Vladimir Kovalyov

Vladimir Kovalyov established himself as the top Soviet male skater in 1972, when he surprised everyone to win his first Soviet title. In 1972 he won his first international medal, finishing third at the 1972 World Championships, and then started to train under Sergey Chetverukhin, soon winning his first international title at the 1975 European Championships, while placing second at the World Championships.

In 1976 Kovalyov won his only Olympic medal, placing second in Innsbruck, also winning silvers that year at both the World and European Championships. In 1977 he won his first World title, repeating this feat in 1979, and in 1977 he also won his second and final Soviet title. His other podium finishes at international tournaments were silvers at the 1977, 1978 and 1979 European Championships and bronze at the 1980 European Championships.

Kovalyov also competed at the 1980 Olympics, but withdrew from the event after placing fifth in the compulsory figures, officially due to illness, but there was talk that Soviet officials forced him to withdraw due to his poor performance in the compulsory figures. Kovalyov retired from competing after the 1980 Olympics and began to work as a figure skating coach, at first in Moscow, but since 1990 in Greece. His most famous pupils are Kira Ivanova, Mariya Butyrskaya and Nataliya Lebedeva.