of the country.

We lack developed infrastructure,” says the five-time Olympic champion. – Many of our athletes are forced to train abroad most of the time. And this is very difficult psychologically. In general, we need to start with kindergartens and schools. We don’t even have gyms everywhere. Sport should become accessible not only in words. Many sections charge parents a fee. The necessary equipment must also be purchased at your own expense. I remember very well how they gave us skis at school. Today, outdoor physical education classes are becoming a rarity.

The conversation was conducted by Sergei Lagodsky,
Editorial and Publishing Department of Moscow State Library for National Library of Science named after. N.K. Krupskaya

Larisa Lazutina is a legend of the ski slopes. She is one of the most titled athletes in Russia.

The future skier was born in the summer, June 1, 1965, in Kondopoga into a simple working-class family. The athlete’s maiden name is Ptitsyna. At the age of seven, little Larisa went to school. Like other children, she loved games and did not sit still.

At the age of 12 I started going to the skiing section. At first skiing was just a hobby. But then the interest grew into something more.

After graduating from school, she entered the Khabarovsk Institute of Physical Education and defended her diploma as a trainer and teacher. At the same time, I took up skiing on a professional basis. Larisa graduated from the Pedagogical Institute in Karelia, majoring in physical education.

skiing

During her studies, Larisa participated in tournaments. In 1985 she won a leading place in the junior race. A year later she received the title of Master of Sports of the USSR. In 1983 she made her debut in the world cup for adult skiers, where she took 15th place.

At 22, she went to the world tournament in Germany and won a gold medal. And two years later, the girl was officially called up to the national team. Larisa participated in tournaments, but did not achieve success. At that time, the girl’s mentor was Nikolai Lopukhov.

The girl did not participate in the 1987-1988 Olympic season. At the Olympics, the athlete was left in reserve. In 1987, she married Gennady Lazutin, who ended his skiing career early and became a coach. The husband subsequently took a significant place in his wife’s career biography.

The next year is notable for joining the elite circle of skiers. The athlete closed the top five in the general ranking. That season, new sports stars emerged - including Larisa Lazutina. Both skiers trained with Alexander Grushin. In December 1988, Lazutina stood for the first time on the third step of the world podium. And at the championship in Lahti she came second after Vyalbe.

In 1989 she moved to live in the city of Odintsovo.

At the 1989-1990 world tournament, Lazutina beat her longtime competitor and won her first Big Crystal Globe. This was followed by another victory in Tender Bay. During the season, the skier climbed to the podium six more times in individual races.

In 1991-1992, the skier participated in the international championship, where she won a gold medal in the team relay race. The girl came eleventh in the general standings. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Larisa Evgenievna represented the Russian Federation. In 1993, at the World Championships in Sweden, she won the championship twice and silver once. In 1994 she went to the USA. The athlete became the leader in four distances.

In 1996-1997, she again went to the World Championships, where she became a leader in two team races and took silver medals in three individual distances. In Trondheim, Larisa Lazutina achieved a winning medal in the team event. Then, in the individual competition, Elena Vyalbe became the undisputed winner of the tournament. Larisa considered that season unsuccessful, so she announced the end of her sports career. But the leaders convinced the future legend to return.

In the next tournament season, Elena Vyalbe left the sport. And then Larisa Lazutina became the head of the Russian team. The skier achieved the Big Crystal Globe for the second time. At the World Cup stages she won the championship six times.

At the Nagano Olympics she became a three-time Olympic champion, once a silver medalist and once a bronze medalist. That year, Russian athletes took prizes. After the enchanting completion of the Olympic tournament, she received the title of Hero of Russia. In 1999 she won championships on two ski slopes. In 2001 she achieved gold in Finland. And then she won a bronze medal.

The next Olympics began with triumph for the athlete, but ended with a loud scandal. She trained hard for the Olympic Games and won two silver medals. But after completing the victorious 30 km marathon, doping was found in Lazutina’s blood. In 2003, the athlete’s achievements after December 2001 were annulled.

