Anton Sikharulidze
Encyclopedia
Anton Tarielyevich Sikharulidze is a Russia
n pair skater
. With Elena Berezhnaya, he is the 1998 and 1999 World champion
, 1998 Olympic silver medalist
and 2002 Olympic champion
.
His first partner was Maria Petrova
, with whom he became the 1994 and 1995 World Junior Champion
. He teamed with Berezhnaya in 1996 after helping her recovery from an accident with her previous partner.
Within two years of the accident, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had established themselves as one of the best pair teams in the world. They were noted for their lyrical, flowing and elegant style, which they combined with strong athleticism, including outstanding speed, unison, and big elements. During their career together, they were coached by Tamara Moskvina
primarily at the Yubileyny Sports Palace
in Saint Petersburg
, Russia. They also trained at the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey
, during which time Sikharulidze lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey
. Their Olympic gold medals are shared with Canadian pair Jamie Salé
and David Pelletier
.
, Sikharulidze was the 1994 and 1995 World Junior Champion
and placed as high as sixth at the World Figure Skating Championships
. They trained under Ludmila Velikova and Nikolai Velikov
at the Yubileyny Sports Palace
in Saint Peterburg, Russia.
arrived from Riga
to train under Tamara Moskvina
at the same rink. Sikharulidze quickly developed a close friendship with Berezhnaya. Shliakhov perceived Sikharulidze as his rival to become her partner. Soon after this, Shliakhov and Berezhnaya returned to Riga to train.
In January 1996, Berezhnaya was seriously injured when Shliakhov's blade sliced into her skull while the pair were practicing a side-by-side camel spin
in Riga, Latvia, causing partial paralysis on her right side and loss of speech. During her hospitalization, Sikharulidze heard of the news, and traveled to Latvia to be with her, joining Moskvina. Berezhnaya was surprised and overjoyed to see him, but unable to speak or move. Sikharulidze took her back to Saint Petersburg, Russia where she could begin her rehabilitation. She stayed at his parents' small apartment, sharing a room with him and his sister, Marina. She was grateful for his support, saying she was "skinny, shaved, half-alive, almost a skeleton, and Anton so tenderly cared about me. Perhaps it was his belief in me that helped me recover so quickly.
Berezhnaya wished to return to the ice and doctors agreed that physical exercise would be therapeutic. On 15 March 1996, only two months after the accident, she began skating carefully with Sikharulidze's help and Moskvina observing. Tamara Moskvina
was immediately captivated by the pairing, "They're a natural pair. They've got it – something magical."
Sikharulidze had split from Petrova due to his desire to work with Moskvina while Petrova preferred to remain with their old coaches. With Berezhnaya's condition improving, the two began to consider the possibility of a competitive career together. She had made a nearly full recovery, although her speech remained slurred, leading her to take speech therapy. In the fall of 1996, the pair entered two Grand Prix events, winning their first medal together, a bronze, at Trophée Lalique. In early 1997, the pair won the bronze medal at the European Championships, a rare feat for a pair in their first season together, and even more stunning given her injury less than a year ago. At their next competition, the 1997 World Figure Skating Championships
, they were in third after the short program, but fell to ninth after the worst free skate performance of their career.
with his new partner Oksana Kazakova
, and the reigning World Champions Mandy Wötzel
and Ingo Steuer
. At only 20 and 21 years of age respectively, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had established themselves as gold-medal favorites going into the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan
. Observers were impressed at how rapidly they had become a force, with most teams requiring more years to become attuned as a pair. Time
called their story "the miracle on ice". Their skating drew comparisons to the two-time Olympic Champions Ekaterina Gordeeva
and Sergei Grinkov
. Gordeeva selected Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze as her and Grinkov's skating doubles in a documentary on the legendary team after her husband's death.
