Tatyana AVERINA

Tatyana Averina was one of the best female all-around skaters of the World in 1970s. She made her international début at the 1970 World All-around Championships, where she placed 12th. In 1971, Averina won her first distance medal at an international championship, winning a bronze in the 1,000 at the Europeans. In 1972 Averina won the 500 at the Winter Universiade and won her first Soviet Sprint title in 1973. Averina won her first medal in the all-around at an international championship, finishing second at the 1974 Worlds. She also set her first world records that year, at Medeo in the 1,000, 1,500, and the small all-around. She won again silver at the 1975 World All-arounds, winning her first distance titles in the 1,000 and 3,000 at the Soviet Championships, but lost the all-around title due to a fall in the 1,500. Averina set eight World records in 1975, all of them in Medeo between 11 and 29 March. She was the most successful skater at the 1976 Olympic Winter Games, medaling in all four races, winning the 1,000 and 3,000 and placing third at 500 and 1,500. At the 1976 World All-arounds Averina won another silver, but improved to gold at the 1978 Worlds. In 1979 she won her only Soviet All-around title, and then made her final international appearance at the 1980 Winter Olympics, where she was a disappointing 18th in the 1,500. Domestically Averina was a four-time Soviet sprint champion, 1973-75 and 1978.

Personal Bests: 500 – 41.06 (1975); 1000 – 1:23.3 (1980); 1500 – 2:07.88 (1979); 3000 – 4:38.48 (1979); 5000 – 9:04.9 (1982).