March 2003
EKATERINA AT THE FIGURE SKATING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2003
by Mallory
Hello everyone,
It's been awhile since I posted here, but, I wanted to share my Katia sighting at Worlds last week. I was able to be there the entire week and saw Katia several times.
The first time I wasn't really sure it was her. During the men's short program, I was scanning the audience on the opposite side of the ice with my binoculars ( I had already spotted Alexei Yagudin and was on the hunt for other skaters). I saw young woman who I thought looked a great deal like Katia, but, from the distance - even with the binoculars I wasn't sure. In fact, I convinced myself it wasn't her because she wasn't sitting with anyone I recognized. I did notice, however, that she kept gesturing to someone in another part of the arena to come to where she was sitting. I couldn't tell who she was signaling. Also, she was sitting with her chin propped on her hand and I couldn't see her entire face. I then got distracted by the next skater and the next time I looked she was gone.
After the competition that night, my husband & I walked out of the arena to head to our nearby hotel. There was a group of about 8 people standing right in front of us at the corner waiting for the light to change. Suddenly, I realized I was looking at Ilia Kulik! Then a moment later realized he was holding the hand of a young lady who had her back to me. For a second I was confused because it didn't register immediately that he was holding Katia's hand. Then I saw her profile and realized it was her. About this time the light changed and we all started to cross the street. They were right in front of us. Katia and Ilia were talking and laughing and obviously having fun with the group they were walking with. I didn't have the nerve to say anything - I was just thrilled to see her in person. She is soooo tiny!!
We were behind them for @ 3 blocks then turned in a different direction to get to our hotel.
As unbelievable as that experience felt, I couldn't believe it when the same thing happened a few nights later. The night of the final dance competition, they showed several skaters in the audience on the jumbotron during one of the breaks. They flashed a picture of Katia and I of course got out my binoculars to find out where she was sitting. I finally realized that a large group of russian skaters were sitting together in a section just above the broadcast booths. I admit that I watched her during the entire break. She got up a couple of time and moved around to talk to different people in that general area (the section wasn't very crowded). At one point she was standing near the entry to that section and I saw a few folks catch her attention and get autographs.
When the dance competition ended and the Canadian team received the gold, to be honest, the entire Russian group got up and left. I got the impression they weren't too pleased with the outcome (the Russian team won silver).
I stayed for the medal ceremony and then left the arena to walk to the hotel (my husband had stayed behind that night to watch a basketball game).
I walked out the same door which opened just a few steps away from the intersection and again saw Ilia Kulik. This time he was talking to a guy and about to cross the street. I crossed right behind him. I didn't see Katia until we had crossed to the other side and then realized she was slightly further ahead with a group of 5 or 6 other people and was talking to a young woman.
Again, I was too shy to say anything to any of them - I may have been more bold if it had just been the 2 of them, but, again they were with a group. Basically, I followed a few steps behind (staring a hole in her back) until again I had to cross to my hotel.
I don't think they really noticed me though they did glance back once or twice. If so, I'm sure they would have been convinced I was stalking them - especially since it happened twice.
One observation - other than the obvious fact that she is gorgeous. I noticed both times that she was dressed in pretty trendy clothes. I mention it because I recall a while back a thread on this forum that discussed her rather conservative dress.
The first night she was wearing jeans, a bulky cream colored sweater, a trench coat and cream-colored suede boots. The 2nd time she was wearing suede/velvet deep purple pants, a sweater and a short, levi-like denim jacket and boots. She looked great both times and didn't appear to be wearing any makeup.
I did take one photo from across the arena. The quality isn't great given the distance but I think it is clear that it's her (&Ilia). I need to load the photos to disk and will try to post it here once I have.
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to share my experience with other Katia fans.
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