In the short program, the pair had one fall but performed the other elements with high quality. In the long, they put themselves back in contention for the gold medal with a strong performance, until five seconds from the end when they had a surprising fall as Sikharulidze set her down from a closing star lift. Although disappointed by suddenly giving away their chance at the gold so close to the end of the program, Sikharulidze recovered from his shock and joked, "It's a new finish. If you don't like it, we'll change it, no problem." They won the silver medal behind Oksana Kazakova
and Artur Dmitriev
and ahead of Mandy Wötzel
and Ingo Steuer
of Germany
.
closed for renovations, so they moved to Hackensack, New Jersey
. They trained alongside the American pair of Kyoko Ina
and John Zimmerman whom Moskvina had agreed to coach, with the two teams being friendly rivals.
In 2000, after the pair won the 2000 European Figure Skating Championships
, Berezhnaya tested positive for pseudoephedrine
, a substance whose ban was lifted between 2004 and 2010. This resulted in a three-month disqualification from the date of the test, and the medal being stripped. She had taken only a simple cold medication approved by a doctor but had failed to inform the ISU as required. Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze missed the World Championships that year as a result of the disqualification.
In the 2001-2002 season, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze developed a rivalry with Canadians Jamie Salé
and David Pelletier
. Throughout the season, both pairs had traded first and second place at most of the major competitions, and they figured to be the main contenders for the Olympic gold medal. The New York Times
speculated that the judging might be influenced by the crowd response, with the familiar music of Love Story having more potential to draw louder applause in North America and the judges not being immune to human reactions.
in Salt Lake City, both pairs skated strong short programs, after which Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze were in 1st and Sale and Pelletier, who had a fall at the end of their program, 2nd. In the long program, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze skated a good program, but Sikharulidze made a minor (but obvious) mistake by stepping out of a double axel. Sale and Pelletier, meanwhile, had no obvious mistakes. Four judges placed the Canadians first, while five had Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze as the winners. Sale and Pelletier received higher technical scores, but Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had superior artistic marks. At the time, artistic impression was weighted more than technical merit. Some observers pointed out that Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had performed a more challenging program with difficult interweaving moves and transitions. At the end of the night, they were awarded the gold and the Canadians the silver.
The result sparked a controversy. The president of the International Skating Union
, Ottavio Cinquanta
, under extreme pressure from the International Olympic Committee
as well as the Canadian and American media, immediately launched an investigation into a possible judging scandal. The focus immediately turned to French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne
, the only Western judge in favor of the Russian pair. Under intense pressure herself from a media heavily in favor of Sale and Pelletier, she stated that she had been intimidated into voting for the Russian pair in exchange for an advantage for the French couple in the ice dancing
competition, which was to follow a few days later. The scandal resulted in a second gold medal being awarded to the Canadian pair, and the IOC and ISU decided to declare both pairs as Olympic co-champions. When the media furore faded, Le Gougne rescinded her earlier statement and declared she had voted according to her honest assessment of the performances but had been pressured by the media to say otherwise. Leading up to the pairs final, NBC had heavily promoted the chances of the Canadian pair finally breaking the decades-long Russian/Soviet dominance of the pairs event.
Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze turned pro after the Olympics, deciding not to compete at the 2002 World Championships.
Sikharulidze was known for his sense of humor. In 1998, after a fall during the final moments of their long program, he joked that it was "their new landing position." During the judging controversy, Sikharulidze's humorous comments did much to defuse a tense situation. He was gracious about the double-gold decision, saying, "Two great countries, two great pairs." Later on, he acknowledged that the controversy brought them more attention than they would have gotten without any scandal.
in the United States, then returned to Russia. He makes occasional appearances in Russian ice shows. In 2006, he competed in a Channel One (Russia)
show Stars on Ice (Russian: Звёзды на льду), partnered with Natalia Ionova
(later replaced by Yulia Barsukova
due to injury). In 2007, he skated in the Channel One show Ice Age (Russian: Ледниковый период), partnered with Anastasia Volochkova
. In 2010, he joined another edition of Ice Age, teaming up with Zara
.
. In 2007, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg. On 2 December 2007, he was elected to the State Duma
. He is the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for Physical Culture and Sport.
