20, 1995, in Lake Placid, N.Y., Grinkov died during a practice session for the Stars on Ice tour. Poor training conditions and earning prospects in Russia led Gordeeva and Grinkov and other skaters to take up residence outside of their homeland. Their gold medal performance to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata exhibited their new mature, romantic style of skating featuring gentle lifts, synchronized spins, and, despite a 10-inch height difference, precise side-by-side jumps.Īfter the 1994 Olympics the two returned to professional competition and exhibition performances. When the International Skating Union revised its eligibility rules, the two decided to reinstate as amateurs to compete in the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. They married in 1991 and had a daughter, Daria, in 1992. Gordeeva and Grinkov turned professional in 1990. Bubbly, 16-year-old Katia was a favorite among reporters at the games. In 1988, the only year in that period when they placed second in the world championships, they won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Calgary, Alta. They earned four world championships between 19. One of their most dazzling moves was a quadruple twist in which Grinkov tossed his pixieish partner in the air for a four-revolution spin. Although not totally pleased with the arrangement at the start, they developed a sibling-like relationship. They were paired in 1982 by coaches at their skating club. Known for both their technical excellence and their ability to relate to one another and to the music while performing, the two won gold medals at both the 19 Winter Olympic Games.Įkaterina Gordeeva, nicknamed Katia, was born on May 28, 1971, and Sergei Grinkov on Feb. Their dramatic difference in size helped the Russian figure-skating pairs team of Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov to perform a variety of complex lifts and throws.

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