Personal life

In 1987, Larisa tied the knot with former athlete Gennady Lazutin. Gennady became the champion among juniors six times, but eventually, due to injuries, he left the sport early and retrained as a coach. The couple had two children - daughter Alice and son Daniil.

After finishing her skiing career, Lazutina connected her life with politics. She promotes an active lifestyle and sports.

The woman is an honorary citizen of the city of Odintsovo and the Republic of Karelia. In honor of the former skier, the Larisa Lazutina Track was opened in 2002. The woman burst into tears when she learned about this event. In the interview, the champion tirelessly thanks those who had a hand in the discovery. There is also a bust of Lazutina in Odintsovo.

Since 2002, Lazutina has held the rank of major in the Russian Army.

In 2007, the woman graduated from the Academy under the President of the Russian Federation with a degree in jurisprudence. She defended her PhD in economic sciences. But after checking Lazutina’s dissertation work, a statement followed that the former skier’s work did not pass anti-plagiarism.

In 2011, Lazutina was elected to the Duma in Odintsovo. In 2016, a woman was re-elected to this seat. Among other things, she holds the position of first deputy chairman of the Moscow Regional Duma. The Duma website provides a complete list of Larisa’s achievements in the political sphere.

In 2015, the track was reconstructed and renamed “Larissa Lazutina Park”. The rest area is well lit. We created special areas for snowboarders.

Larisa Lazutina maintains a microblog on Instagram, where she shares personal photos with subscribers. The woman followed the Olympics in Pyeongchang and encouraged people to root for Russian athletes.

Larisa Lazutina now

Now Larisa Lazutina is an active politician, a happy wife and mother.

In February 2018, the first Spartakiad of Larisa Lazutina was held in the city of Odintsovo. Children from fifteen orphanages took part in the cross-country skiing. Lazutina personally attended the event and even gave a master class.

The head of the Odintsovo municipal district, Andrei Ivanov, proposed holding the race every year. The next competition will take place in February 2019. Nine medals and six cups were competed for at the tournament. In addition, the judges noted the personal achievements of the participants. The children went home, charged with positive emotions.

Awards

• 1989-1990 – World Cup, 1st place
• 1991-1992 – Winter Olympic Games, 1st place (relay)
• 1992-1993 – World Championships, 1st place (relay), 1st place (race), 2nd place (pursuit)
• 1993-1994 – Winter Olympic Games, 1st place (relay)
• 1994-1995 – World Cup, 3rd place
• 1994 – Order of Friendship of Peoples
• 1995 – Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Republic of Karelia
• 1995-1996 – World Cup, 3rd place
• 1997-1998 – World Cup, 1st place (overall), 1st place (distance), 2nd place (sprint)
• 1998 – Hero of the Russian Federation, for outstanding achievements in sports, courage and heroism shown at the XVIII Winter Olympic Games in 1998
• 1998-1999 – World Cup, 3rd place (distance)
• 1999 – Honorary Citizen of the Republic of Karelia
• 1999 – Honorary citizen of the city of Odintsovo
• 2008 – Badge of Distinction “For Services to the Moscow Region”
• 2015 – Order of Honor