In 2010 he registered as a candidate for the presidency of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia
, but withdrew after the constitution was altered, stating that the changes left the president as nothing more than a figurehead.
to Berezhnaya's son. In August 2011, Sikharulidze and Yana Lebedeva, daughter of Leonid Lebedev, confirmed their engagement. They were married in October 2011 in Barcelona.
*Won the gold but disqualified due to Berezhnaya testing positive for pseudoephedrine
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n pair skater
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
. With Elena Berezhnaya, he is the 1998 and 1999 World champion
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
, 1998 Olympic silver medalist
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
and 2002 Olympic champion
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
.
His first partner was Maria Petrova
Maria Petrova (figure skater)
Maria Igorevna Petrova is a Russian pair skater. With partner Alexei Tikhonov, she is the 2000 World Champion and the 1999 & 2000 European Champion.- Career :...
, with whom he became the 1994 and 1995 World Junior Champion
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
. He teamed with Berezhnaya in 1996 after helping her recovery from an accident with her previous partner.
Within two years of the accident, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had established themselves as one of the best pair teams in the world. They were noted for their lyrical, flowing and elegant style, which they combined with strong athleticism, including outstanding speed, unison, and big elements. During their career together, they were coached by Tamara Moskvina
Tamara Moskvina
Tamara Nikolayevna Moskvina , née Bratus is a Russian pair skating coach and former competitive skater. In pair skating with partner Alexei Mishin, she was the 1969 World silver medalist and Soviet national champion. In ladies singles, she was a five-time Soviet national champion...
primarily at the Yubileyny Sports Palace
Yubileyny Sports Palace
Yubileyny Sports Palace , also translated as Yubileiny Palace of Sports, is an indoor sports arena and concert complex located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It houses 7,012 seats for ice hockey and up to 7,700 seats for basketball. It is accessible from the Sportivnaya metro station...
in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia. They also trained at the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, during which time Sikharulidze lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
. Their Olympic gold medals are shared with Canadian pair Jamie Salé
Jamie Salé
Jamie Rae Salé is a Canadian pair skater. With partner David Pelletier, she is a 2002 Olympic Champion and the 2001 World Champion. Salé & Pelletier's Olympic gold medal was shared with the Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating...
and David Pelletier
David Pelletier
David Jacques Pelletier is a Canadian pairs figure skater. With his partner Jamie Salé, he was the co-gold medal winner at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games...
.
Early career
Sikharulidze was born in Saint Petersburg. After seeing a neighbor's boy with skates, he asked his parents for the same. At the age of 15, with skating taking up a lot of his time and limiting his personal life, he considered leaving the sport but his father encouraged him to persevere. With Maria PetrovaMaria Petrova (figure skater)
Maria Igorevna Petrova is a Russian pair skater. With partner Alexei Tikhonov, she is the 2000 World Champion and the 1999 & 2000 European Champion.- Career :...
, Sikharulidze was the 1994 and 1995 World Junior Champion
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
and placed as high as sixth at the World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
. They trained under Ludmila Velikova and Nikolai Velikov
Ludmila Velikova and Nikolai Velikov
Ludmila Georgiyevna Velikova is a Russian pair skating coach.Ludmila Sinitsina, now known as Velikova, competed with her now-husband Nikolai Velikov, placing fifth at the Soviet Championships...
at the Yubileyny Sports Palace
Yubileyny Sports Palace
Yubileyny Sports Palace , also translated as Yubileiny Palace of Sports, is an indoor sports arena and concert complex located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It houses 7,012 seats for ice hockey and up to 7,700 seats for basketball. It is accessible from the Sportivnaya metro station...
in Saint Peterburg, Russia.
Partnership with Elena Berezhnaya
At the end of 1995, Elena Berezhnaya and Oleg ShliakhovOleg Shliakhov
Oleg Shliakhov is a Latvian pair skater. He competed with Elena Berezhnaya from 1992 to 1996. They enjoyed some success, placing eighth at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Their partnership ended after a side-by-side camel spin went bad and Shliakhov's blade cut into Berezhnaya's head...
arrived from Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
to train under Tamara Moskvina
Tamara Moskvina
Tamara Nikolayevna Moskvina , née Bratus is a Russian pair skating coach and former competitive skater. In pair skating with partner Alexei Mishin, she was the 1969 World silver medalist and Soviet national champion. In ladies singles, she was a five-time Soviet national champion...
at the same rink. Sikharulidze quickly developed a close friendship with Berezhnaya. Shliakhov perceived Sikharulidze as his rival to become her partner. Soon after this, Shliakhov and Berezhnaya returned to Riga to train.
