Soviet swimmer, Olympic medalist. Honored Master of Sports.
BIOGRAPHY
Rusanova Lyubov Petrovna was born in the Krasnodar Territory. The upcoming star, who ascended to the Olympus of fame in national swimming, grew up in a large family. Dad worked as a fitter, mom worked as a teacher in a nursery. They raised three sons and a daughter. The elder and middle brothers Lyuba Vasya and Kolya trained in the field of swimming loads. The closed pool was absent then in Krasnodar, we went to the Kuban. We spent summer vacations and played the main sport of our life, sometimes even in winter. There was a thermal power plant next to the pool, which had the opportunity to drain its warm effluents into it. In January, the water temperature in the pool was about 22 degrees. Vasily Nikolay was brought to the Kuban and the younger ones, the twins Lyubov and Anton, were attracted to the swimming. The four of us studied with a mentor - Vladimir Dmitrievich Volkov. Anton very soon got tired of the classes, and he stopped going to them. Lyuba at that time fell in love with swimming, this sport became number one in her life for her.
Career
In 1968, Lyubov Petrovna tried to break into the main squad of the USSR national team to take part in the Olympic Games in Mexico. - The qualifying stage of the participants was held at the base of the national team in Tsakhkadzor. According to the selection results, Lyubov was only in fifth place among the participants and was out of the tournament. The main thing was not discouraged. She was not experienced enough, she believed, everything was still ahead. Lyubov Petrovna intended to win the Olympics in Munich, she set herself up for it.
Fate laughed at Lyubov Petrovna. Four years later, at the USSR championship, the first defining Olympic start, she finished fourth at her favorite 100 meters distance, just 0.1 behind the third prize-winner. And other athletes went to Munich.
Luck plays a very important role in sports life. Lyubov Petrovna Rusanova got to the Olympic Games after three attempts. After the Olympic Games in Munich, she performed in Serbia at the World Swimming Championships, and won the silver of the tournament. In the same year, she took first place in the World Universiade held in the capital. She won all the awards at a distance of 100 meters. She swam the fastest in the USSR. Lyubov Petrovna regretted that during her performances there were no 50-meter breaststroke competitions, where she, of course, could demonstrate herself in all her glory.
The qualifying stage of the Olympics in Montreal Lyubov Petrovna passed on the same wavelength, took silver at a distance of 100 m and bronze at a distance of 200 m. She fulfilled her long-cherished dream - she got into the country's Olympic team.
At the games in Canada Rusanova won 100 and 200 meters breaststroke. In 1973, she took first place in the Universiade and took the silver medal at the world championship in the 100-meter breaststroke competition.
I bought myself a gold chain with a fee from the Olympic Games.
Coaching activities
After successful games, she decided to end her career and devote her personal life to sports. She works as a trainer, and deals with the guys, investing her knowledge and experience in her young students, who compete in the championship of her name. Four decades later, Lyubov Petrovna opened a winter tournament dedicated to her name. He says that with pleasure he wears the same jacket with the coat of arms of the Soviet Union in order to educate the younger generation, among which there may be future celebrities.
