July/August 2002
Note: I've just scanned the article - so there might be some electronic "typos" in it. If you find one, please let me know. Thank you.
From Blades on Ice:
CATCHING UP WITH KATIA
by Rebecca Patrick
Though she hasn't been in the skating spotlight much these past two years, two-time Olympic pair champion Katia Gordeeva couldn't be happier. She cherishes her new life in California, where she lives with her two daughters and Ilia Kulik, the 1998 Olympic champion.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
After giving birth in June 2001 to Elizaveta (nicknamed Liza), her daughter with
Kulik, Gordeeva didn't feel any pressure to head immediately back to work. It was a vastly
different situation than the one she faced in 1992 when she had Daria, her daughter with
late husband and skating partner Sergei Grinkov. She needed to make a living, and began
Stars on Ice tour rehearsals a mere six weeks later.
"Thankfully, the situation was so different with Liza (pronounced Lee-za). I wasn't rushing that much and took my time. I didn't really try to get back in shape and get on the ice until September, "Gordeeva said. "So in that respect it wasn't hard, but it's still so difficult to get back in shape after having a baby. It's (a year) later, and I'm still not really in skating form. "And, she's really not too concerned about it. "I'm at a different stage in life now than when I had Daria, so I feel everything differently ,"Gordeeva explained. "When I was younger with Daria, I came back to skating very fast, felt I had to. I wasn't able to enjoy it, be as close as I am now with Liza. I see every second of her growing up. It's so unbelievable!" Being pregnant with Liza proved a double blessing for Gordeeva. No longer touring and performing in shows, she was able to be a stay at-home mom to Daria."1 spent more time with Daria than I ever could before and I was so happy about this. It was good for both of us. Now I'm with her all the time. That's what I do-be a mother-and I love it"
The on-ice pairing of Ekaterina Gordeeva and Ilia Kulik on Stars On Ice turned into a real life romance. The couple live on the west coast near Los Angeles and became parents last year to Elizaveta. Gordeeva has another daughter Daria, whose father , Sergei Grinkov died of a massive heart attack in 1995.
not the location and sunshine that make a home. "You know, the weather and where you live really don't matter at all. Having your family, those you love all together, that's what is important. So, I'm very I happy."
The Ice Beckons
Last fall Gordeeva decided it was time to step back on the ice. She began a daily
exercise routine that included "skating once a day for maybe one and a half hours, I
plus two off-ice workouts."
Her first skating appearance in over a year came in December at Brian Boitano's Holiday Spectacular. 1 Gordeeva followed that in January with the All-Star Olympic Salute show. "Specials or one-time skating shows like these are what I hope to do more of in the future, "Gordeeva said. "That way I have the opportunity to bring the whole family along, both girls and Ilia."
At press time, it was difficult for Gordeeva to say how much skating she will be doing from here on out. "Slowly I will do more, maybe a little more this season. Liza will be bigger then. Right now I can't leave her for more than a couple of days."
But don't look for Gordeeva to turn up at a competition any time soon. "Oh, I'm totally through with that," she laughed. "I probably wouldn't even do a team event."
She is a little less decisive on the subject of rejoining Stars on Ice. "You never know, but I don't think I will come back to the tour. It's a lot of time away from home, and I really want to be with my daughters."
Another change for Gordeeva and her family was their cross-country move from Simsbury, Conn., where they had made their home for over six years, to the Los Angeles area, where Kulik lived. "The move was my big project while I was pregnant; other than that I didn't do much, couldn't do much," laughed Gordeeva.
She said the adjustment to California living was an easy one. "It's so beautiful. The weather is so nice. We really like it here." However. Gordeeva concluded it's
Music and Programs
Whether or not she returns to Stars on Ice, Gordeeva considers herself lucky to
have been a part of the show's cast for much of the last decade. It's a great group of
people and a lot of great memories. I always,. always enjoyed the show very much,"
she said.
It was the sense of being involved in something larger than your own skating that Gordeeva appreciated most. 1t wasn't just programs. We were always together doing interesting ensembles and creating a whole package. It's like a thread goes through every number," she said. "At the end of the show, you always feel complete and satisfied, not just that you did a few numbers, but were part of a whole show."
While Gordeeva maintained that every year there was something very special in the show ,"two numbers stand out above all others for her. "The very last time I was on the tour and skated with Ilia, that was such a very special number for me. I'll always remember it," she said. 1 also really loved the Rolling Stones finale we did in 1994-95. That was a lot of fun."
Looking back on the programs she's done in her over-fifteen-year career, both as a pair and solo skater, Gordeeva holds several especially dear. 1 loved when Sergei and I skated to Romeo and Juliet in 1989-1990. I loved the music and the costumes," she recalled.
"And, of course our two Olympic long programs, especially the last one to Moonlight Sonata. I also loved everything about our 1994 Olympic short program called Flamenco. It was perfect for us." The Ribbon number is also at the top of the list.
The type of music that has inspired Gordeeva the most is Spanish. 1 love all types of this music, which you can tell by the number of Spanish or Latin programs I've done,11 she laughed. "Specifically, I Iike the Flamenco dance and Brazilian music." The one type of music the graceful skater hasn't yet skated to, but wants to, is a bit of a surprise. 1 really want to do something hip-hop and pop that involves a lot of dancing."
Great Achievements
Unmistakably, Gordeeva has had many memorable moments on the ice, but those pale
in comparison to what she is most proud of: her children. "first place definitely
goes to my kids. Skating in the Olympics or in competitions and winning medals is not even
close to having them," she declared. "The whole motherhood process is amazing.