In January 1996, Berezhnaya was seriously injured when Shliakhov's blade sliced into her skull while the pair were practicing a side-by-side camel spin
Camel spin
A camel spin, also known in Europe as a parallel spin, is one of the three basic figure skating spins, along with the sit spin and upright spin...
in Riga, Latvia, causing partial paralysis on her right side and loss of speech. During her hospitalization, Sikharulidze heard of the news, and traveled to Latvia to be with her, joining Moskvina. Berezhnaya was surprised and overjoyed to see him, but unable to speak or move. Sikharulidze took her back to Saint Petersburg, Russia where she could begin her rehabilitation. She stayed at his parents' small apartment, sharing a room with him and his sister, Marina. She was grateful for his support, saying she was "skinny, shaved, half-alive, almost a skeleton, and Anton so tenderly cared about me. Perhaps it was his belief in me that helped me recover so quickly.
Berezhnaya wished to return to the ice and doctors agreed that physical exercise would be therapeutic. On 15 March 1996, only two months after the accident, she began skating carefully with Sikharulidze's help and Moskvina observing. Tamara Moskvina
Tamara Moskvina
Tamara Nikolayevna Moskvina , née Bratus is a Russian pair skating coach and former competitive skater. In pair skating with partner Alexei Mishin, she was the 1969 World silver medalist and Soviet national champion. In ladies singles, she was a five-time Soviet national champion...
was immediately captivated by the pairing, "They're a natural pair. They've got it – something magical."
Sikharulidze had split from Petrova due to his desire to work with Moskvina while Petrova preferred to remain with their old coaches. With Berezhnaya's condition improving, the two began to consider the possibility of a competitive career together. She had made a nearly full recovery, although her speech remained slurred, leading her to take speech therapy. In the fall of 1996, the pair entered two Grand Prix events, winning their first medal together, a bronze, at Trophée Lalique. In early 1997, the pair won the bronze medal at the European Championships, a rare feat for a pair in their first season together, and even more stunning given her injury less than a year ago. At their next competition, the 1997 World Figure Skating Championships
1997 World Figure Skating Championships
The 1997 World Figure Skating Championships were the World Figure Skating Championships of the 1996-1997 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from ISU Member Nations competed for the title of World Champion. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating,...
, they were in third after the short program, but fell to ninth after the worst free skate performance of their career.
1998 Olympic season
The next season, they won the European Championship, defeating 1992 Olympic champion Artur DmitrievArtur Dmitriev
Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic Champion with Natalia Mishkutenok and Oksana Kazakova in 1992 and 1998 respectively, and also won Olympic silver in 1994...
with his new partner Oksana Kazakova
Oksana Kazakova
Oksana Borisovna Kazakova is a retired Russian pair skater. With partner Artur Dmitriev, she is the 1998 Olympic champion and 1996 European Champion.-Biography:Kazakova began skating at age 4....
, and the reigning World Champions Mandy Wötzel
Mandy Wötzel
Mandy Wötzel is a German pair skater who represented East Germany and later Germany in international competition. With partner Ingo Steuer, she is the 1998 Olympic bronze medalist.- Biography :...
and Ingo Steuer
Ingo Steuer
Ingo Steuer is a German pair skater and skating coach.With partner Mandy Wötzel, he was the 1998 Olympic bronze medalist the 1997 World champion, the 1995 European champion, and a four-time German national champion...
. At only 20 and 21 years of age respectively, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had established themselves as gold-medal favorites going into the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Observers were impressed at how rapidly they had become a force, with most teams requiring more years to become attuned as a pair. Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
called their story "the miracle on ice". Their skating drew comparisons to the two-time Olympic Champions Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating...
and Sergei Grinkov
Sergei Grinkov
Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov was a Russian pair skater. Together with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva, he was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion.-Biography:...
