Reception lapis lazuli. Larisa Lazutina: sports achievements and biography

2. Sports career of Larisa Lazutina

Larisa Lazutina (Ptitsyna), while still at school, began to compete in republican competitions, she was a member of the cross-country skiing team from the age of nineteen, since 1984.
At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Larisa sat on the bench. Although by that time she had a winning relay at the 1987 World Cup.
Then in Oberstdorf, at the third stage of the women's relay race, Ptitsyna and world champion Anne Yarey fought. They changed places twice, leading the race, but then the advantage of a student from Petrozavodsk began to emerge, whose skis, especially on the slopes, “ran” faster. At the finish line, our team was the first.
After the Olympics, Larisa Ptitsyna married the famous skier Gennady Lazutin. Having changed her surname, in 1990 she achieved great success - she became the owner of 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 in the individual competition, Larisa had nothing to brag about. Seventh place on the "five", eighth on the "ten" and fifth on the "thirty". At the last distance, she lost to the first place by 4 minutes and 2 seconds.
At the Olympic Games in Norwegian Lilehammer, the situation repeated itself - Lazutina again wins in the relay race as part of the Russian team. And again, there is nothing to brag about in individual races.
But in 1995, Lazutina made a splash at the World Championships in the American Thunder Bay. She won four gold medals! The beginning was laid with a victory over a fifteen-kilometer distance in the classical style. Larisa took a high pace from the start and kept it until the finish.
And after the 1997 season, Larisa almost left the track. Having been ill with a severe flu with a complication, she trained with incredible difficulty. But the results didn't go up. After the 1995 World Championships, she could not win a single distance in Thron-heim-97. Little by little they began to forget about Lazutina. She herself had already mastered the role of a housewife in her cozy apartment in Odintsovo, near Moscow, moved her daughter to her. And then....
The mentors of the talented skier, realizing that something was wrong with the athlete, created special training conditions for her. They organized Lazutina's environment in which she felt the one and only.
The results were not long in coming. Larisa returned from the Olympics in Nagano (1998) with a harvest of awards: she excelled at distances of 5 and 10 km, won silver and bronze medals at distances of 15 and 30 km, respectively, and also became the winner (as part of the team) in the 4x5 km relay. 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 - the "thirty". In the 1999-2000 season. the ski sprint let the athlete down and deprived her of the 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 the sports career of L.E. Lazutina 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 doping control. On June 29, 2003, at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Prague (Czech Republic), a very controversial decision was made to annul all the results of L.E. Lazutina in international competitions after December 2001.

3. Outstanding achievements in sports

Larisa Lazutina was a member of the cross-country skiing team from the age of 19. But all her successes were only in relay races. In them, she received her first two Olympic medals.
1995, the World Championships in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, the year of her unconditional triumph. At this championship, she managed to do what no one else had been able to do 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 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 race, as well as silver (15 km) and bronze (30 km) were brought from Japan by Larisa Lazutina.
After her first victory at a distance of 5 km, the future three-time champion of the Games-98 Larisa Lazutina will say: “I have been waiting for this victory all my life. None of my other titles and victories can compare 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 1998 Winter Olympics.
Order of Friendship of Peoples (April 22, 1994) - for high sports 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.

22.06.2012

This year is special. We have repeatedly mentioned that it was named the year of Russian history by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. Heroes of the Russian Federation can also safely consider it their holiday: after all, it has become an anniversary for them - the twentieth.
Pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev was the first to be awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation for the longest stay in the space orbit of the Mir station (Gold Star medal No. 1). And before that, he was already a Hero of the Soviet Union. In total, there are four such heroes today, in addition to Krikalev, pilot-cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, pilot, colonel Nikolai Maidanov and the legendary polar explorer, Professor Artur 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.
• For the purpose of special distinction of 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 repeatedly mentioned that it was named the year of Russian history by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. Heroes of the Russian Federation can also safely consider it their holiday: after all, it has become an anniversary for them - the twentieth.

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

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

Many of them tied their fate 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, in Karelia, winter is in full swing, and the hours of the endless polar day. Connoisseurs say that you can ski there 24 hours a day. But then, in the sixties of the XX 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.

The future parents of Larisa, who came to build a 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. She started skiing in the fifth grade. In the 80s she graduated from the Khabarovsk Institute of Physical Education and already in the nineties she began to successfully build a sports career.

