Career

They were coached by Stanislav Zhuk and later Tatiana Tarasova in Moscow. Zaitsev was three years younger than Rodnina and was much less seasoned but learned quickly. He was from Leningrad (Saint St. Petersburg) while she was from Moscow.

Rodnina / Zaitsev"s music stopped during their short program at the 1973 World Championships, possibly due to a Czechoslovakian worker acting in retaliation for the suppression of the Prague Spring.

Known for intense concentration, they finished the program in silence, earning a standing ovation and a gold medal upon completion, ahead of Smirnova / Ulanov, whom they again defeated in 1974. In 1974, Rodnina / Zaitsev left Zhuk, with whom the working relationship had become strained, to train with Tatiana Tarasova.

They returned in 1980 to capture their second Olympic title together and Rodnina"s third. They then retired from competitive skating.

After retiring from competition, Zaitsev became a coach and for a time was involved in the administration of the sport.

Pairs with Irina Rodnina.

Achievements

• With partner Irina Rodnina, he is a two-time (1976, 1980) Olympic champion, six-time World champion and seven-time European champion. From 1973 to 1980 they won every event they entered. She was already a four-time World champion and 1972 Olympic gold medalist with her previous partner Alexei Ulanov, who had left her to skate with Lyudmila Smirnova. They won six consecutive World titles together, as well as seven European gold medals, and won their first Olympic title together in 1976.