2. Sports career of Larisa Lazutina

Larisa Lazutina (Ptitsyna) began competing in republican competitions while still in school, and has been a member of the cross-country skiing team since the age of nineteen, in 1984.
At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Larisa sat in the reserve. Although by that time she had already won the winning relay at the 1987 World Championships.
Then in Oberstdorf, at the third stage of the women's relay, the fight was led by Ptitsyna and world champion Anne Yarey. They swapped places twice, leading the race, but then the advantage of the student from Petrozavodsk began to emerge, whose skis, especially on the slopes, “ran” faster. Our team was first at the finish line.
After the Olympics, Larisa Ptitsyna married the famous skier Gennady Lazutin. Having changed her last name, in 1990 she achieved great success - she won the 1990 World Cup. But then she gave birth to a daughter, named Alice, and missed the next season.
In 1992, Larisa returned from Albertville with her first Olympic gold medal in the relay. The CIS team beat the Norwegians by almost twenty-three seconds. But Larisa had nothing to brag about in the individual competition. Seventh place in the “five”, eighth in the “ten” and fifth in the “thirty”. At the last distance she lost to first place by 4 minutes and 2 seconds.
At the Olympic Games in Lilehammer, Norway, the situation repeated itself - Lazutina again won as part of the Russian team in the relay. And again there is nothing to brag about in individual races.
But in 1995, Lazutina made a splash at the World Championships in Thunder Bay, America. She won four gold medals! The beginning was made with a victory at a fifteen-kilometer distance in the classical style. Larisa took a high pace from the start and maintained it until the finish.
And after the 1997 season, Larisa almost left the ski track. Having suffered from a severe flu with complications, I trained with incredible difficulty. But the results did not improve. After the 1995 World Championships, she was unable to win a single individual event in Trondheim 97. They slowly began to forget about Lazutina. She herself has already settled into the role of a housewife in her cozy apartment in Odintsovo, near Moscow, and moved her daughter in with her. And then....
The talented skier’s mentors, realizing that something was wrong with the athlete, created special training conditions for her. They organized an environment for Lazutina in which she felt unique and unique.
The results were not long in coming. Larisa returned from the Nagano Olympics (1998) with a harvest of awards: she excelled at the 5 and 10 km distances, won silver and bronze medals, respectively, at the 15 and 30 km distances, and also became the winner (as part of the team) in the 4x5 km relay race. After the Olympics, by Decree of the President of Russia, Larisa Lazutina was awarded the title of Hero of Russia.
At the 1999 World Championships, the athlete was a two-time gold medalist, winning one of the medals at the most difficult distance - “thirty”. In the 1999-2000 season. ski sprint let the athlete down and ruined her chances of winning the World Cup.
During her sports career, Larisa Lazutina became a five-time Olympic champion of the Olympic Games, an eleven-time world champion, a two-time World Cup winner, a multiple champion of the USSR and Russia, and an Honored Master of Sports. After successful starts at the Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 1994, she was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples, and at the Olympics in Nagano she won medals in all five races, after which she was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
The last Olympics in L.E. Lazutina’s sports career was held in Salt Lake City (USA) in 2002. She won two silver medals, but the gold medal for the 30 km race was stripped from the champion based on the results of a doping test. On June 29, 2003, at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Prague (Czech Republic), a very controversial decision was made to cancel all results of L.E. Lazutina in international competitions after December 2001.

3. Outstanding achievements in sports

Larisa Lazutina has been a member of the cross-country skiing team since she was 19 years old. But all her successes were only in relay races. In them she received her first two Olympic medals.
1995, World Championships in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, the year of her unconditional triumph. At this championship, she managed to do something that no one had managed to do before her - become a four-time winner within one championship - three times in individual races and in the relay.
At the Olympic Games in Nagano (1998), Larisa Lazutina accomplished a real feat: three gold medals - two for victories in individual races and one in the relay, as well as silver (15 km) and bronze (30 km) were brought from Japan by Larisa Lazutina.
After her first victory at the 5 km distance, the future three-time champion of the 1998 Games Larisa Lazutina will say: “I have been waiting for this victory all my life. None of my other titles or victories can be compared with her.”
State awards of Larisa Lazutina:
Hero of the Russian Federation (February 27, 1998) - for outstanding achievements in sports, courage and heroism shown at the XVIII Winter Olympic Games in 1998.
Order of Friendship of Peoples (April 22, 1994) - for high sporting achievements at the XVII Winter Olympic Games in 1994.
And she is also: Honorary Citizen of the Republic of Karelia and Honorary Citizen of the city of Odintsovo.

Five-time Olympic champion in cross-country skiing. She won the 5 and 10 km distances at the 1998 Olympics. Three times she was part of the winning team of the Olympic Games in the 4 x 5 kilometer relay: in 1992, 1994 and 1998. Silver and bronze medalist of the 1998 Olympics, respectively, at distances of 15 and 30 kilometers. Multiple world champion, including winning three gold medals in individual distances at the Thunder Bay World Championships: 5,10 and 15 kilometers. Winner of the 1990 World Cup. Multiple Russian champion.