From 1990 to 1998 Larisa Lazutina wins the World Cup twice, becomes a five-time winner of the Olympic Games and an eleven-time world champion, and was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports. Larisa's husband, Gennady Nikolaevich, is an honored coach of the Russian Federation in cross-country skiing. The common 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 life, including a huge sports career, was 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). Yes, and Larisa, despite the fact that she had three times fewer such victories, confidently looked into the future. And what a cruel sporting fate turned out to be in relation to Gennady Lazutin, a brilliant, extremely gifted skier who played for the national team of the USSR for several years, then the CIS, and then Russia. Injuries, setbacks... and he had to end his performances in big sports as a six-time world champion among juniors.

“I myself was an athlete and I know very well the price of victory. Why is Russian athletes so respected in the world? Yes, because they always fight to the end. I will never forget how four of our skiers finished in Nagano. How beautiful it was when the Russian flag fluttered in the hands of Larisa Lazutina. I would not like to divide your sports merit into gold, silver or bronze now. 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 among the athletes?

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

Remember the day you became the Hero of Russia?

It was in 1998, right after the end of the season, I remember that it was a warm spring day. My mood was excellent - I won the last stages of the World Cup and became the owner 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.

And what did President B.N. personally tell you? Yeltsin?

Those words were meant only for me.

And 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 Star of the Hero?

How did you feel when you found out about it?

I think that any person will be overwhelmed with feelings when the first person of the state gives him the highest award of the country.

How were you and Gold Star welcomed at home?

Restrained.

Larisa Evgenievna, you are truly a happy person. A ski-roller track is named in your honor in Odintsovo, you are a deputy of the Moscow Regional Duma. You found yourself after a big sport and 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 girlfriends in the national team. We - Lyubov Egorova, Tamara Tikhonova, Vida Vintsenye, Raisa Smetanina, Nina Gavrylyuk, Elena Vyalbe, Anfisa Reztsova - have skating on all the ski slopes of the world and won countless medals of various denominations at competitions of the highest rank.

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

Our reference - Multiple world and Olympic champion, Honored Master of Sports in cross-country skiing, Major of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

She was born on June 1, 1965 in the city of Kondopoga, Republic of Karelia, in a family of workers. After graduating from school, she entered the Khabarovsk Institute of Physical Culture, from which she graduated, having received the specialty of a trainer-teacher. Larisa Lazutina was a member of the cross-country skiing team from the age of nineteen, she played for the Rosneft Sports Complex. In 1989, being a member of the USSR national cross-country skiing team, she moved to the city of Odintsovo, Moscow Region, and entered the USSR Armed Forces.

She received her first two Olympic medals in relay races 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 what no one else had been able to do before her - to become a four-time winner within one championship - 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 the award of a special distinction - the Gold Star medal.

During her sports career, Larisa Lazutina became a five-time Olympic champion, eleven-time world champion, two-time World Cup winner, multiple champion of the USSR and Russia, 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 - Member of the Moscow Regional Duma. At the moment - Chairman of the Momsooblduma Committee on Education and Culture.

Today, our cross-country skiing teams, and, in fact, in other winter sports, do not have such leaders as Larisa Lazutina, who alone collected all of our today's 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 an occasion for serious analysis and organizational conclusions. We need to rectify the situation and create all the conditions for performing at the Olympics in Sochi in 2014.”

Dmitry Medvedev called the results of the performance of Russian athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver 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 the Russian Olympians,” he said, “yes, yes, in 2014 in Sochi. Well, the people responsible for the fact that the Russian team failed miserably at the Vancouver Olympics should immediately resign.”

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 training, there is no normal work either with children or with those who apply for a place in the first national teams of the country.

We lack a developed infrastructure, - says the five-time Olympic champion. - Many of our athletes most of the time are forced to train abroad. And it is very difficult psychologically. And, in general, you need to start with kindergartens and schools. We don't even have gyms everywhere. Sports should become accessible not only in words. In many sections, parents are charged. The necessary equipment must also be purchased at your own expense. I remember very well how skis were given to us at school. Today, physical education lessons in the fresh air are becoming a rarity.

The interview was conducted by Sergei Lagodsky,
editorial and publishing department MOGNB them. N.K. Krupskaya

Larisa Evgenievna Lazutina(nee bird, June 1st ( 19650601 ) , Kondopoga, Karelian ASSR) - Soviet and Russian skier, five-time Olympic champion, multiple world champion. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1987), Honored Master of Sports of Russia (1994). Hero of the Russian Federation (1998).

Biography

Born in a working family.

