Lazutina Larisa Evgenievna is a great skier. He is one of the most titled athletes in the history of the Russian Federation.
Childhood and youth
A future legend was born in the summer of 1965 in Kondopoga. She was an ordinary child and was no different from the rest. At seven, the girl went to first grade. Being small, she loved active games and never sat still. At the age of twelve, she began to practice in the skiing section. Initially, it was an ordinary childhood hobby, but later grew into something more. After school, he decides to enter a higher educational institution. I did not have to choose for a long time. Larisa Lazutina goes to study at the Institute of Physical Education. At the same time, she goes skiing and plans to connect her life with this. It is worth noting that the athlete has two higher educations. She also studied at a pedagogical institute.
In his student years he began to speak at various skiing competitions. In 1985, it is the best among juniors in the relay of three to five. A year later, he became a master of sports of the Soviet Union.
Professional career
At twenty-two, 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. Competitions were held in Germany. Already in 1989, Lazutina Larisa receives a call to the national team of the country. Participates in small tournaments for some time, but does not achieve serious success.
The Soviet Union is breaking up, and now the skier represents the Russian Federation. In 1993, he went to the World Championships in Sweden and won two gold medals 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 various disciplines. In 1997, he again takes part in the world tournament and this time is content with one medal - for the relay race of 4 to 5 kilometers. Despite the gold she won, she stated that she planned to perform better. In 1999, he 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 then Larisa Lazutina managed to win the bronze.
It is worth noting that, in addition to performances at world championships, a woman many times became the winner of the championships of Russia.
Performances at the Olympic Games
The skier participated in four international competitions. This first happened in 1992 in Albertville. Larisa Lazutina managed to bring home one gold. In 1994 she went to Lillehammer and again won the highest order medal. Four years later, the tournament was held in Nagano, and here she showed why she is one of the best skiers of the late twentieth century. The girl entered in her asset immediately three first places, one second and one third. It was then that the whole world learned that Russian athletes are able to claim the highest awards.
She got sad experience at the Olympics in 2002. She was disqualified for doping. As a result, she lost two silver medals and one gold. In 2003, this case was discussed at a high level, and it was decided that all the 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 political figure and in every possible way promotes sports and a healthy lifestyle.
The former athlete has a family. The husband's name is Gennady Nikolayevich, 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 family.
Awards and more
Larisa is a fourteen-time world champion, the owner of a huge number of state level awards. Of all, the title is considered to be the Hero of Russia, which she received for her incredible performance at the Olympics in 1998. In addition, the collection has several orders of honor and insignia.
In order to perpetuate the athlete in history, an object such as the “Larisa Lazutina Track” was opened in Odintsovo. Naturally, the former skier could not hold back her tears when she found out about it. She has 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 the same 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 during her lifetime.