Galina STEPANSKAYA

In her first international championship, the 1973 World All-around, Galina Stepanskaya won the 1,500 and established herself as one of the world's best female long-distance skaters. Her next international medal came at the 1976 Olympics, also winning the 1,500, and she won silvers in the all-around at the 1977 and 1978 World All-around Championships, while winning both the 1,500 and 3K in 1977 and winning silvers at those distances in 1978. Domestically Stepanskaya won Soviet all-around titles in 1976 and 1977, and won 10 Soviet distance titles: 1,000 (1977), 1,500 (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978), and 3,000 (1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979).

Personal Bests: 500 – 42.44 (1978); 1000 – 1:24.06 (1976); 1500 – 2:10.12 (1976); 3000 – 4:31.00 (1976).