Ekaterina Gordeeva

Early life and the formation of a partnership

Ekaterina Alexandrovna Gordeeva was born in Moscow on 28 May 1971 to Alexander Alexeyevich Gordeev, a dancer for the Alexandrov Song and Dance Ensemble, and Elena Lvovna Gordeeva, a teletype operator for TASS. She has a younger sister, and her father worked with her on movement from a young age. Gordeeva began figure skating at age four at the Children and Youth Sports School of CSKA Moscow. Due to a lack of available small skates in the Soviet Union, she initially wore multiple pairs of socks inside boots many sizes too large. Recognized as not a particularly strong jumper, she was paired by coach Vladimir Zaharov in August 1981 with the fourteen-year-old Sergei Grinkov, who was four years her senior. The early partnership faced challenges as Grinkov frequently missed practice, prompting a coach to insist Gordeeva find a new partner. She refused, and the pair instead changed coaches to continue their work together, a decision that determined the course of their future careers.

Amateur dominance and Olympic triumphs

Gordeeva and Grinkov's competitive ascent was rapid. They won the 1985 World Junior Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The following year, they captured their first senior World Championship title in Geneva, defeating the defending champions. They are one of the few pair teams to win back-to-back junior and senior world titles. They defended their world crown again in 1987. That November, a serious practice accident occurred when Grinkov caught a blade and dropped Gordeeva on her forehead, requiring hospitalization. She recovered in time for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, where they won the gold medal, becoming the youngest pairs team ever to do so. After a fall in their long program led to a silver at the 1988 World Championships, they reclaimed the world title in both 1989 and 1990. Their technical prowess included being one of the few pairs to successfully complete a quadruple twist lift in international competition, which they landed at the 1987 World and European Championships. They stopped performing the element as it offered no significant scoring advantage and caused Gordeeva's heart rate to exceed two hundred beats per minute, alarming team doctors.

Their romantic relationship began around 1989, with their first kiss on New Year's Eve 1988. They were married in a civil ceremony on 20 April 1991, followed by a church wedding on 28 April. Their daughter, Daria Sergeyevna Grinkova, was born on 11 September 1992 in Morristown, New Jersey. After turning professional in late 1990 and winning World Professional Championships, a new ISU rule allowed them to regain Olympic eligibility. They returned to amateur competition for the 1993-94 season and won their second Olympic gold medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Games. In their senior and professional careers, they entered 31 known competitions, finishing first 24 times and never lower than second after winning their first senior world title.

Professional career and the death of Sergei Grinkov

After their 1994 Olympic victory, Gordeeva and Grinkov returned to professional skating, moved to Simsbury, Connecticut, and headlined the Stars on Ice tour during the 1994-95 season. That year, Gordeeva was named one of People Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People,' and the couple was selected for induction into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. They planned to return for another Stars on Ice tour. On 20 November 1995, while rehearsing in Lake Placid, New York, Grinkov collapsed on the ice and died at age 28 from a massive heart attack. Doctors later discovered an undiagnosed congenital heart condition was the cause. The pair, often referred to simply as 'G&G,' were renowned for the exceptional quality of their basic skating, noted for moving so fluidly that their blades whispered rather than scratched the ice. Many consider them the greatest pair team in the sport's history.

Solo career and public performances

Gordeeva returned to the ice as a solo performer in February 1996. Her first performance was a tribute to Grinkov skated to the 'Adagietto' from Mahler's Symphony No. 5. It was first performed at a preview at the Minto Skating Club in Ottawa, Ontario, and then televised on 27 February 1996 in a special called 'Celebration of a Life.' She said she felt as if she skated with Sergei that night, feeling 'double strong.' In 1996, she authored the bestselling book My Sergei: A Love Story with E. M. Swift, which was adapted into a CBS docudrama in 1998. She published a second book, A Letter for Daria, in 1998. Gordeeva returned to Stars on Ice as a solo skater in 1996 and toured with the show annually until 2000, taking time off for the birth of her second daughter. She has returned as a guest star many times but never resumed full-time touring. As a professional competitor, she placed as high as second at the World Professional Championships in 1997 and stopped competing in 2000.

While not returning to pair skating full-time, she has performed pair elements in shows with various partners including Artur Dmitriev, Anton Sikharulidze, David Pelletier, and John Zimmerman. She secured endorsement deals, most notably with Target, which led to two perfumes, 'Katia' and 'Katia Sport.' She and her daughter Daria appeared in holiday television specials and a 'Got Milk' advertisement. Gordeeva was the subject of a Lenox figurine in 2001 and appeared in the 2003 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as a featured athlete. She has skated in duets with her daughter Daria since 2003 and with both her daughters in televised shows from 2005 onward.

Television appearances and recent exhibitions

Gordeeva has participated in several televised skating events and reality competitions. In 2007, she starred in 'Skate for the Heart' to raise awareness of heart disease, a cause she revisited in 2008, dedicating a performance to her father who died of a heart attack that year. During the 2008-09 season, she participated in the Russian reality show Ice Age, paired with actor Egor Beroev, and won the competition. In 2010, she was paired with hockey player Valeri Bure for the second season of the Canadian show Battle of the Blades, winning the finale on 22 November 2010. She rejoined Stars on Ice that same November for its 25th Anniversary Tour. Gordeeva continues to perform in figure skating exhibitions worldwide. Her scheduled appearances include the 2026 ISCC Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer Ice Show, and she is listed for an adult skating seminar and workshop in 2026. The 2025 to 2026 season marks her twelfth season as a solo skater on tours.

Coaching, choreography, and life in Canada

Beyond performing, Gordeeva has established herself as a coach and choreographer. She is currently a member of the coaching team at the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club in West Edmonton Mall, Alberta. This role involves training skaters at one of Canada's major facilities. Her connection to Canada deepened with her marriage to 2002 Olympic pairs champion David Pelletier on 25 July 2020. The couple resides in Edmonton. Her professional activities in Canada include conducting seminars, such as a year-end seminar in Okotoks, Alberta, and a scheduled adult workshop for 2026. In 2012, she and her former husband Ilia Kulik opened an ice rink and training centre called Kulik's Skating in Lake Forest, California, prior to their divorce in 2016.

Personal life and family details

Gordeeva's first marriage was to Sergei Grinkov, with whom she had daughter Daria in 1992. After Grinkov's death, her relationship with 1998 Olympic men's champion Ilia Kulik began. Their daughter, Elizaveta Ilinichna Kulik, was born on 15 June 2001. Gordeeva and Kulik married in a private ceremony in San Francisco on 10 June 2002. The family lived in California, moved to Avon, Connecticut in 2003, and returned to the Los Angeles area in 2007, residing in Newport Beach. They made televised appearances as a family on Kristi Yamaguchi's 'Friends and Family' shows from 2005 to 2007. The family spoke Russian at home and travelled frequently to Russia. Following her divorce from Kulik in 2016, Gordeeva married David Pelletier and moved to Edmonton. Her father, Alexander Gordeev, died of a heart attack in 2008.

Publications and literary works

Gordeeva's literary output provides a detailed account of her life and perspective. Her first book, My Sergei: A Love Story (1996), co-written with Sports Illustrated writer E. M. Swift, topped the New York Times Best Seller list. It includes personal and publicity photographs from her career. A made-for-television movie version aired in 1998, with Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze portraying the couple. A Russian language edition published in 1999 contained a foreword where Gordeeva revealed the book was written for an American audience, resulting in a narrative she described as a sentimental, tragic, and romantic story with a tendency to praise the West and underline imperfections of Russia. Her second book, A Letter for Daria (1998), is a children's book written as an autobiographical letter to her daughter, discussing childhood memories, skating, cultural differences, and family. It includes pictures from her personal collection.

Questions about Ekaterina Gordeeva

What happened to Sergei Grinkov?

Sergei Grinkov died suddenly on 20 November 1995, at the age of 28. He collapsed during a practice session in Lake Placid, New York, from a massive heart attack. It was later discovered he had an undiagnosed congenital heart condition that caused his death. His passing shocked the figure skating world and ended one of the sport's most celebrated partnerships.

Is Ekaterina Gordeeva still skating?

Yes, Ekaterina Gordeeva continues to skate in professional exhibitions and tours. She performs as a solo skater and has participated in recent events like the 2026 Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer ice show. She also returns as a guest star to tours like Stars on Ice and conducts skating seminars. Her 2025 to 2026 season includes performances and coaching commitments.

Who is Ekaterina Gordeeva married to now?

Ekaterina Gordeeva is currently married to Canadian figure skater David Pelletier, the 2002 Olympic pairs champion. They were married on 25 July 2020. The couple lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Gordeeva was previously married to Sergei Grinkov and, later, to Ilia Kulik, with whom she had her second daughter.

What does Ekaterina Gordeeva do in Canada?

In Canada, Ekaterina Gordeeva works as a figure skating coach. She is a member of the coaching team at the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club in West Edmonton Mall. She also conducts skating seminars and workshops across the country, such as an adult seminar scheduled for 2026. Her role involves training and developing skaters within the Canadian system.

Did Gordeeva and Grinkov have any children?

Yes, Gordeeva and Grinkov had one daughter together. Daria Sergeyevna Grinkova was born on 11 September 1992, in Morristown, New Jersey. Daria has occasionally skated with her mother in public performances and television specials. Gordeeva also has a second daughter, Elizaveta, from her marriage to Ilia Kulik.

How many Olympic gold medals did Ekaterina Gordeeva win?

Ekaterina Gordeeva won two Olympic gold medals, both in pairs skating with her partner and late husband Sergei Grinkov. Their first victory came at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and they successfully defended their title at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. This achievement made them one of the few pair teams to win two Olympic gold medals. Their decision to return to amateur competition for the 1994 Olympics came after a rule change allowed professional skaters to regain eligibility.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.