Awards

Family

Husband - Lazutin Gennady Nikolaevich. Children - daughter Alice, son Daniel.

miscellanea

On September 6, 2002, as part of the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the city of Odintsovo near Moscow, the Larisa Lazutina Ski Track was opened. In 2015, after reconstruction, the ski-roller track became part of the Sports Recreation Park. Hero of Russia Larisa Lazutina.

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Notes

Literature

• Karelia: encyclopedia: in 3 volumes / ch. ed. A. F. Titov. T. 2: K - P. - Petrozavodsk: Publishing House "PetroPress", 2009. S. 134-464 pp.: ill., maps. ISBN 978-5-8430-0125-4 (vol. 2)

Links

. Site "Heroes of the Country".

An excerpt characterizing Lazutina, Larisa Evgenievna

Infantry regiments, taken by surprise in the forest, ran out of the forest, and companies, mingling with other companies, left in disorderly crowds. One soldier, in fright, uttered a terrible and meaningless word in the war: “cut off!”, And the word, along with a feeling of fear, was communicated to the whole mass.
- Bypassed! Cut off! Gone! shouted the voices of the fugitives.
The regimental commander, at the very moment he heard the shooting and shouting from behind, realized that something terrible had happened to his regiment, and the thought that he, an exemplary, who had served for many years, an innocent officer, could be guilty before his superiors in an oversight or indiscipline, so struck him that at that very moment, forgetting both the rebellious cavalry colonel and his general importance, and most importantly - completely forgetting about the danger and sense of self-preservation, he, grabbing the pommel of the saddle and spurring the horse, galloped to the regiment under a hail of bullets that sprinkled, but happily passed him by. He wanted one thing: to find out what was the matter, and to help and correct at all costs the mistake, if it was on his part, and not to be guilty of him, having served for twenty-two years as an exemplary officer, not noticed in anything.
Having happily galloped between the French, he galloped to the field behind the forest, through which ours ran and, disobeying the command, went downhill. That moment of moral hesitation has come, which decides the fate of the battles: these upset crowds of soldiers will listen to the voice of their commander or, looking back at him, will run further. Despite the desperate cry of the regimental commander's voice, which used to be so formidable for a soldier, despite the furious, crimson, dissimilar face of the regimental commander and brandishing his sword, the soldiers kept running, talking, shooting into the air and not listening to commands. The moral hesitation that decides the fate of the battles, obviously, was resolved in favor of fear.
The general coughed from the scream and gunpowder smoke and stopped in despair. Everything seemed lost, but at that moment the French, who were advancing on ours, suddenly, for no apparent reason, ran back, disappeared from the edge of the forest, and Russian arrows appeared in the forest. It was Timokhin's company, which, alone in the forest, kept itself in order and, having sat down in a ditch near the forest, unexpectedly attacked the French. Timokhin, with such a desperate cry, rushed at the French and with such insane and drunken determination, with one skewer, ran into the enemy that the French, not having time to come to their senses, threw down their weapons and ran. Dolokhov, who fled next to Timokhin, killed one Frenchman point-blank and was the first to take the surrendered officer by the collar. The fugitives returned, the battalions gathered, and the French, who had divided the troops of the left flank into two parts, were momentarily pushed back. The reserve units managed to connect, and the fugitives stopped. The regimental commander was standing with Major Ekonomov at the bridge, letting the retreating companies pass by, when a soldier approached him, took him by the stirrup and almost leaned against him. The soldier was wearing a bluish, factory-made overcoat, there was no knapsack and shako, his head was tied, and a French charging bag was put on over his shoulder. He held an officer's sword in his hands. The soldier was pale, his blue eyes brazenly looked into the face of the regimental commander, and his mouth smiled. Despite the fact that the regimental commander was busy giving orders to Major Ekonomov, he could not help but pay attention to this soldier.

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 rest. At the age of seven, the girl went to first grade. Being small, she loved active games and never sat still. At the age of twelve, he began to engage 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 educational 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 this. It is worth noting that the athlete has two higher educations. She also studied at the Pedagogical Institute.

In his student years, he begins to perform at various skiing competitions. In 1985, he was the best among juniors in the three-by-five relay. A year later, he becomes a master of sports of the Soviet Union.

