Lyudmila Buldakova

Lyudmila Buldakova
Personal information
Full name	Lyudmila Stepanovna Buldakova (Meshcheryakova)
Born	(1938-05-25)May 25, 1938 Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died	November 8, 2006(2006-11-08) (aged 68) Moscow, Russia
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight	146 lb (66 kg)
Honours Women’s volleyball Representing Soviet Union Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City Team 1972 Munich Team 1964 Tokyo Team World Championship 1956 France Team 1960 Brazil Team 1970 Bulgaria Team 1962 Soviet Union Team European Championship 1958 Czechoslovakia Team 1967 Turkey Team 1971 Italy Team 1955 Romania Team

Lyudmila Buldakova (May 25, 1938 – November 8, 2006) was a Russian volleyball player for the USSR.

Buldakova had a long career in the Soviet national team, from 1955 through 1972, serving as the team captain in the last few years. At that time, the Soviet Union and Japan were the dominant nations in women's volleyball, and Buldakova and her team captured many titles. At the World Championships, she won the title in 1956, 1960 and 1970, while placing second in 1962 (the USSR boycotted the 1967 edition)[1]. The Soviet Union placed second behind Japan in the sport's Olympic début in 1964, but then went on to win the gold in 1968 and 1972. Buldakova also became European Champion in 1958, 1967 and 1971, placing second in 1955, while missing the 1963 edition (which was won by the Soviet Union). In club play, Buldakova first played for Zalgiris Kaunas, before moving to Dynamo Moskva. With them, she won five USSR titles, and eight European Cups. After her retirement in 1975, she continued to be involved in volleyball as a children's coach.

The Lyudmila Buldakova Award, named after her, is the prize for the Russian Women's Volleyball Super League best player, created by the Russian Volleyball Federation after her death.

She became an inductee of the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2012.