Ulanov began figure skating in 1954 and became a member of the USSR National Team in 1964. Rodnina / Ulanov began skating together in the 1960s and won several
World and
European Championships. They were coached by
Stanislav Zhuk and trained at the
Armed Forces sports society in
Moscow. The culmination of their career was their 1972 Olympics win. By this point Ulanov had fallen in love with fellow skater
Lyudmila Smirnova. Rodnina and Ulanov separated, and Ulanov began skating with Smirnova. Smirnova and Ulanov competed together for two seasons. They won silver medals at the
1973 World and
European Championships. The next season, they won
European bronze and
world silver medals. Ulanov was awarded the
Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1972. ==Personal life==