Career
She trained in Leningrad at Spartak and competed initially with Suraikin. Smirnova and Suraikin were coached by Maya Belenkaya. They were the 2nd strongest Soviet pair behind Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov, and placed second behind them at both the World and European Championships three times (1970–1972).
Smirnova and Ulanov, skating for rival teams, fell in love.
The pairs decided to separate—a decision they made before the 1972 Games. Thereafter Smirnova began skating with Ulanov.
Smirnova and Ulanov competed for two seasons.
