Gordeeva and Grinkov

Full name: Ekaterina Alexandrovna Gordeeva
Nick name: Katia, Katya, Katuuh, Katoosha
Born: May 28, 1971 (Gemini)
Place of birth: Moscow, Russia
Significant other: - married Sergei Grinkov on April 20, 1991 (state wedding), the church wedding was on April 28, 1991 in Moscow
- married Ilia Kulik on June 10, 2002 in San Francisco
Children: daughters Daria and Liza
Father: Alexander Alexeyevich Gordeev
Mother: Elena Levovna Gordeeva
Siblings: sister - Maria Alexandrovna Gordeeva
(4 years younger)
Height: approx. 156 cm (5"21)
Weight: approx. 40 - 45 kilo (90 lbs)
Hair colour: brown
Eye colour: blue-grey

The story of two- time Gold medalist, Ekaterina Gordeeva, is an example of strength, endurance, and hope. With a celebrated career in the world of pairs figure skating, she and Sergei Grinkov mesmerized audiences with their classic romantic style. Partners on and off of the ice, Gordeeva tragically became a widow and single mother at the tender age of twenty-four. With courage and support from the skating community and fans, she returned to the ice to become an award winning singles skater, Stars On Ice performer, and author of two books.

The daughter of Alexander Alexeyevich Gordeev (Folk Dancer) and Elena Levovna Gordeeva (TASS News Agency), she began skating with the Central Red Army Club in Moscow, Russia at the age of four. Despite her father's hopes that she and younger sister, Maria, would dance with the Bolshoi Ballet Company she instead showed great skating talent. Having problems with her jumps, however, a coach teamed her with fifteen year old Sergei Grinkov in 1982 feeling they would both excel in pairs skating. Together, they were a love story on ice, winning the 1988 and 1994 Winter Olympics and four World Championships. A favorite of the Stars On Ice cast, they enjoyed a successful professional career as well.

Tragedy struck in 1995 when Grinkov died of a heart attack while rehearsing for the upcoming Stars On Ice season. Depressed and facing life alone as a single mother, her love of skating and her daughter provided the purposes to carry on. In 1996 when many friends and figure skating associates organized a tribute for Grinkov, Gordeeva shocked them by announcing that she would skate in the tribute. Choreographer, Marina Zueva, created a breathtaking program for Gordeeva to the music of Mahler. She returned to the ice skating alone for the first time in her husband's tribute Sergei Grinkov: Celebration of a Life. Encouraged by the acceptance of her skating, she rejoined Stars On Ice and began touring with them as a singles skater.

A model for widows and single women starting over, Gordeeva wrote My Sergei: A Love Story, chronicling her life with Grinkov. The book was made into a television special in which Gordeeva starred in 1998. She followed up her writing success with the book A Letter For Daria in 1998. She became a spokesperson for Target Stores in 1997 and launched two fragrance lines "Katia" and "Katia Sport". In 1999, she joined Scott Hamilton, Amy Grant, and Tiger Woods who participated in the opening of Target House in Memphis, Tennessee. Gordeeva dedicated "Sergei's Garden" at the house in memory of her late husband. She continues to be an inspiration to many, even outside the figure skating world.

Recently, Gordeeva started a new chapter of her life. Finding love again with Olympic Champion, Ilia Kulik, and welcoming daughter, Elizaveta Ilinichna, into the world on June 15, 2001. The couple were married in a private ceremony in San Francisco, California on June 10, 2002. Katia and Ilia work together whenever possible and fans are thrilled when they perform programs together. Many are truly amazed at the happiness in Katia's face watching her perform similar pairs moves to those that first captured the hearts of her skating fans. She truly is proof that life can go on after tragedy strikes and she continues to be an inspiration to many, on and off the ice.
Full name: Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov
Nick name: Serioque
Born: Feb 4, 1967 (Aquarius)
died: Nov 20, 1995
Place of birth: Moscow, Russia
Significant other: - married Ekaterina Gordeeva on April 20, 1991 (state wedding), the church wedding was on April 28, 1991 in Moscow
Children: daughter Daria
Father: Mikhail Kondrateyevich Grinkov (died in 1990)
Mother: Anna Filipovna Grinkova (died in 2000)
Siblings: sister - Natalia Mikhailovna Grinkova
(7 years older)
Height: approx. 180 cm (5"11')
Weight: approx. 80 kilo (180 lbs)
Hair colour: brown (as child: blonde)
Eye colour: blue

When Sergei Grinkov's heart stopped in 1995, it left a hole in the hearts of fans, friends, and the figure skating community. Part of the legendary 1988 and 1994 Olympic champion pairs skating team with his wife Ekaterina Gordeeva, his artistry and power on the ice left an indelible mark on the sport.

The son of Soviet Police officers, Mikhail Kondrateyevich Grinkov and Anna Filipovna Grinkova he was inducted into the Central Red Army Sports Club at the age of five. His older sister, Natalia, has been quoted as saying, "That is when his crazy training sessions began." Ten years later he was paired with Gordeeva and groomed as a pairs skater. From the beginning the pair exhibited a special chemistry together and in 1984, they won the World Junior Championships after skating together for less than two years. They advanced quickly and won their first senior World Championship in 1987. Despite being very young, the team skated with a rare maturity and captured the Gold medal at the 1988 Olympics.

He teamed up with Gordeeva off of the ice by 1989 and in 1991 they married in Moscow, Russia. The pair turned professional that same year and began touring with Tom Collins' Champions On Ice. By fall they had joined Stars On Ice.. Before the tour, Grinkov had been experiencing problems with his right shoulder and underwent two surgeries to repair a torn rotator cuff and clean away scar tissue. Choreographer Marina Zueva, created beautiful routines for the pair designed to enhance their perfection on the ice with care not to stress Grinkov's shoulder.

In 1992, Gordeeva gave birth to their daughter, Daria. Grinkov was a natural and doting father; he bought his daughter's first pair of ice skates. Excellent athletes, the pair joined the cast of Stars On Ice for rehearsals a little over thirty days after the birth of their daughter. One year later many top professional athletes began petitioning the International Skating Union for reinstatement of their amateur status to participate in the 1994 Winter Olympics. Grinkov and Gordeeva were granted reinstatement. With their poetic routine to "Moonlight Sonata", the majestic pair won the Gold medal.

In 1995, as Grinkov and Gordeeva rehearsed in Lake Placid, New York for the upcoming Stars On Ice season, Grinkov slumped to the ice as his heart stopped beating. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite attempts to restart his heart, Grinkov died due to a blockage to his heart. The skating community mourned Grinkov at a wake and memorial service in Saranac Lake, New York. Grinkov's body was moved to Moscow, Russia and another memorial held at the Central Red Army Club ice rink. Grinkov is burried in the Vagankovskoy Cemetery in Russia.