Professional career

At twenty-two, she became the world champion in the 4 by 5 kilometers, and also won bronze for third place in the twenty kilometers race. The competition took place in Germany. Already in 1989, Lazutina Larisa received a call to the national team of the country. 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 Championship in Sweden and won two and one silver at once. Two years later, the competition took place in the United States of America, and there the Russian woman performed extremely successfully. She won four golds in different disciplines. In 1997, he again takes part in the world tournament and this time is content with one medal - for the relay race 4 by 5 kilometers. Despite winning gold, she stated that she planned to perform better. In 1999, he 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 performances at world championships, a woman has become the winner of the Russian championships many times.

Performances at the Olympic Games

The skier has participated in four international competitions. It first happened 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 was held in Nagano, and here she showed why she was one of the best skiers of the late twentieth century. The girl brought three first places to her asset, one second and one third. It was then that the whole world learned that Russian athletes are able to claim the highest awards.

She received a sad experience at the Olympics in 2002. She was disqualified for doping. As a result, she 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 canceled. Officials considered that even then Larisa Lazutina began to use illegal drugs.

Life outside of sports

After the end of her sports career, the seven-time Olympic champion leads a rather active lifestyle. She was a deputy of the regional duma of two convocations. He is an active politician and promotes sports and a healthy lifestyle in every possible way.

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

Awards and more

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

To perpetuate 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 repeatedly noted that this is her most significant achievement. 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. Since that year, the track has become 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.

Five-time Olympic champion in cross-country skiing. She won at distances of 5 and 10 kilometers at the 1998 Olympics. Three times she was part of the winning team of the Olympic Games in the relay race 4 x 5 kilometers: 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 three gold medals in individual distances at the Thunder Bay World Championships: 5.10 and 15 kilometers. World Cup Winner 1990. Multiple champion of Russia.

Larisa Ptitsyna was born in the Karelian city of Kondopoga on June 1, 1965. Mother - Alexandra Nikolaevna worked as a seller, storekeeper, and father - Evgeny Dmitrievich was already a great car mechanic then.

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

The first coaches of Larisa were Yuri Yakovlev and Alexander Kravtsov. In 1984, she got into 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 reserve. Although by that time she had a winning relay at the 1987 World Cup.

Then in Oberstdorf, at the third stage of the women's relay race, Ptitsyna and world champion Anne Yarey fought. They changed 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, there was a dramatic incident here: already in the corridor for the transfer of the baton, where Anfisa was preparing to receive her, Larisa fell, as they say, out of the blue. Reztsova even had to take a few steps back to take over. But at the finish our team was the first.

After the Olympics Larisa Ptitsyna married the famous skier Gennady Lazutin. Having changed her surname, in 1990 she achieved great success - she became the owner of 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 in the individual competition, Larisa had nothing to brag about. Seventh place on the "five", eighth on the "top ten" and fifth on the "thirty". At the last distance, she lost to the first place by 4 minutes and 2 seconds.

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

The start was made by winning the 15-kilometer distance in the classical style. Larisa took a high pace from the start and kept it until the finish. At around 1.6 kilometers, she beat Danilova by 12 seconds. At around 9 kilometers, the Norwegian Nybraten was second, more than a minute behind. And this despite the heavy, straight hard labor track. Elena Vyalbe, our other well-known skier, silver medalist at this distance, who lost 1 minute 12 seconds to Lazutina, said bluntly that she had never seen slopes of such complexity. In addition, the snow temperature was 0-0.6 degrees. And in such weather it is almost impossible to find the perfect lubricant. So Larisa's skis gave off great on some sections.

On the "five" classic Lazutina had an advantage over the silver medalist - Nina Gavrylyuk 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. The fourth "gold" Larisa received after the victorious relay race of the Russian team.

And after the 1997 season Larisa Lazutina almost left the track. Having been ill with a severe flu with a complication, she trained with incredible difficulty. But the results didn't go up. After the 1995 World Championships, she could not win a single individual distance in Trondheim-97. Little by little they began to forget about Lazutina. She herself had already mastered the role of a housewife in her cozy apartment in, she moved her daughter to her place. And then...

Lazutina's coach Alexander Kravtsov, who led the preparation of the champion, 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 Vyalba. Lazutina departed from the championship for a long time and in agony. All her subsequent sores, in my opinion, were the result of excessive psychological stress. Failures at last year's World Championships in Trondheim made things 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 on the sidelines in the team. After all, if athletes constantly train together under the supervision 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 invent a new bicycle at all. We tried to organize an environment for Larisa in which she would feel the 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 really fantastic conditions for me to train. It turned out a miracle: I have never recovered so quickly and smoothly after exhausting loads. Lopukhov, who knows me, as they say, from a young age, almost fell ill on this basis, worried: with Lazutina, they say, now something abnormal is happening.

