.jpg) Natalia Bestemianova in 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Natalya Bestemyanova | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1960-01-06)6 January 1960 (age 65) Moscow,Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova orBestemyanova[1] (Russian:Наталья Филимоновна Бестемьянова,[2] born 6 January 1960)[3] is a Soviet and Russian former competitiveice dancer who competed for theSoviet Union. With her partnerAndrei Bukin, she is the1988 Olympic Champion,1984 Olympic silver medalist, four-timeWorld champion, three-time World silver medalist, and five-timeEuropean champion.
Bestemianova was coached byTatiana Tarasova and competed inice dance withAndrei Bukin. Figure skating historian James R. Hines called their free dance programs "unconventional and avant garde", and stated that they were "equally strong in the more conservative compulsory dances". Hines compared Bestemianova and Bukin to British ice dancersJayne Torvill andChristopher Dean, saying that they were "less suave" and "more energetic".[4]
Bestemianova and Bukin came in 10th place at the1979 World Championships. In 1980, they came in fifth place at theEuropean Championships. In 1981, they came in fourth place at bothWorlds andEuropeans.[5] In 1984, Bestemianova was named anHonoured Master of Sports of the USSR.[3]
Bestemianova and Bukin capped their lengthy career by winning the gold medal at the1988 Winter Olympics and that year'sWorld Figure Skating Championships. TheBesti Squat was Bestemianova's signature move and is unofficially named for her.
They skated inice shows after their retirement, including inChampions on Ice andHoliday on Ice.[4]
In 1983, Bestemianova marriedIgor Bobrin. After she finished her career she performed in the Ice Miniature Theater, led by her husband. She is the stepmother of Maxim, Igor's son from his previous marriage.[3] Together, they run Moscow Stars on Ice.[6]
In 2006–2008, Bestemianova appeared as a coach and show-host in the Russian version of the British showDancing on Ice, shown on Russian RTR. In early 2007, she appeared as a member of the ice panel for the British showDancing on Ice, shown onITV1. In 2011–2012, Bestemianova was on the panel of judges for theChannel One Russia television showCup of Professionals.[7]
| International | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 77–78 | 78–79 | 79–80 | 80–81 | 81–82 | 82–83 | 83–84 | 84–85 | 85–86 | 86–87 | 87–88 |
| Olympics | 8th | 2nd | 1st | ||||||||
| Worlds | 10th | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| Europeans | 6th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| Skate America | 2nd | ||||||||||
| NHK Trophy | 1st | 1st | |||||||||
| Moscow News | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |||
| National[3] | |||||||||||
| Soviet Champ. | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |||
| International | |
|---|---|
| Event | 1976–77 |
| Prague Skate | 5th |
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(With Bukin)
| Season | Original set pattern | Free dance | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–1988 | Tango Hernando's Hideaway | Polovtsian Dances | |
| 1986–1987 | Cabaret medley | ||
| 1985–1986 | Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini | ||
| 1984–1985 | Carmen | ||
| 1983–1984 | Pasodoble | ||
| 1982–1983 | |||
| 1981–1982 | FD: "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khatchaturian, "Romeo and Juliet" by Tchiakovsky, Finale from "William Tell" Overture by Rossini (modern piano version) | ||
| 1980–1981 | |||
| 1979–1980 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
