March 5, 2001
From Komsomolskaya Pravda (Russia):
KATIA GORDEEVA IS EXPECTING A BABY
by Yulia Smirnova, Igor Emelianov and Andrei Baranov
translated by Anna Franceva and Meribeth
Katia Gordeeva is expecting a baby.
A famous skater, become a widow 5 years ago, has found her chosen one and is preparing to become mother again. The history of Katia and the people that she loved is tragic and at the same time wonderful.
In 2000 year an American magazine Biography called Olympic skating champions Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov one of invincible duets of XX-th century. Russian champions got in the company with Jon and Jaclin Kennedy, Bill Gates and Polla Allen....
Katia and Sergei
The tiny girl was stood on skates when she was less than 4 years old. By 11 years old
Gordeeva couldn't become a good single skater. And the coaches decided to put her in a
pair with a solo-unlucky person Sergei Grinkov.
He was 15, but he looked too tiny for throws and lifts of even such a tiny girl as Katia. He looked at his young partner and began to train lifts with an iron chair to pump up his muscles.
"He threw me as a doll and I was falling with no end. I was all battered and bruised - remembers Katia 15 years later. - and the coach was shouting "You are throwing a crystal vase!". And soon I began to feel safely".
They were tried to get them part from before the junior world championship in 1984. Their parents rose against it and the duet was saved. And it took "Gold".
Stanislav Juk, taken the perspective pair, worked with them hard. "At some moments I thought that he did all to get me and Sergei to part from. Sergei didn't like the way the coach behaved and I didn't still have my own opinion. - told Katia later - but Juk's school tempered me and I got stronger".
Gone away to Leonovich they began to enjoy skating again. They worked off an unique jump after that Katia's pulse jumped up till 200 strokes a minute.
In 1987 as a Word "adult" champions they went over the USA in Collin's tour for the first time. In Disneyland they embraced a few times as if accidentally. Sergei carried her suitcases, offered his hand when she was getting of a bus. Her attitude to her partner then Katia called coquetry.
After the tournament "Moscow News" while a lift Grinkov dropped Katia on the ice. She hit her forehead and spent a lot of long days in a hospital. "He came to visit me every day with roses - remembers Katia - after that accident he began to hold me safer. We tutned into a real pair".
On New 1988 Year's day in Moscow they smashed plates for good luck. On Saint Valentin day they perfectly skated at the Olympics-88. And in the sauna of a famous skater Aleksandr Fadeev on New Year's night in 1989 there happened that both of them dreamed and one of them thought of an year ago.
"We were drinking Vodka from small wine-glasses, talking about everything and kissed in lips for the first time. - remembers Katia - Sasha Fadeev peeped out of the sweating-room and having seen us he disappeared back as scalded. He had to do it several times, otherwise he would suffocate".
In Birmingem, out of spite of settling separately, they were spending nights together. In Paris Sergei heard from Katia "I love you" for the first time. And a choreographer, Marina Zueva, did them a program "Romeo and Julieta".
In registry office Grinkov hardly signed by his recently operated hand, and when they were tiding up the flat after the noisy wedding a dove flew into the room throw the window. "It's to misfortune" - Katia's mother shuddered.
Having found out that Katia is pregnant, she decided to do an abort. Sergei didn't let her do it, he was very much glad of baby. When she was four months along she stopped skating. She went to America to give birth to baby. She got in the hospital right from the Open tennis championship. While the delivery Sergei was near her, the doctors gave his daughter right in his arms.
In 3 weeks the father took the happy mother onto the ice, 3 months later they became World Professional champions.
They were allowed to skate in at Olympics Games-94, and a doctor of our team said that Sergei was quite healthy for it.
They had all, the second Olympics Gold, the success in America and profitable invitations from ice shows.
On the ice Katia touched to her beloved man's shoulder:
- It smells good...
- Yes, it's clean.
And he slipped up to the board.
"He sat sown on the ice. Zueva stopped music, began to do a heart's massage - she remembered it once again for her book "My Sergei", - I called "911" and .... forgot all English words".
Katia without Sergei
"Excuse me, Serezha, only fairy-tales end well..." Katia was saying, stroking
his growing cold hand. Neither electro-shock or an injection into his heart helped.
Sergei was buried in Moscow on Vagankovo. A lot of people came to attend a funeral.
"After the funeral I was sleeping all the time. I lost the sense in life. Mother said me "give up skating, live with me", money was enough for 10 years - remembered Katia - choreographer Marina Zueva wrote to me that Sergei was dream of her life. And Father Nikolai said me "Don't be afraid to be happy in future. If you will meet other man to take him into the church".
Katia with Dasha went to America, performed in the popular show "Stars on ice". In the hospital for hard ill children she made Sergei Grinkov's garden. There are a lot of flowers there, a small waterfall and a map on what there marked all the cities where Katia and Sergei skated.
Katia's books "My Sergei" and "A letter for Daria" got bestsellers in the USA. The story of the beautiful widow with her little daughter, returned on ice after her beloved man died, made the whole America cry.
She was offered good publicity contracts. Her perfume "Katia sport" is very popular in America. The Web flooded with related to her sites. The Russian champion got in the number of 50 the most beautiful people of the planet.
