Ludmila Belousova, pictured on her way to the Olympic gold medal at Innsbruck 1964 with her husband and partner Oleg Protopopov, has died at the age of 81 ©Getty Images

Double Olympic figure skating gold medallist Ludmila Belousova died today at the age of 81, it has been announced. 

Belousova and her husband and partner Oleg Protopopov won Olympic gold medals in the pairs twice, at Innsbruck in 1964 and Grenoble in 1968, representing the Soviet Union. 

They also won the World Championship title four times in 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968.

Belousova, who was born in Ulyanovsk in Russia, married Protopopov in December 1957.

In September 1979, Belousova and Protopopov defected to Switzerland while on tour and applied for political asylum.

They settled in Grindelwald and received Swiss citizenship in 1995.

Ludmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov won their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the pairs at Grenoble 1968 when they were representing the Soviet Union ©Getty Images
Ludmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov won their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the pairs at Grenoble 1968 when they were representing the Soviet Union ©Getty Images

"I have learnt about her death," Russian coach Alexei Mishin told the official state news agency TASS.

It is a big loss, for me especially, as I spent nearly half of my life in a common changing room with her and Oleg," 

"My sincere condolences to Oleg and all her fans, figure skating fans.

"I have been at their place [in Switzerland] many times. 

"They dedicated their entire lives to their profession, the cause they have been serving - figure skating. 

"Ludmila was an outstanding athlete and person."