Larisa Ptitsyna born in the Karelian city of Kondopoga on June 1, 1965. Mother, Alexandra Nikolaevna, worked as a salesman and storekeeper, and father, Evgeniy Dmitrievich, was already a great auto mechanic.

“Larisa has been skiing since third grade,” her mother recalls. “At that time, I enrolled her in a club to learn to play the piano. But soon the teacher told me that the girl was too restless and was more attracted to sports rather than music. I did not insist, and Larisa devoted herself entirely to skiing. I remember that in high school she was away for a long time - either at training camps or at competitions, and yet she did not forget about her studies. She often studied at night to catch up with her classmates, she was stubborn and strong-willed. As a result, I graduated from school with good grades."

Larisa's first coaches were Yuri Yakovlev and Alexander Kravtsov. In 1984, she joined the national team, where she was coached by Nikolai Petrovich Lopukhov. Larisa became friends with Tamara Tikhonova. It so happened that Tikhonova “shot” earlier. At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, she became one of the heroines, and Larisa sat in the reserve. Although by that time she had already won the winning relay at the 1987 World Championships.

Then in Oberstdorf, at the third stage of the women's relay, the fight was led by Ptitsyna and world champion Anne Yarey. They swapped places twice, leading the race, but then the advantage of the student from Petrozavodsk began to emerge, whose skis, especially on the slopes, “ran” faster. However, this was not without a dramatic incident: already in the corridor for passing the baton, where Anfisa was preparing to take it, Larisa fell, as they say, out of the blue. Reztsova even had to take a few steps back to take up the baton. But at the finish line our team was first.

After the Olympics Larisa Ptitsyna married the famous skier Gennady Lazutin. Having changed her last name, in 1990 she achieved great success - she won the 1990 World Cup. But then she gave birth to a daughter, named Alice, and missed the next season.

In 1992, Larisa returned from Albertville with her first Olympic gold medal in the relay. The CIS team beat the Norwegians by almost twenty-three seconds. But Larisa had nothing to brag about in the individual competition. Seventh place in the “five”, eighth in the “ten” and fifth in the “thirty”. At the last distance she lost to first place by 4 minutes and 2 seconds.

At the Olympic Games in Lilehammer, Norway, the situation repeated itself - Lazutina again won as part of the Russian team in the relay. And again there is nothing to brag about in individual races. But in 1995, Lazutina made a splash at the World Championships in Thunder Bay, America. She won four gold medals!

The start was made with a victory at a 15-kilometer distance in classical style. Larisa took a high pace from the start and maintained it until the finish. At the 1.6 kilometer mark, she beat Danilova by 12 seconds. At the 9-kilometer mark, Norwegian Nybraten was second, already more than a minute behind. And this despite the difficult, downright convict route. Elena Vyalbe, another of our famous skiers, a silver medalist at this distance, who lost to Lazutina by 1 minute 12 seconds, directly said that she had never encountered tracks of such difficulty. In addition, the snow temperature was 0-0.6 degrees. And in such weather it is almost impossible to find the ideal lubricant. So Larisa’s skis also gave great performance in some sections.

In the “five” classic, Lazutina had an advantage over the silver medalist, Nina Gavrylyuk, by 14 seconds. At ten kilometers freestyle, in the Gundarsen race Lazutina had no competitors. She ran easily and beautifully, leaving her rivals the opportunity to fight only for second place. Larisa received her fourth gold after the victorious relay of the Russian team.

And after the 1997 season Larisa Lazutina I almost left the ski track. Having suffered from a severe flu with complications, I trained with incredible difficulty. But the results did not improve. After the 1995 World Championships, she was unable to win a single individual event in Trondheim 97. They slowly began to forget about Lazutina. She herself has already settled into the role of a housewife in her cozy apartment in, and moved her daughter to live with her. And then...

Lazutina’s coach Alexander Kravtsov, who supervised the champion’s preparation, says:

After a resounding success in 1995 at the World Championships in Thunder Bay - four gold medals won, Larisa had to go through about the same difficult situation as, and now Elena Vyalbe. It took a long time and pain to recover from the Lazutina Championship. All her subsequent illnesses, in my opinion, were the result of an exorbitant psychological load. Failures at last year's world championship in Trondheim made everything even worse. During this time, other primas appeared in the team. So we decided to transfer Larisa to individual training, because she simply cannot feel at ease remaining in the team on the sidelines. After all, if athletes constantly train together under the guidance of one coach, then the whole group eventually begins to work for the leader in one way or another. Actually, Lopukhov, Gennady, Lazutina’s husband, and I did not reinvent a new wheel at all. We tried to organize an environment for Larisa in which she would feel like one and only - after all, Lazutina really knows how to work like no one else.

“...This season, my men, as I call them,” Larisa said after the victory, “created truly fantastic conditions for my training. It turned out a miracle: I have never recovered so quickly and smoothly after grueling loads. Lopukhov, who knows me, as they say, from a young age, almost fell ill on this basis, worried: with Lazutina, they say, something abnormal is happening now.”

Two great losers went to distant Japan - Lazutina and Vyalbe. Like Larisa, Elena had all possible titles. At the last World Championships in 1997, she won all five distances. Her collection, like Lazutina’s, was missing only an Olympic gold medal in the individual race. Alas, Vyalbe returned from her last Olympics without such an award.

Before the Olympics in Nagano, Lazutina’s daughter Alisa predicted silver for her mother in the fifteen kilometer race. And so it happened, Olga Danilova won, and Larisa was 5.7 seconds behind.

Hakuba, the area where competitions were held in several ski disciplines at once, was literally buried in snow. The route literally climbed up from the start, intricately winding along the slopes. Somewhere towards the end of the third kilometer, having reached the highest point, it rapidly rushed down. But before the finish, 500 meters away, there was another “hump”, a rollout onto the plain and the path to the finish.

Lazutina received number 62 for the “five”. Italian Stefania Belmondo, Norwegians Bente Martinssen and Marit Mikkelplass started in front of her, then Olga Danilova, Czech Katerina Neimanova, Yulia Chepalova, Norwegian Anita Moen-Guidon, Nina Gavrylyuk.

The five-kilometer sprint is fast! There is no time to get excited and think about tactical options during the race. There is only crazy work from start to finish: sweat in your eyes, groans on the climbs, the wind whistling in your ears on the descents and running, running, running. Larisa’s position, due to the lot, turned out to be far from ideal. And the main danger in this case came from the best friends - if only friendship in a team is possible - Danilova and Neimanova. Those who ran ahead were easier to control.

Start exactly at 9.00... Yes, yes, I was still sleeping, and Lazutina was already racing along the distance. Her first throw was impressive and determined. Powerful pushes with sticks, transition to a variable step...

And there is already information from the 1.8 kilometer mark. Belmondo, who was most feared, seems to be out of luck again - she is first in the “red group”, she is losing even to many of the middling players who started ahead... But the lanky Norwegians cancel out all the early achievements: Martinssen - 6.15.9, Mikkelplass - 6.12.9. And yet, on the lift, among the pines, a miniature figure of Lazutina flashed - 6.13.7 - loses to Mikkelplass! Danilova - 6.17.7, And finally. Neymanova - 6.09.0. Leader!

But after the 1.8 km mark there followed a short descent, an approximately 500-meter plateau, and then the most difficult climb of the same length to the highest point of the route. Of course, in your ears Larisa Lazutina there was a heart-rending cry endlessly repeated by those leading her along the distance: “Minus 4 - Neumann.” And all her hope now was for a piece of plain and an ascent, where it would be very difficult for the heavy Neumann, especially since the snow kept falling and falling. Later at a press conference, Neimanova will say: “I was terribly tired on the flat areas...”