. Gordeeva selected Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze as her and Grinkov's skating doubles in a documentary on the legendary team after her husband's death.
In the short program, the pair had one fall but performed the other elements with high quality. In the long, they put themselves back in contention for the gold medal with a strong performance, until five seconds from the end when they had a surprising fall as Sikharulidze set her down from a closing star lift. Although disappointed by suddenly giving away their chance at the gold so close to the end of the program, Sikharulidze recovered from his shock and joked, "It's a new finish. If you don't like it, we'll change it, no problem." They won the silver medal behind Oksana Kazakova
Oksana Kazakova
Oksana Borisovna Kazakova is a retired Russian pair skater. With partner Artur Dmitriev, she is the 1998 Olympic champion and 1996 European Champion.-Biography:Kazakova began skating at age 4....
and Artur Dmitriev
Artur Dmitriev
Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic Champion with Natalia Mishkutenok and Oksana Kazakova in 1992 and 1998 respectively, and also won Olympic silver in 1994...
and ahead of Mandy Wötzel
Mandy Wötzel
Mandy Wötzel is a German pair skater who represented East Germany and later Germany in international competition. With partner Ingo Steuer, she is the 1998 Olympic bronze medalist.- Biography :...
and Ingo Steuer
Ingo Steuer
Ingo Steuer is a German pair skater and skating coach.With partner Mandy Wötzel, he was the 1998 Olympic bronze medalist the 1997 World champion, the 1995 European champion, and a four-time German national champion...
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Post-1998 Olympics
Over the next four years, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze established themselves as one of the top teams in the world, twice winning the World Championships in 1998 and 1999. In 1999, their main training rink Yubileyny Sports PalaceYubileyny Sports Palace
Yubileyny Sports Palace , also translated as Yubileiny Palace of Sports, is an indoor sports arena and concert complex located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It houses 7,012 seats for ice hockey and up to 7,700 seats for basketball. It is accessible from the Sportivnaya metro station...
closed for renovations, so they moved to Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
. They trained alongside the American pair of Kyoko Ina
Kyoko Ina
is a Japanese-American figure skater. With partner John Zimmerman, she is a three-time U.S. national champion and 2002 Olympian. With partner Jason Dungjen, she was a two-time U.S. Champion and a 1994 & 1998 Olympian.- Life and career :...
and John Zimmerman whom Moskvina had agreed to coach, with the two teams being friendly rivals.
In 2000, after the pair won the 2000 European Figure Skating Championships
2000 European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion. Skaters compete in the categories of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing....
, Berezhnaya tested positive for pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It is used as a nasal/sinus decongestant and stimulant, or as a wakefulness-promoting agent....
, a substance whose ban was lifted between 2004 and 2010. This resulted in a three-month disqualification from the date of the test, and the medal being stripped. She had taken only a simple cold medication approved by a doctor but had failed to inform the ISU as required. Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze missed the World Championships that year as a result of the disqualification.
In the 2001-2002 season, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze developed a rivalry with Canadians Jamie Salé
Jamie Salé
Jamie Rae Salé is a Canadian pair skater. With partner David Pelletier, she is a 2002 Olympic Champion and the 2001 World Champion. Salé & Pelletier's Olympic gold medal was shared with the Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating...
and David Pelletier
David Pelletier
David Jacques Pelletier is a Canadian pairs figure skater. With his partner Jamie Salé, he was the co-gold medal winner at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games...
. Throughout the season, both pairs had traded first and second place at most of the major competitions, and they figured to be the main contenders for the Olympic gold medal. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
speculated that the judging might be influenced by the crowd response, with the familiar music of Love Story having more potential to draw louder applause in North America and the judges not being immune to human reactions.
