When Russian pairs skaters Yekaterina Gordeyeva and Sergei Grinkov won the Olympic gold medal at the Calgary Winter Games in 1988, figure skating was the focal point of their life. Six years, a marriage and an infant daughter later, the couple won another Olympic gold, but their priorities have changed.
"Now when I am skating, I am always thinking about Dasha," said Gordeyeva of her 17-month-old baby.
"It is very hard to balance the demands of being professionals with having a child," said Gordeyeva at a recent practice in Moscow. "The child demands much time. If it wasn't for our mothers' help, we would never be able to skate."
With the child-care help of both mothers, Gordeyeva and Grinkov were able to turn their attention to skating and wrapped up their second Olympic gold medal two weeks ago in Lillehammer by outskating their Russian rivals Natalya Mishkutenok and Artur Dmitriev, the 1992 Olympic gold medalists.
Although the second gold medal was an important accomplishment, Gordeyeva said the arrival of their daughter, Dasha, has changed everything for the couple.
"I have probably changed," said Gordeyeva, dressed in black tights and a gray Russian Penguins sweatshirt after their practice. "Now we have a daughter and are a complete family. We have done something for life."
The arrival of Dasha may actually have led the pair back to Olympic competition. After a grueling professional schedule, Gordeyeva's pregnancy was a welcome break from the tour.
"I had a good rest," she said.
But besides the needed break, many critics suggest that Gordeyeva's presentation on the ice has improved since giving birth.
"People say that since I have had the baby, I have become more feminine." Gordeyeva said.
The couple is a perfect match on the ice although at 181 centimeters (6 feet) Grinkov towers above the petite Gordeyeva, 156 centimeters (5 feet 2). They skated with the zest and strength of teenagers, receiving first place votes from eight of the nine Lillehammer judges.
Gordeyeva, 22, and Grinkov, 27, turned pro two years after winning their first Olympic gold medal in Calgary. After Brian Boitano of the United States campaigned to change the eligibility rules in 1992, professional skaters were given the go-ahead to compete in the Olympics.
The Russian couple decided to take advantage of the new rules and try to duplicate their first Olympic success.
"First of all, we returned because we love the sport and with the new rules we could go back and skate in the Olympics," said Gordeyeva. "Second, we are still young enough to compete with the other pairs."
If the British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who also returned to Olympic competition and are in their mid-30s, are any indication, then this young Russian pair still has many years left. Gordeyeva was only 16 when the couple won in Calgary six years ago and Grinkov was 21.
However, they are going back on the pro tour and are not going to compete in the world championships beginning March 22 in Makuari, Japan.
"We are not going to go to the world championships later this month because we only have a month to prepare for our shows in America and we still haven't recovered from the Olympics," said Gordeyeva.
But does that mean a third Olympic gold is out of the question?
"It is hard to say," said Gordeyeva. "But we probably won't compete in the next Olympics."
At the beginning of April, Gordeyeva and Grinkov and their daughter are going to the United States, where they have bought a home in Tampa Bay, Florida, to take part in the "Stars on Ice" tour which also features 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton of the United States, Paul Wylie, the American silver medalist in 1992, and Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 women's Olympic gold medal winner from the United States.
Lee-Gartner to Quit
n WHISTLER, British Columbia (Reuters) -- Former Olympic downhill champion Kerrin Lee-Gartner of Canada said she will retire from ski racing at conclusion of the World Cup season later this month, which ends is Vail, Colorado.
Lee-Gartner, the surprise winner from Calgary of the 1992 Olympic downhill in Albertville, France, made her tearful retirement announcement Thursday night ahead of the final downhill of her World Cup career on Sunday.
Shaken by the tragic death of good friend Ulrike Maier of Austria who was killed in a crash in a January race in Germany, Lee-Gartner, 27, briefly left the World Cup circuit to fly home and reevaluate the dangers of downhill racing.
"Now when I am skating, I am always thinking about Dasha," said Gordeyeva of her 17-month-old baby.
"It is very hard to balance the demands of being professionals with having a child," said Gordeyeva at a recent practice in Moscow. "The child demands much time. If it wasn't for our mothers' help, we would never be able to skate."
With the child-care help of both mothers, Gordeyeva and Grinkov were able to turn their attention to skating and wrapped up their second Olympic gold medal two weeks ago in Lillehammer by outskating their Russian rivals Natalya Mishkutenok and Artur Dmitriev, the 1992 Olympic gold medalists.
Although the second gold medal was an important accomplishment, Gordeyeva said the arrival of their daughter, Dasha, has changed everything for the couple.
"I have probably changed," said Gordeyeva, dressed in black tights and a gray Russian Penguins sweatshirt after their practice. "Now we have a daughter and are a complete family. We have done something for life."
The arrival of Dasha may actually have led the pair back to Olympic competition. After a grueling professional schedule, Gordeyeva's pregnancy was a welcome break from the tour.
"I had a good rest," she said.
But besides the needed break, many critics suggest that Gordeyeva's presentation on the ice has improved since giving birth.
"People say that since I have had the baby, I have become more feminine." Gordeyeva said.
The couple is a perfect match on the ice although at 181 centimeters (6 feet) Grinkov towers above the petite Gordeyeva, 156 centimeters (5 feet 2). They skated with the zest and strength of teenagers, receiving first place votes from eight of the nine Lillehammer judges.
Gordeyeva, 22, and Grinkov, 27, turned pro two years after winning their first Olympic gold medal in Calgary. After Brian Boitano of the United States campaigned to change the eligibility rules in 1992, professional skaters were given the go-ahead to compete in the Olympics.
The Russian couple decided to take advantage of the new rules and try to duplicate their first Olympic success.
"First of all, we returned because we love the sport and with the new rules we could go back and skate in the Olympics," said Gordeyeva. "Second, we are still young enough to compete with the other pairs."
If the British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who also returned to Olympic competition and are in their mid-30s, are any indication, then this young Russian pair still has many years left. Gordeyeva was only 16 when the couple won in Calgary six years ago and Grinkov was 21.
However, they are going back on the pro tour and are not going to compete in the world championships beginning March 22 in Makuari, Japan.
"We are not going to go to the world championships later this month because we only have a month to prepare for our shows in America and we still haven't recovered from the Olympics," said Gordeyeva.
But does that mean a third Olympic gold is out of the question?
"It is hard to say," said Gordeyeva. "But we probably won't compete in the next Olympics."
At the beginning of April, Gordeyeva and Grinkov and their daughter are going to the United States, where they have bought a home in Tampa Bay, Florida, to take part in the "Stars on Ice" tour which also features 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton of the United States, Paul Wylie, the American silver medalist in 1992, and Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 women's Olympic gold medal winner from the United States.
Lee-Gartner to Quit
n WHISTLER, British Columbia (Reuters) -- Former Olympic downhill champion Kerrin Lee-Gartner of Canada said she will retire from ski racing at conclusion of the World Cup season later this month, which ends is Vail, Colorado.
Lee-Gartner, the surprise winner from Calgary of the 1992 Olympic downhill in Albertville, France, made her tearful retirement announcement Thursday night ahead of the final downhill of her World Cup career on Sunday.
Shaken by the tragic death of good friend Ulrike Maier of Austria who was killed in a crash in a January race in Germany, Lee-Gartner, 27, briefly left the World Cup circuit to fly home and reevaluate the dangers of downhill racing.
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