Two great losers went to distant Japan - Lazutina and Vyalbe. Like Larisa, Elena had all the possible titles. At the last World Championships in 1997, she won all five distances. In her collection, just like in Lazutina, the only thing missing was the 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 Alice predicted silver for fifteen kilometers to her mother. 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 downright buried in snow. The track literally from the start climbed up, fancifully 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 line, 500 meters away, there was one more "hump", roll out to the plain and the way to the finish line.

On the "five" Lazutina received 62 numbers. Stefania Belmondo of Italy, Bente Martinssen and Marit Mikkelplass of Norway, then Olga Danilova, Czech Katerina Neymanova, Yulia Chepalova, Norwegian Anita Moen-Guidon, Nina Gavrylyuk started in front of her.

The five-kilometer sprint is fast! There is no time to build up and think about tactical options during the race. There is only crazy work here from start to finish: sweat in the eyes, with groans - in the rises, the whistle of the wind in the ears on the descents and run, run, run. Larisa's position, due to the draw, turned out to be far from ideal. And the main danger in this case came from the best friends - if only friendship in the team is possible - Danilova and Neymanova. Those that ran ahead were easier to control.

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

And there is already information from the mark of 1.8 kilometers. Belmondo, who was most feared, seems to be out of the game again - the first in the "red group", she loses even to many middle peasants who started ahead ... But the lanky Norwegians cross out all 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 - Mikkelplass loses! Danilova - 6.17.7, And finally. Neimanov - 6.09.0. Leader!

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

However, what to think is already the finish line. Lazutina with the last effort of muscles and will crosses the line - 17:37.9 - the best time. But behind Neimanov's back... The radio broadcasts: "Neymanova - plus 3 seconds," ... plus 2 ", and here is the cry:" Katya loses "

She is already visible. 400 meters to the finish line, 200 ... Neymanova finishes and falls face down in the snow. Shoulders are shaking, and the heart is probably ready to burst out of the chest. And on the scoreboard - 17:42.7 ... And Larisa suddenly starts up in a frank roar. At the press conference there will be such a question: "You burst into tears after the finish of Neymanova. Why?" "I'm sorry, but I can't answer your question," Larisa will say.

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

The next race is 10 kilometers on 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, nevertheless broke away from Katerina, she did not even believe it, not hearing the creak of other people's skis behind her back. A frustrated Neymanova walked around the finish line and Danilova.
- I finished, - Larisa later said, - and immediately there was a rumble of thunder. I thought heaven is on our side. God helped!
- You let Neymanova go ahead twice. Is this such a clever tactic?
- Everything is much easier. I have bad sight. Especially on the descents. Yes, there is still a veil of rain. I can't get my hands on contact lenses.

In the relay, the Russian team did not leave any chance to the Norwegians, and Lazutina won the third "gold". Young Julia Chepalova brilliantly showed herself at the "thirty" free style. No one could compete with her that day. Lazutina added "bronze" to her collection.

Our skiers during the Olympics became famous not only as the fastest in the world. During the Games, in the house they rented in Hakuba, dishes of Russian cuisine were also prepared, such pickles were offered that almost the entire Olympic beau monde considered it an honor to pay them a visit ... Whom and from what countries did not stay with them! They came on purpose, and not only to congratulate them on their victories, but also to sit at the Russian table without fail. It is interesting that in Khakuba Lazutina lived in a room with Olga Danilova, whatever one may say, the main rival at the Games!

"... But we played for the same team, did one thing," says Larisa. It seems to me that from the very first race we experienced the same thing: so that there, in Russia, no one would be offended and ashamed of us.

Although everything happened. Just do not forget that people who have gone through such a selection, overcame such competition, fought their way through such a struggle that ... In a word, the best athletes in Russia make their way into the team. But any talent even implies the presence of qualities that others sometimes have to put up with, oh how difficult.

And yet, with whom does Larisa have the best relationship in the national team?
- We once came to 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 nothing 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, with Yulia Chepalova. Shortly before your arrival, Igor Sysoev, my husband, called me from St. Petersburg. He conveyed greetings from her, said that they were very rooting for us, that they heartily congratulate me on the 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 did not perform very well at first. However, at the finish line, she replenished her piggy bank with two gold medals. At 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 success of our racers pretty fed up abroad. As a result, sprint distances now also count towards the Cup. As a result, the ski sprint let Larisa down.