Being pregnant, having your baby inside of you, then she's born; there's nothing else like
it."
When it comes to skating, Gordeeva said, "I am very proud of my Olympic medals. I cherish those memories and skating with Sergei. That was a very special part of my life."
How would Gordeeva like to be remembered as a skater? "However anyone wants to remember me is fine. I can't really tell people to remember me as the skater with the ribbon or when I skated with Sergei," she said. "Who knows, maybe some people don't even watch me as a singles skater because they think it's not right for me to do it."
The few possible naysayers aside, it was quite an achievement to go from having a partner to becoming a solo performer. Gordeeva admits the transition wasn't always smooth, and it took her a while to adjust. "The first couple of years were difficult for me, but I've definitely had some moments when I enjoyed it very much. Now I feel very comfortable. You know it's been so long that it feels fine for me to skate singles right now."
Off-Ice Endeavors
Gordeeva has been one of the most marketable skaters of the past decade. Most
notably, she has had her own perfume line and doll, available exclusively through Target
stores, and endorsed Rolex watches.
Her print ad for Rolex are still running internationally, both in the U.S. and allover Europe. In Gordeeva's first ad five years ago, she was pictured alone. In the most recent version, another Olympic champion, 1968 ladies winner Peggy Fleming, joined her. "Peggy and I have known each other a long time, so it was a lot of fun doing the photo shoot with her," Gordeeva said. "We laughed a lot because we were posing on the ice and it wasn't cold at all, so the producers had a lot of trouble getting the scene to look just right."
Gordeeva's role with Target has diminished the past two years for a couple of reasons. "I'm busy with the baby, so there really hasn't been much time. Also,
they are working a lot with the Stars on Ice cast since they've been the title sponsor," she explained. However, she mentioned that the Target stores are still selling her products, ranging from candles and body lotion, to shampoos and both perfumes.
The experience of creating the perfumes with Target was particularly exciting. "It was very interesting because I really worked on the scent of the perfume. They asked what kind of scents I liked. There was a whole process where I was coming over and smelling different scents, putting it all together," she recalled. "We also worked on what kind of bottle I wanted, like the color and shape. It was a very nice project. It was unique and good. I was honored Target asked me."
Gordeeva's other connection to Target is through Target House at the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. "It's been very interesting and rewarding because I had never been involved with any charity before," she said. "It was my first experience visiting a hospital like this and hearing about the illness of the children. It's very sad. I was really glad to somehow help the kids, to fight the cancer, to fight the terrible disease."
Stars on Ice provided much funding for Target House, a place where families can stay on the hospital grounds while their ill children are being treated. "It's so great and is such a big deal for those kids to have Target House, a place for their parents to stay instead of a hotel," Gordeeva said. Her personal contribution to St. Jude's is Sergei's Garden, which is in the same area as Target House. "It's a gift for the families and friends for them to stay and relax. In the gazebo, there are pictures of Sergei, Daria and myself and pictures of our skating."
Gordeeva's most recent off-ice project involves Lenox Collectibles. In January, Lenox released the figurine,
"A Celebration of Life," which depicts Gordeeva in her February 1996 tribute performance to Grinkov. She recently completed a mini promotional tour for the figurine, which took her to collectibles shows across the United States.
"Katia is an accomplished athlete and skater, and we greatly admire the way she's carried on in life and skating since her husband died," said Lenox spokeswoman Darcy Silvers. "We were very touched by her personal story and Lenox wanted to recapture that with the figurine."
Gordeeva said the project took nearly three years to complete, but she was thrilled with the quality of the finished product. "I knew their work was very well done; it's not a one-day process to create a figurine. The figurines are part of collections that stay for a long time," she explained. "We went back and forth on the ideas, working to get it right. When I saw the actual figurine, I thought it was so nice. It looks very pretty , very fragile."
The figurine, which stands over nine inches tall, is in ivory fine china, trimmed with 24-karat gold, and painstakingly painted by hand. It costs $138 and is available at Lenox Classic retailers nationwide, or by calling 1-800-63-LENOX.
The Final Performance
Gordeeva is uncertain how much longer she will perform, but admits a time without
skating is on her mind. "Now I'm thinking more and more about when I won't skate. I
realize it is going to be hard for me because I still want to skate because I love it. I
enjoy everything about it, even the training," she said.
"I can't just all of a sudden quit skating in one day. I will have to slow down in stages."
While Gordeeva is not quite ready to focus on what she will do once her performing days are over, she has already tested the waters of one option. "Coaching is definitely a possibility. I really enjoy coaching Daria and the few other kids I've worked with, so we'll see, "she smiled. "I'm Daria's only coach right now and also choreographed her programs for a local rink competition."
Gordeeva obviously has a knack for it-much like Daria has for skating. In the competition, Daria's first, she took the top prize. "We were both a little nervous, but not too bad. It's not very high-level competition yet. But, of course, I understand what it's all about, "Gordeeva said.
"I was very proud of her because in the competition she did better jumps than she even did in practice. That's a very good sign, a very good start, "beamed Gordeeva. "The main thing though is that she's enjoying it, which shows allover her face. After she came off the ice, her response was, 'I want to do it again' because she had so much fun out there. "Gordeeva shares her young daughter's sentiment.
"I just love the speed and freedom I get from skating, and just being on the ice. It will be hard for me to quit."
To her many fans that have supported her over the years, it will be hard when she takes the final bow, too. "I'm very thankful for these people. They enjoy the work I put on the ice, my soul I put on the ice, and my heart I leave on the ice, "Gordeeva said. "I'm very thankful they enjoy and understand my skating. 1 hope they will see more and enjoy more this year."
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