2002 Olympics
At the 2002 Winter Olympics2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, both pairs skated strong short programs, after which Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze were in 1st and Sale and Pelletier, who had a fall at the end of their program, 2nd. In the long program, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze skated a good program, but Sikharulidze made a minor (but obvious) mistake by stepping out of a double axel. Sale and Pelletier, meanwhile, had no obvious mistakes. Four judges placed the Canadians first, while five had Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze as the winners. Sale and Pelletier received higher technical scores, but Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had superior artistic marks. At the time, artistic impression was weighted more than technical merit. Some observers pointed out that Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze had performed a more challenging program with difficult interweaving moves and transitions. At the end of the night, they were awarded the gold and the Canadians the silver.
The result sparked a controversy. The president of the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
, Ottavio Cinquanta
Ottavio Cinquanta
Ottavio Cinquanta , is currently President of the International Skating Union and a member of the International Olympic Committee.He has held the ISU position since 1994 and the IOC position since 1996....
, under extreme pressure from the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
as well as the Canadian and American media, immediately launched an investigation into a possible judging scandal. The focus immediately turned to French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne
Marie-Reine Le Gougne
Marie-Reine Le Gougne, often known simply as "the French Judge", was a central figure in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal.-Early life:...
, the only Western judge in favor of the Russian pair. Under intense pressure herself from a media heavily in favor of Sale and Pelletier, she stated that she had been intimidated into voting for the Russian pair in exchange for an advantage for the French couple in the ice dancing
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
competition, which was to follow a few days later. The scandal resulted in a second gold medal being awarded to the Canadian pair, and the IOC and ISU decided to declare both pairs as Olympic co-champions. When the media furore faded, Le Gougne rescinded her earlier statement and declared she had voted according to her honest assessment of the performances but had been pressured by the media to say otherwise. Leading up to the pairs final, NBC had heavily promoted the chances of the Canadian pair finally breaking the decades-long Russian/Soviet dominance of the pairs event.
Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze turned pro after the Olympics, deciding not to compete at the 2002 World Championships.
Sikharulidze was known for his sense of humor. In 1998, after a fall during the final moments of their long program, he joked that it was "their new landing position." During the judging controversy, Sikharulidze's humorous comments did much to defuse a tense situation. He was gracious about the double-gold decision, saying, "Two great countries, two great pairs." Later on, he acknowledged that the controversy brought them more attention than they would have gotten without any scandal.
Later skating career
From 2002-2006, he and Berezhnaya skated with Stars on IceStars on Ice
Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets...
in the United States, then returned to Russia. He makes occasional appearances in Russian ice shows. In 2006, he competed in a Channel One (Russia)
Channel One (Russia)
Channel One is the first television channel to broadcast in the Soviet Union. The channel was renamed Ostankino Channel 1 in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke up and the Russian SFSR became the Russian Federation. According to a recent government publication, the Russian government controls 51%...
show Stars on Ice (Russian: Звёзды на льду), partnered with Natalia Ionova
Glukoza
Natalia Ilinichna Ionova , better known under her artist name Glukoza is a Russian singer and solo artist.-Biography:Ionova was born on June 7, 1986, in Syzran, the Volga Region of Russia. Her mother and father were both computer programmers, and her elder sister is a pastry chef.As a child, her...
(later replaced by Yulia Barsukova
Yulia Barsukova
Yulia Vladimirovna Barsukova is Individual Rhythmic Gymnast. She is the 2000 Olympic Champion in the All-Around.-Biography:At age five, she began figure skating in the Izmaylovo District of Moscow where she lived. One day, when she was eight years old, she was passing a sports club, and in the...
due to injury). In 2007, he skated in the Channel One show Ice Age (Russian: Ледниковый период), partnered with Anastasia Volochkova
Anastasia Volochkova
-Background:Volochkova was born into a middle class family in Saint Petersburg. Her father was a table tennis champion and coach, and her mother was a tour guide. Volochkova has been married once, and she has a daughter, Ariadna, born in 2005...
. In 2010, he joined another edition of Ice Age, teaming up with Zara
Zara (singer)
"Zara" Pashaevna Mgoyan was born on July 26, 1983, in Otradnoye, Leningrad Oblast, USSR. Zara is a Russian pop singer and actress. In 2004 she married Sergei Matvienko, the son of Saint Petersburg governor Valentina Matvienko. They divorced a year later.Zara is from Armenia and is of ethnic...
