The Resume

(March 8, 1939- )
Born in Zlatoust, Russia
Speed skater
Won six gold medals at the Winter Olympics (1960-64)
Won two all-round World Championships (1963-64)
Nicknamed 'the Lightning from the Urals'
Member of the Soviet and Russian Olympic Committees

Why she might be annoying:

Her first named is variously spelled as Lydia, Lidia or Lidiya. (Oddly, everyone seems to agree on the semmingly harder to spell Skoblikova part.)
Despite her international success, she never won a Soviet national championship.
The New York Times wrote, 'Her voice is strangely harsh, coming from a girlish, heart-shaped face.'

Why she might not be annoying:

Sports Illustrated described her as 'an attractive girl with a will of steel.'
She was the first athlete of either gender to win four gold medals at a single Winter Olympics (1964).
She received the Silver Olympic Order from Juan Antonio Samaranch for 'significant contributions to the Olympic movement.' (1983)
She and Alexander Polozkov have been married for over 50 years.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Born on International Women’s Day [March 8] (Ranked: 1939)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 45]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [March] (Ranked: 3081939)
• I Won Five or More Olympic Gold Medals (Ranked: 6)
• Profiles 33501-33750 (Ranked: 33667)
• Speed Skaters
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying