Ekaterina Gordeeva, a renowned Russian figure skater, was born in 1971 with a passion that would defy her father's expectations. Initially intended to pursue a career in ballet, she discovered her true calling on the ice at the tender age of four, thanks to a family friend's white lie. This serendipitous start led her to partner with Sergei Grinkov at the age of 11, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.
Their junior world championship win in 1986 sparked a romance that would blossom over the years. The following year, they claimed the World Championships title, cementing their status as a formidable duo. As they prepared for the 1988 Winter Olympics, a fateful incident occurred when Sergei slipped on the ice, causing Katia to suffer a head injury. Upon her return to training, she sensed a shift in Sergei's feelings towards her.
At 16, Katia skated her way to Olympic gold, and by 1990, they had turned professional. Their love had grown stronger, and they became a couple. Sergei proposed to Katia in 1991, and she accepted without hesitation. Their daughter, Daria, was born in September 1992. When professionals were allowed to return to the Olympics in 1994, they seized the opportunity, claiming another gold medal.
Tragedy struck on November 20, 1995, when Sergei passed away suddenly due to a heart attack while rehearsing a new program with Katia. The following year, she paid tribute to her late partner in the performance "Sergei Grinkov: Celebration of a Life" (1996). In 1999, she began dating Ilia Kulik, the 1998 men's Olympic champion, and they married on June 10, 2002. Katia gave birth to their second daughter on June 15, 2001.