.
Political career
In 2006, he became a member of the political party United RussiaUnited Russia
United Russia is a centrist political party in Russia and the largest party in the country, currently holding 315 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party was founded in December 2001, through a merger of the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia parties...
. In 2007, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg. On 2 December 2007, he was elected to the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
. He is the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for Physical Culture and Sport.
In 2010 he registered as a candidate for the presidency of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia
Figure Skating Federation of Russia
Figure Skating Federation of Russia is the national sport governing body for figure skating in Russia. It is recognized as such by Russian Olympic Committee and by the International Skating Union . No individual membership exists, the members of the FFKK are in various ice sports associations...
, but withdrew after the constitution was altered, stating that the changes left the president as nothing more than a figurehead.
Personal life
His sister, Marina, is an economist, and his brother, Alexander, is a businessman. He and Berezhnaya had an on-and-off romantic relationship between 1996 and 2002; they remain close friends. In August 2010, Sikharulidze became the godfatherGodparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to Berezhnaya's son. In August 2011, Sikharulidze and Yana Lebedeva, daughter of Leonid Lebedev, confirmed their engagement. They were married in October 2011 in Barcelona.
Eligible career
| Season | Short program | Long program | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2002 | Lady Caliph:
|
Thaïs Thaïs was a famous Greek hetaera who lived during the time of Alexander the Great and accompanied him on his campaigns. She is most famous for instigating the burning of Persepolis. At the time, Thaïs was the lover of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander's generals... by Jules Massenet Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, Massenet's style went out of fashion, and many of his operas... performed by Nigel Kennedy and Orchestra |
The Kid The Kid (1921 film) The Kid is a 1921 American silent dramedy film written by, produced by, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, and features Jackie Coogan as his adopted son and sidekick. This was Chaplin's first full-length movie... : Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I... film soundtracks |
| 2000–2001 |
Polyushko Pole Polyushka Polye is a Soviet Russian-language song.Polye means "field" in Russian, "polyushko" is a diminutive/hypocoristic form for "polye".- Soviet arrangements :... arranged by Stanley Black performed by the London Festival Orchestra |
City Lights City Lights City Lights is a 1931 American silent film and romantic comedy-drama written by, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. It also has the leads Virginia Cherrill and Harry Myers. Although "talking" pictures were on the rise since 1928, City Lights was immediately popular. Today, it is thought of... : performed by Catherine Wilson and Friends from the album Classical Potpourri performed by the London Pops Orchestra from the album Award Winning Movie Themes: The 50's |
Smooth:
by Santana Santana (band) Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill... Smooth (song) "Smooth" is a collaboration between latin rock band Santana and Rob Thomas of the rock group Matchbox Twenty. The song was written by Thomas and Itaal Shur, sung by Thomas, and won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.-Concept... by Santana Santana (band) Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill... and Rob Thomas Rob Thomas (musician) Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist... |
| 1999–2000 |
Radetzky March Radetzky March, Op. 228, is a march composed by Johann Strauss Sr. in 1848. It was dedicated to the Austrian Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, and became quite a popular march among soldiers.... by Johann Strauss I Johann Strauss I Johann Strauss I , born in Vienna, was an Austrian Romantic composer famous for his waltzes, and for popularizing them alongside Joseph Lanner, thereby setting the foundations for his sons to carry on his musical dynasty... |
(Sentimental Waltz) Six Morceaux for piano, Op. 51, No. 6 (1882) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"... The Umbrellas of Cherbourg:
|
sung by Brian Setzer Brian Setzer Brian Setzer is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He first found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly revival group The Stray Cats, and revitalized his career in the late 1990s with a jazz-oriented big band.-Career:Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York... and Gwen Stefani Gwen Stefani Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
|
| 1998–1999 |
performed by Vanessa-Mae Vanessa-Mae Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson , known professionally as Vanessa-Mae , is an internationally known British violinist. Her music style is self-described as "violin techno-acoustic fusion", as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style... |
Concerto for Coloratura:
Andante from the Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra, opus 82 written by Reinhold Glière Reinhold Glière Reinhold Moritzevich Glière was a Russian and Soviet composer of German–Polish descent.- Biography :Glière was born in Kiev, Ukraine... performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and Evgenia Miroshnichenko |