Her daughter came to Montessori school, went in for rhythmic gymnastics and piano. And every summer asks her mother "Do we go to Moscow for holydays?".
There are many Sergei's photos in their house in California.
"Whoever would come in this house, Dasha remembers who is her father - says Katia - When she is asked if she wants a brother or a sister, she answers "Yes".
(Note from the editor: for another translation of the following paragraphs, please scroll down)Katia and Ilia
With Ilia Katia began to perform in the show "Stars on ice". They did two
programs together, though Ilia always shone in single skating. They appeared together on
an advertisement poster of "Stars on ice". The pair was seen at some ice shows
and competitions. They were holding hands. Trained together living in different sides of
America, Katia - in Connecticut, Ilia - in California. Soon it became clear that Katia had
met a new love.
Ilia is a handsome man - a discovery in Figure skating World , where everyone gets used to be face to face from the childhood with the cold ice and thousands eyes. There are not many people who can to give up such a coach as Tatiana Tarasova who brought him to Olympic pedestal. Kulik risked.
Now Kulik made another pair number and skates it in the show. But it's not with Katia, but with another Olympic champion young Tara Lipinski. Ekaterina was to get an adorning in "Stars on ice" this season. The owners of the show were already advertising the show, the tickets were sold. The press-release in November where it was announced that Katia would not be in the show this winter was a bolt from the blue for Katia's fans. The reason: she must spend more time with her family and her daughter 8 year old Dasha. Skating sites flooded with "condolence" to each other....
Katia is expecting a baby
Ilia Kulik is called as the father of the baby. The articles on the theme both champions
refused to comment. Close Katia's friends confirmed our correspondents that Katia's
pregnancy is not a rumour. The birth of the second baby is expecting in May.
If it's truth Katia will do a present for herself to her jubilee: in May 28 she will turn 30. Kulik will turn 24 five days earlier.
"I am glad that two Russian souls have found each other" - it's one of comments in a discussion that was developed in one of foreign skating sites (during 3 months there appeared 347 messages there from people who wanted to share their information or emotions on the future baby.) Write about all, what surname the baby will have (may be Gordeeva-Kulik) and whether Katia will get married for the second time (if she need it?) and even about how the news will affect the selling of her perfume.
If to tell the truth, Katia's silence on the theme is more liking than advertisement company that popular stars do from their pregnancies. Katia and Sergei were an ideal pair from fairy ice world for the whole country. It seems they must slip along their life as easy as they did on ice, holding hands. And after Sergei's death for us, spectators, Katia lived in the same fairy love tale. But life can't be inscribed in 8 elements of a compulsory program.
Yulia Smirnova, Igor Emelianov, Andrei Baranov
**********
Here's another translations of the paragraphs at the end of the article. Many thanks to Meribeth.Katia and Ilia
Katia began to appear with Ilia Kulik in the show "Stars on Ice." They did two programs together, even though Ilia was always a singles skater. They appeared next to each other in the ad for "Stars on Ice." The pair was seen in the ice show and at tournaments holding hands. They trained together, but were living on different coasts in America: Katia – in Connecticut, and Ilia – in California. Soon it became clear: It looked like Katia had a new love.
Ilia – a handsome Moscovite – raised in the world of figure skating, where from childhood everyone gets used to being one on one with the cold ice and thousands of eyes watching, not many daredevils risk saying no to their coach! And especially one like Tatiana Tarasova, who led him to the Olympic pedestal. Kulik dared.
Now Kulik once again appears in a pairs number in the show. But not with Katia, but another young Olympic champion – Tara Lapinski. Ekaterina was supposed to be in the show this season as well. The show’s ads were put out, tickets were sold. But in a press release last November, it was revealed that Gordeeva would not appear in the show this winter. Reason: she wanted to spend more time at home, with her eight year-old daughter Dasha. The shows were filled with her fans who were consoling one another.
Katia is expecting a child
The happy prospective father is…Ilia Kulik! That was the theme of an article in the "National Inquirer." Both champions refused to comment. But our correspondents in the USA say close friends of Katia from Simsbury confirmed that she is pregnant – not a rumor. The birth of her second child is expected at the end of May. If it is true, Katia will be giving herself a gift: On May 28th, she will be 30. And Kulik, 5 days earlier, will turn 24.
"I am happy the two Russian souls have found each other," one of the replies in the lively discussion of the admirers of Gordeeva and Kulik in one of the foreign skating sites (in 3 months there appeared 347 messages from those eager to share information or their emotions about the future child!) They write about everything – what will be the surname of the little one (perhaps Gordeeva-Kulik), and whether or not Katia will get married for a second time (they say – she is one of the three richest figure skaters, and this means nothing to her), and even about how this news will affect the sale of her perfume line…But, the discussions remain under the headline "Unconfirmed Rumor."
If it is true, Katia’s silence about the issue has aroused sympathy, unlike most other famous stars who put out "ad campaigns" about their pregnancies. Katia and Sergei were for their country the ideal pair from the fairy-tale ice world. It seems, in life, they glided so easily, like on the ice, firmly holding hands. And after Sergei’s death, for us their fans, it is as if Katia’s former life was a fairy tale about unearthly love. But in life, there are not the required elements of a program…
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