Elena Valova
Encyclopedia
Elena Aleksandrovna Valova is a Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union
. With partner Oleg Vasiliev
, she is the 1984 Olympic Champion
, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, and three-time World Champion (1983, 1985, 1988). Their coach throughout their career was Tamara Moskvina
.
Valova was born in Leningrad
, Russia
, to parents Alla Borisovna Valova and Aleksander Dmitrievich Valov. She began training at age seven under Tatiana and Alexei Mishin and Nina Monahova. She was chosen for pair skating by coach Tamara Moskvina
and was paired with Oleg Vasiliev
. Valova represented VSS Trud.
The pair enjoyed success throughout their career, winning gold at the 1984 Olympics
and silver in 1988
, as well as winning several world championship
titles. The competed in the amateur ranks from 1979 to 1988, and as professionals until 1998. They were the first Soviet skaters to skate in professional events after retiring from eligible competition.
Valova was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples
(1984).
She currently teaches skating at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. She coached Kylie Gleason
and Taylor Toth
, who were the 2002 U.S. Champions in Juvenile Pairs and the 2003 U.S. Champions in Intermediate pairs.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. With partner Oleg Vasiliev
Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev
Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev is a Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union. With partner Elena Valova, he is the 1984 Olympic Champion, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, and three-time World Champion . Their coach throughout their career was Tamara Moskvina...
, she is the 1984 Olympic Champion
Figure skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics
-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Donald H. GilchristAssistant Referee:* Tjasa AndréeJudges: Vladimir Amsel Gerhard Frey Monique Georgelin Ida Tateoka Ingrid Linke Björn Elwin Tatiana Danilenko Oskar Urban Margaret Berezowski Tsukasa Kimura -Ladies:Katarina Witt became the first lady to repeat as...
, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, and three-time World Champion (1983, 1985, 1988). Their coach throughout their career was 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...
.
Biography
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
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...
, to parents Alla Borisovna Valova and Aleksander Dmitrievich Valov. She began training at age seven under Tatiana and Alexei Mishin and Nina Monahova. She was chosen for pair skating by coach 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...
and was paired with Oleg Vasiliev
Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev
Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev is a Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union. With partner Elena Valova, he is the 1984 Olympic Champion, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, and three-time World Champion . Their coach throughout their career was Tamara Moskvina...
. Valova represented VSS Trud.
The pair enjoyed success throughout their career, winning gold at the 1984 Olympics
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
and silver in 1988
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
, as well as winning several world championship
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...
titles. The competed in the amateur ranks from 1979 to 1988, and as professionals until 1998. They were the first Soviet skaters to skate in professional events after retiring from eligible competition.
Valova was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples
Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons , organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnic and international friendship and cooperation, for...
(1984).
She currently teaches skating at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. She coached Kylie Gleason
Kylie Gleason
Kylie Gleason is an American figure skater. She is the daughter of former Olympian Suna Murray. Gleason finished 15th at the 2007 United States Figure Skating Championships and first at the 2007 Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships. She attends Harvard University and is a member of the...
and Taylor Toth
Taylor Toth
Taylor Toth is an American figure skater who has competed in pair skating and single skating. He competed in pairs with Felicia Zhang from 2009 to 2011. Together, they are the 2010 U.S...
, who were the 2002 U.S. Champions in Juvenile Pairs and the 2003 U.S. Champions in Intermediate pairs.
Personal life
Valova graduated from the P.F. Lesgaft University of Sports. She and Vasiliev were married from 1984-1992. Valova is now remarried to German Galusha and has a son, Roman, born in 1996. She moved to Pittsburgh, PA in 1997 and currently lives in Moon Township.Competitive highlights
With Oleg VasilievOleg Kimovich Vasiliev
Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev is a Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union. With partner Elena Valova, he is the 1984 Olympic Champion, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, and three-time World Champion . Their coach throughout their career was Tamara Moskvina...
| Event | 1979–80 | 1980–81 | 1981–82 | 1982–83 | 1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics 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... |
1st | 2nd | |||||||
| 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... |
1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 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... |
2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | ||||
| Soviet Championships Soviet Figure Skating Championships The Soviet Figure Skating Championships were a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of the Soviet Union... |
3rd | 2nd | 1st | ||||||
| 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... |
3rd | 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 | ||||||||
| Nebelhorn Trophy Nebelhorn Trophy The Nebelhorn Trophy is an international senior-level figure skating competition organized by the Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany. The competition is named after the Nebelhorn, a nearby mountain.... |
1st | ||||||||
| Prize of Moscow News Prize of Moscow News The Prize of Moscow News , also known as the Moscow Skate, Nouvelles de Moscou, and the Moscow News Trophy, was an international, senior-level figure skating competition held in the former Soviet Union from 1966 to 1990... |
6th | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | |||||
| Grand Prix St. Gervais Grand Prix International St. Gervais The Grand Prix International St. Gervais was an annual senior-level international figure skating competition held in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France. For many years, beginning in 1969, it was paired with a similar competition in Germany, the Nebelhorn Trophy, to form a series called the Coupe des... |
2nd |
Other events
| Event | 1989–90 | 1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1997–98 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Professional Championships | 2nd | 4th | 4th | 4th | 3rd | ||
| World Challenge of Champions | 2nd | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| US Open | 5th | 2nd | 5th | ||||
| Masters Miko | 3rd | ||||||
| Canadian Professional Championships | 4th | ||||||
| Legends | 2nd |