The Impossible Dream (The Quest) "The Impossible Dream " is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. It was written for the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha... performed by Luther Vandross Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times... |
| 1997–1998 |
Swan Lake Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger... Opus 20, Scène by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"... |
Dark Eyes (song) Dark Eyes is a Russian song.The lyrics of the song were written by a Ukrainian poet and writer Yevhen Hrebinka. The first publication of the poem was in Literaturnaya gazeta on 17 January 1843.... performed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra |
(Live at Red Rocks) by John Tesh John Tesh John Frank Tesh is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. His 10-year-old 'Intelligence for Your Life Radio Show' reaches 14.2 Million listeners/week, and is syndicated by Teshmedia on 400 stations in US, Canada, and the UK... |
| 1996–1997 |
Seid umschlungen, Millionen! Seid umschlungen, Millionen! , opus 443, is a waltz composed by Johann Strauss II. It was first performed at the Great Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna in March 1892. The title of the waltz was borrowed from Friedrich Schiller's Ode an die Freude . The composition was dedicated to Strauss' close... by Johann Strauss II Johann Strauss II Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas... |
Dark Eyes (song) Dark Eyes is a Russian song.The lyrics of the song were written by a Ukrainian poet and writer Yevhen Hrebinka. The first publication of the poem was in Literaturnaya gazeta on 17 January 1843.... performed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra |
from Cinq Morceaux de fantasie, op. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music... performed by the Bekova Sisters |
Professional career
| Season | Programs |
|---|---|
| 2005–2006 |
|
| 2004–2005 |
by Ray Charles Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
|
| 2003–2004 |
by Josh Groban Josh Groban Joshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...
|
| 2002–2003 | After Hours at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Marie Tussaud Anna Maria Tussaud was an artist known for her wax sculptures and Madame Tussaud's, the wax museum she founded in London.- Biography :... (Elvis & Marilyn): by Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".... by Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s.... by Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".... |
Other
With Maria Petrova| Season | Short program | Long program | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1995 |
|
||
| 1995–1996 |
Swan Lake Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger... by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"... |
The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of Baroque music. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season... by Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe... |
With Berezhnaya
| Event | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–00 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
2nd | 1st | ||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
9th | 1st | 1st | 2nd | ||
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
3rd | 1st | WD | DQ* | 1st | |
| Russian Championships Russian Figure Skating Championships The Russian Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Russia. Skaters compete at the senior level in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.The first Russian national... |
2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Grand Prix Final | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | |
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
1st | 3rd | ||||
| Skate Canada Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
1st | 2nd | ||||
| Nations Cup Bofrost Cup on Ice The Bofrost Cup on Ice was a figure skating competition held in Germany between 1986 and 2004. It was part of the Grand Prix series until 2003, when it was replaced by Cup of China. Following being booted out of the Grand Prix series, a new form of competition was introduced to the Bofrost Cup... |
2nd | |||||
| Trophée Lalique | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| Cup of Russia Cup of Russia The Cup of Russia is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. It was held as the Rostelecom Cup in 2009 after... |
5th | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
1st | |||||
With Petrova
| Event | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
8th | 6th | ||
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
2nd | 1st | 1st | |
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
6th | 5th | ||
| Russian Championships Russian Figure Skating Championships The Russian Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Russia. Skaters compete at the senior level in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.The first Russian national... |
6th | 2nd | 4th | |
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
2nd | |||
| Trophée Lalique Trophée Eric Bompard The Trophée Eric Bompard is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The Trophée Eric Bompard was formerly known as the Trophée Lalique... |
5th | |||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
7th |
External links
- Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze at pairsonice.net
- Maria Petrova and Anton Sikharulidze profile at pairsonice.net