The entire cast congregated around Katia, their movements folding and unfolding to present her, while purple lighting pooled over the skaters clad in various shades of red. 2 in C Minor” by Sergei Rachmaninov, a composer of music Gordeeva noted she and Sergei skated to many times in their career. The show opened to the strains of “Piano Concerto No. With this 20th anniversary show in Lake Placid, Gordeeva hoped to celebrate her friendship with other veteran Stars on Ice skaters who were there during the tragedy, while also honoring Grinkov’s memory. Gordeeva wrote the best selling book “My Sergei” about her relationship with Grinkov, and went on to continue performing, even appearing on the Canadian reality show “Battle of the Blades,” skating with hockey player Valeri Bure and winning the competition. For a champion skater and friend to so many, to die so suddenly was a shock for the cast, and the show was postponed. Cause of death was found to be a heart attack. He passed away a little over an hour later after being transported to the Adirondack Medical Center nearby. Initial reports suggested that he suddenly collapsed, but later reports stated that he “dropped to the ice gently,” sitting down after feeling dizzy.

It was one of the greatest tragedies in the sport when in November 1995, while training with coach Marina Zueva and partner and wife Ekaterina “Katia” Goordeeva in Lake Placid for the Stars on Ice tour’s traditional opening show, Grinkov collapsed in the US rink of the Olympic Center.

“They set the bar high for every pair team that skated after them.” Hamilton warmly described Gordeeva and Grinkov in three words. “I think technically, but also emotionally, they were so incredible as a team and as professionals. “I mean when you hear their name you think the word perfection so much, but they really were as one out there as a pairs team, and I think the connection they had just personally on and off the ice came through in their skating,” Kristi Yamaguchi said.

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