Three-time champion in figure skating Olympic Games in 1972, 1976 and 1980., Ten-time world champion, Eleven-time European champion, president of the Academy of outstanding sporting achievements, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
She was born September 12, 1949 in Moscow.
Has been ice skating since 1957 in the Central Army Sports Club. Coached by Stanislav Zhuk (since 1959). Irina first performed in 1966 at the tournament "Moscow News".
In 1961 she teamed up with Alexei Ulanov. Rodnina and Ulanov first appeared together in the competition "Moscow skates" in 1968
In the following year they won the European and World Championships (1969). Three years later (1972) - Olympic champions in Sapporo. Such a rapid rise has never been seen in the history of figure skating. Irene was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. After the Olympics, the couple broke apart.
Soon Stanislav Zhuk picked Irina another partner - Alexandra Zaytseva. In nine months of training, they - Ira and Sasha - mastered the program of the highest class, much higher than in previous years. In their first season, they became champions of the Soviet Union.
At the European Championships in 1973, for the performance of any program, the couple received top ten awards - 6.0. A championship record in all its history.
At the World Championships in 1973, the pair had to skate without musical accompaniment for a few minutes. They did not interrupted their program and become world champions.
Since 1974, trained with Tatiana Tarasova. From 1973 to 1978 they constantly occupied first place in the European and world championships. The couple married. They had a son, Sasha (1979).
In 1976 and 1980 Rodnina and Zaitsev became champions of the Olympic Games. Because of the birth of her son Sasha, Irina missed only one season - in 1979. In 1976, Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev were awarded the Order of Lenin.
In 1981, Irina and Alexander switched to professional sports. Played on tour, trained. In 1985, Irina and Alexander divorced. Irene married again. Afterwards, daughter Alena was born. Soon the family moved to the United States.
Since 1990, Rodnina worked at the International Center of figure skating in Leyk Arrowhead near Los Angeles. For three years Irina worked with Radko Kovarzhikovoy and Rene Novotny from Czech Republic. In the fourth year they became world champions in pair skating. Following this success, Rodnina was awarded a personal diploma from Czech President Vaclav Havel and given the status of honorary citizen of the Czech Republic. For a while Irina Rodnina worked with Alexander Zaitsev, coaching American couple Tiffany and Johnnie Stiegler, who became champions of the U.S. Junior Championships.
In 1998, Irene returned to Moscow.
In 1999, she was awarded the Order "For Services to the Fatherland" III degree. Irina Rodnina - author of "Nonsmooth Ice" (1978).
Rodnina today - a member of the President's Council on Sports, Chairman of the Central Council of the All-Russian Voluntary Society "Sport Russia", president of the Academy sporting achievement "Glory", the project manager of her own Ice Center, a member of the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation for Physical Culture and Sports and is one of the main initiators and active participant in the forum "World Sport against international terrorism."
