Table of Contents
Who Is Ekaterina Gordeeva?
Ekaterina Gordeeva is a renowned Russian figure skater, celebrated for her partnership with Sergei Grinkov. Over their 13 years of skating together, Gordeeva and Grinkov forged a remarkable career, evolving from co-workers to friends, then to life partners. Together, they won four World Championships and two Olympic gold medals, achieving global fame as one of the most iconic pairs in figure skating history. Tragically, their partnership came to an abrupt end in 1995 when Grinkov passed away from a heart attack at the age of 28.
Early Life
Born on May 28, 1971, in Moscow, Russia, Gordeeva grew up in a family deeply immersed in the arts. Her father, Alexander Alexeyevich Gordeev, was a folk dancer with the Moiseev Dance Company, and her mother, Elena Levovna, worked as a teletype operator for the Soviet news agency Tass. Due to their demanding careers and frequent travel, Gordeeva and her younger sister, Maria, often spent time with their grandparents, where she developed a love for fairy tales—stories that would later echo her own life experiences.
At the age of four, Gordeeva was too young to pursue ballet, her father’s first choice for her. Instead, she was invited to a tryout at the Central Red Army Skating Club in Moscow, where she quickly found her passion. By the age of five, she was training regularly, determined to excel in her new sport. Despite a brief attempt at ballet school at the age of 10, skating remained her focus, and by the following year, she was paired with Sergei Grinkov, a partnership that would define her career.
Skating Career with Sergei Grinkov
Gordeeva and Grinkov’s rise in the world of figure skating was swift. In December 1983, after only a year of training together, the pair placed sixth at the Junior World Championships. A year later, they claimed victory, marking the beginning of their dominance in pairs skating. Gordeeva, only 13 at the time, began to notice her growing attraction to Grinkov, but their relationship remained professional for several years.
Their early success was not without challenges, particularly with their coaching situation. After several changes, they endured a difficult period under the strict and often harsh guidance of Stanislav Zhuk, the head coach at the Central Red Army Skating Club. Despite the intensity of their training, Gordeeva and Grinkov achieved major victories, including a second-place finish at their first senior-level competition and a win at both the European and World Championships. However, Gordeeva later reflected that their performances during this period lacked emotional depth, driven more by technical precision than artistry.
In 1986, Gordeeva and Grinkov petitioned for a new coach and began working with Stanislav Leonovich, a change that revitalized their love for the sport. They quickly resumed their winning ways, securing first place at the Russian Nationals and defending their world title in 1987. That year also marked a turning point in their personal relationship, as they spent more time together off the ice, deepening their bond.
Their partnership reached new heights at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, where, despite nerves and Grinkov battling the flu, they delivered flawless performances in both the short and long programs, winning their first Olympic gold medal. Gordeeva, only 16 at the time, remained grounded while Grinkov celebrated their victory with friends. Their journey from skating partners to life partners would continue to captivate the world, cementing their legacy as one of the most beloved pairs in the history of the sport.
Falling in Love
In the fall of 1988, Ekaterina Gordeeva discovered she had a stress fracture in her right foot, sidelining her from skating. While she was disheartened by the injury, Sergei Grinkov found a way to lift her spirits. As she recalled in her memoir My Sergei, Grinkov playfully offered, “So you like to skate? Come on, I’ll give you a little ride,” before picking her up and carrying her across the ice, skating their routine together.
By this time, their professional partnership had blossomed into something more. On New Year’s Eve, they shared their first kiss, solidifying their romantic connection. Due to Gordeeva’s injury, the pair missed the European Championships that year, but they returned to the ice for the World Championships in Paris, where they triumphed. It was at this event that the world began to see not just their skill, but also the love that was developing between them.
In 1990, Gordeeva turned 18 and had to adjust to her changing body, while Grinkov struggled with shoulder pain. Nonetheless, they performed Romeo and Juliet at the European Championships and claimed another title. Although they felt burnt out, they went on to win the World Championships once again. Looking for more time off the ice together, they joined the Tom Collins skating tour. However, tragedy struck when Grinkov’s father passed away from a heart attack. In the months that followed, Grinkov proposed that they turn professional, and by 1991, the pair had secured their first World Professional Championship title. But their true joy came when they married on April 28, 1991.
Olympic Gold
After Grinkov underwent shoulder surgery, the couple resumed skating tours, embarking on a new life together on the road. In January 1992, Gordeeva discovered she was pregnant, and despite performing for four more months, the couple eagerly awaited the birth of their child. On September 11, 1992, their daughter Daria was born.
Gordeeva quickly returned to the ice, just 19 days after giving birth. By October, she and Grinkov were rehearsing for the Stars on Ice tour in Lake Placid, New York, leaving their daughter in the care of Gordeeva’s mother in Moscow. Two months later, they successfully defended their World Professional Championship title, but they had missed Daria’s first Christmas.
In 1993, they returned to Moscow and, after petitioning the International Skating Union, regained their amateur status to compete in their second Olympics. Skating to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, they won both the Russian Nationals and the European Championships. At the 1994 Olympics, despite a minor mistake by Grinkov during their routine, they secured their second gold medal. Reflecting on their performance, Gordeeva remarked in My Sergei, “The first gold medal we won for the Soviet Union. This one we won for each other.”
The Loss of Grinkov
Following their Olympic victory, Gordeeva and Grinkov returned to professional skating and toured the United States. They found a home in Simsbury, Connecticut, and in December 1994, they won their third and final World Professional Championship.
In 1995, Grinkov began experiencing back pain, which worsened as the year progressed. Still, the couple completed the Stars on Ice tour before heading to Lake Placid to practice a new routine. Tragically, on November 20, 1995, while rehearsing, Grinkov collapsed on the ice. Gordeeva initially thought it was his back again, but Grinkov lay down carefully, shaking his head. At just 28 years old, Grinkov died of a heart attack. In her memoir, Gordeeva later reflected on the overwhelming sadness, saying to fellow skater Scott Hamilton, “It was too perfect, maybe. It’s only fairytales that have happy endings.”
Life After Grinkov
On February 27, 1996, Gordeeva skated solo for the first time in a televised tribute to Grinkov titled A Celebration of a Life. E.M. Swift of Sports Illustrated described her performance as a fusion of sport, art, and tragedy. Gordeeva’s skating moved audiences deeply, as she dedicated her performance to Grinkov. She told the audience, “I skated today not alone. I skated with Sergei. It’s why I was so good. It wasn’t me.”
Though the Gordeeva-Grinkov fairytale ended in tragedy, Gordeeva continued to perform in professional competitions and television specials such as Beauty and the Beast and Snowden on Ice. She also published My Sergei, a memoir chronicling their life together, which was later adapted into a CBS television special in 1998. In May of that year, Gordeeva released her second book, A Letter for Daria, and launched the fragrance line “Katia.”
Despite her personal loss, Gordeeva became a symbol of resilience, grace, and courage, inspiring not only ice-skating fans but also her daughter, Daria. Gordeeva shared this advice in My Sergei: “Try to find happiness in every day. At least once, smile to each other every day. And say just one extra time that you love the person who lives with you. Just say, ‘I love you.’”
Gordeeva eventually found love again with fellow Olympic gold medalist Ilia Kulik, with whom she had a second daughter, Elizaveta, in 2001. The couple married but later divorced in 2016.