nazarova was born on 1 october 1920 to a russian peasant family in ostrov city of pskov. her father died from complications of a wound sustained in world war i when klavdiya was at a young age. in addition to completing ten grades of school she attended the lesgaft national state university of physical education, sport and health of leningrad for one year and was a senior leader of a young pioneer detachment at a local school. she was a member of the komsomol. in her later years she worked as a seamstress.