However, what to think about is already the end. Lazutina, with the last effort of her muscles and will, crosses the line - 17:37.9 - the best time. But behind Neymanov’s back... They broadcast on the radio: “Neymanova - plus 3 seconds,” “...plus 2,” and here’s a cry: “Katya is losing.”

She is already visible. 400 meters to the finish, 200... Neimanova finishes and falls face down into the snow. Your shoulders are shaking, and your heart is probably ready to burst out of your chest. And on the scoreboard - 17.42.7... And Larisa suddenly burst into an open roar. At the press conference there will also be a question: “You burst into tears after Neimanova’s finish. Why?” “I’m sorry, but I can’t answer your question,” Larisa will say.

During a press conference after the ten-kilometer race, Larisa promised reporters: “I think we will meet here again.” Larisa kept her word. But, of course, she was reminded of the promise, asking whether the meetings would continue. Lazutina replied: “I hope.”

The next race is 10 kilometers according to the Gundarsen system. In the rain. Neymanova immediately caught up with Larisa, and they walked nine kilometers as if connected by an invisible thread. When Lazutina, having made a jerk, finally broke away from Katerina, she didn’t even believe it, not hearing the creaking of someone else’s skis behind her. And Danilova overtook the upset Neimanova at the finish line.
“I finished,” Larisa later said, “and then there was a clap of thunder. I thought - heaven is for us. God helped!
- You twice let Neymanova go ahead. Is this such a cunning tactic?
- Everything is much simpler. I have bad sight. Especially on the descents. Yes, there is still a veil of rain here. I just can't get the hang of contact lenses.

In the relay, the Russian team left no chance for the Norwegians, and Lazutina won the third gold. At the "thirty" level, young Yulia Chepalova showed herself brilliantly in free style. No one could compete with her that day. Lazutina added “bronze” to her collection.

During the Olympics, our skiers became famous not only as the fastest in the world. During the Games, in the house they rented in Hakuba, Russian cuisine was also prepared, such delicacies were offered that almost the entire Olympic elite considered it an honor to pay them a visit... They visited everyone and from what countries! They came specifically, not only to congratulate them on their victories, but also to sit at the Russian table. It’s interesting that in Hakuba Lazutina lived in a room with Olga Danilova, whatever one may say, her main rival at the Games!

“...But we played for the same team, did the same thing,” says Larisa. “We sincerely rejoiced at the success of each of us. After all, the Olympics somehow elevates a person in his own eyes. You feel different, incapable of petty feelings. And one more thing.” It seems to me that from the very first race we were worried about the same thing: so that there, in Russia, no one would be offended or ashamed for us.

Although anything could happen. Just don’t forget that the people who make it into the team are those who have gone through such a selection process, overcome such competition, fought through such a struggle that... In a word, they are the best athletes in Russia. But any talent even presupposes the presence of qualities that are sometimes oh-so difficult for others to put up with.”

And yet, with whom does Larisa have the best relationship in the team?
- We once joined the national team with Tamara Tikhonova. We trained together, lived together, we shared a lot of things. When Tamara left the team, I became friends with Antonina Ordina. It’s okay that she and her family now live in Sweden - we still maintain our relationship. By the way, I am the godmother of her daughter. With great sympathy - I think, mutual - we treat each other with Nina Gavrylyuk and Yulia Chepalova. Just before your arrival, Igor Sysoev, my husband, called me from St. Petersburg. He said hello from her, said that they were really rooting for us, that they heartily congratulated me on my victory...

After the Olympics Larisa Lazutina By decree of the President of Russia, he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia. She received another rank in the service - the coach of the 127th sports club of the Strategic Missile Forces was awarded the rank of lieutenant.

The following year, at the World Championships in Ramsau, Austria, Larisa initially did not perform very well. However, at the finish line she replenished her piggy bank with two gold medals. First, the Italian team was confidently beaten in the relay. And on the last day, Larisa won the most difficult distance - “thirty”.
In the 1999-2000 season, Lazutina had every chance of winning the World Cup. However, the successes of our racers are pretty boring abroad. As a result, sprint distances now also count towards the Cup. As a result, the ski sprint failed Larisa.