Galina Yermolayeva (cyclist)

Galina Vasilievna Yermolayeva (Russian: Галина Васильевна Ермолаева; born 4 February 1937) is a retired Soviet sprint cyclist who dominated the UCI Track Cycling World Championships of 1958–1973, winning 6 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals.[1] Between 1956 and 1973 she also won at least 10 national titles.[2][3]

Galina Yermolayeva

Galina Yermolayeva in 1967
Personal information
Born	(1937-02-04) 4 February 1937 Novokhopyorsk, Russia
Sport
Sport	Cycling
Club	Trud, CSKA
Medal record Representing  Soviet Union World Championships 1958 Paris Individual sprint 1959 Amsterdam Individual sprint 1960 Leipzig Individual sprint 1961 Zürich Individual sprint 1963 Rocourt Individual sprint 1964 Paris Individual sprint 1965 San Sebastián Individual sprint 1967 Amsterdam Individual sprint 1968 Rome Individual sprint 1969 Antwerp Individual sprint 1970 Leicester Individual sprint 1971 Varese Individual sprint 1972 Marseille Individual sprint 1973 San Sebastián Individual sprint

She was born in Novokhopyorsk, but after World War II her family moved to Moscow, where her father worked as a taxi driver. As a teenager she competed at the national level in cross-country skiing but then after a frostbite accident changed to cycling. Later for her cycling achievements she was given a car, a personal gift of Leonid Brezhnev.[2]

She graduated in construction engineer and later married Anatoly Vasiliev (Russian: Анатолий Серге́евич Васильев), changing her last name to Vasilieva.[2]