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Natalia Bestemianova

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Natalia Bestemianova
Natalia Bestemianova in 2019
Full nameNatalia Filimonovna Bestemianova
Other namesNatalya Bestemyanova
Born (1960-01-06) 6 January 1960 (age 64)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Figure skating career
Retired1988
Medal record
Figure skating
Ice dancing
Representing  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Calgary Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1984 Sarajevo Ice dancing
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1988 Budapest Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1987 Cincinnati Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1986 Geneva Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1985 Tokyo Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1984 Ottawa Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1983 Helsinki Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1982 Copenhagen Ice dancing
Bronze medal – third place 1981 Hartford Ice dancing
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1988 Prague Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1987 Sarajevo Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1986 Sarajevo Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1985 Gothenburg Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1984 Budapest Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1983 Dortmund Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1982 Lyon Ice dancing

Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova or Bestemyanova[1] (Russian: Наталья Филимоновна Бестемьянова,[2] born 6 January 1960)[3] is a Soviet and Russian former competitive ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With her partner Andrei Bukin, she is the 1988 Olympic Champion, 1984 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World champion, three-time World silver medalist, and five-time European champion.

Life and career

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Bestemianova was coached by Tatiana Tarasova and competed in ice dance with Andrei 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 dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, saying that they were "less suave" and "more energetic".[4]

Bestemianova and Bukin came in 10th place at the 1979 World Championships. In 1980, they came in fifth place at the European Championships. In 1981, they came in fourth place at both Worlds and Europeans.[5] In 1984, Bestemianova was named an Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.[3]

Bestemianova and Bukin capped their lengthy career by winning the gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics and that year's World Figure Skating Championships. The Besti Squat was Bestemianova's signature move and is unofficially named for her.

They skated in ice shows after their retirement, including in Champions on Ice and Holiday on Ice.[4]

In 1983, Bestemianova married Igor 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 show Dancing on Ice, shown on Russian RTR. In early 2007, she appeared as a member of the ice panel for the British show Dancing on Ice, shown on ITV1. In 2011–2012, Bestemianova was on the panel of judges for the Channel One Russia television show Cup of Professionals.[7]

Competitive highlights

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Ice dance with Bukin

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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

Ladies' singles

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International
Event 1976–77
Prague Skate 5th

Programs

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(With Bukin)

Season Original set pattern Free dance Exhibition
1987–1988 Tango Hernando's Hideaway Polovetsian Dances
1986–1987 Cabaret medley
1985–1986 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
1984–1985 Carmen
1983–1984 Paso Doble
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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ http://ice-theatre.com/about/ [dead link]
  2. ^ Список кандидатов в спортивные сборные команды Российской Федерации по фигурному катанию на коньках на 2011–2012 гг. [2011–2012 list] (PDF). Russian Figure Skating Federation (in Russian). Russian Sports Ministry. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Great Russian Encyclopedia (2005), Moscow: Bol'shaya Rossiyskaya enciklopediya Publisher, vol. 3
  4. ^ a b Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8108-6859-5.
  5. ^ Hines, pp. 37-38
  6. ^ Torchio, Chiara (November 25, 2007). "Bestemianova, Bukin & Bobrin land in Italy". ArtOnIce.it. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  7. ^ "Cup of Professionals". Channel One (Russia). Archived from the original on 2012-03-02.
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