In Memory of Perfection...

     Very few times in the world's history had perfection ever been personified; it has been imagined, it has been dreamt of, it has even been described, but rarely has it ever been actually seen. For two people to be able to visually exhibit every definition of perfection, transform every dream of excellence into reality, and become one person in a stunning display of style grace and beauty was unheard of before two mismatched kids from the Soviet Union took to the ice, hand-in-hand, about to show the world what genuine skating was all about.
     They were known as "G&G" simple as that. Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov were the epitome of what a pair team should be and this quality was evident within them from the first time they stepped on the ice together as kids in 1982, she a tiny, serious 11-year-old, he a fun-loving 15-year-old.
     Over the next two years, Katia and Sergei did something that is rarely seen in sports, let alone figure skating: they became Junior World champions in 1984 and then followed up with a win at the Senior Worlds in 1986.
     When the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics rolled around, Katia and Sergei knew that the only thing that would be acceptable for them would be the gold medal. And so, at the ages of 16 and 21, G&G became the Olympic Pair Champions.
     Not long after these Olympics, and while they were still taking title after title with a seemingly effortless ease, Katia and Sergei began to grow very close behind closed doors. Finally, in 1989, the next natural step came to the team of Gordeeva and Grinkov: they fell in love.
     In April of 1991, Katia and Sergei became husband and wife at the ages of 19 and 24. Before then, they had been partners in skating on the ice, now they were partners in life, their skating reflecting a maturity and elegance beyond their years.
     The next year, the famous Russian duo was blessed with an unexpected surprise. On September 11th, 1992, Gordeeva and Grinkov's pair team became a trio with the addition of their daughter Daria who was born in New Jersey. This new sense of family in Katia and Sergei strengthened their bond even more and now the joy that they felt while skating together translated into the hearts of audiences everywhere. While together, it seemed as though Sergei, Katia, and Daria were the perfect family.
     In 1994, another chance for glory presented itself to G&G when they learned that professional figure skaters would be allowed to compete in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. With a haunting and moving performance to "Moonlight Sonata," Katia and Sergei won a second Olympic gold medal.
     Katia and Sergei seemed to have everything that two people could ever want in life; they had each other, they had their beautiful daughter, they had two Olympic gold medals, and a wonderful professional career ahead of them; the only thing they didn't have was time.
     On November 20th, 1995 during a routine "Stars On Ice" practice in Lake Placid, New York, Sergei collapsed on the ice and died not long after, the victim of a massive heart attack. In his beautiful legacy, he left behind his young wife and their 3-year-old Dasha. Katia's angel had been taken to Heaven and she was left to do the only thing she knew how to do: skate.
     Grasping onto her strong will and indomitable spirit, Katia took to the ice as a professional singles skater. Her elegance continues today to grace ice surfaces all over the world. With her is Daria, who's charming face holds the memory of her father's eyes and smile. Together, they have built a new life, together in this great big world.
     Although we watch Katia now, alone at center ice waiting for the first notes of her music to strain through the silent arena, in the back of our hearts she will always be the last look at the team that will forever be remembered as perfect: G&G.
    
    

  ~* God Bless You, Sergei *~

Back to Main Page

Back to Main Bio Page

Copyright    Crystal Jardine 2000