Biography
In sports, as in any other field of activity, the one who has been fully accomplished by the work. Grueling hours of training for the miga victory, years of practice for participation in international competitions, blood and sweat for the sake of medals or title.
In such a mad rhythm, it is difficult to create a family, but even those who succeed, it is not trite to separate time to maintain home comfort. Sport seriously limits personal life. However, you should not forget that athletes are the winners of the impossible. So who, if not to them, break the existing stereotypes? Ilya Kulik - a bright example.
Childhood and youth
A future conqueror of ice was born on May 23, 1977. It happened in Moscow. At the age of five, Ilya saw on TV performance of skaters and stated that he wanted to be like them. Realizing that the boy is not joking, Mom Ilya took her son to the local section of figure skating. Coach S. Gromov noted the boy artistry and stunning plastic.
Therefore, by tracing Ilya Azam, he handed him a more experienced specialist Victor Nikolayevich Kudryavtsev, a member of the Presidium of the Federation of Figure Skating Skating. Under the leadership of Kudryavtsev in 1990, Ilya won his first award. It happened at the Competitions Piruetten Juniors Competition, held in Norway. At that time, the Kulik was 13 years old. Then he realized that he really wants to devote himself to figure skating.
Figure skating
Two years later, at the World Cartoon Championship among juniors, held in Seoul, Ilya became the owner of a bronze medal. In 1994, Ilya won the Russian Junior Championship, and at the beginning of the next again took part in the World Championship, but this time instead of bronze got gold. This success forced the coaches to think about the inclusion of a young figure in the national team.
The decision was made, and in 1995 the Kulik successfully debut at the European Championships in figure skating, winning the title of champion. In the same year, a new coach - Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova comes to change Viktor Kudryavtsev. She sees in Ilya an undisclosed potential, so it offers a cooler with a complicated program saturated with complex art elements. It is not possible to master this program from the first time, so in 1996 at the European Championship Ilya loses.
"It has worked cuttingly," the figure skater comments. - Each athlete needs to experience it. When it happened to me, I realized that it was not enough to be good. Therefore, made appropriate measures to become the best. "Returning faith in the victories at the Russian Championships 1997 and 1998, as well as the victory in the final of the Grand Prix Figure Skating in 1997, the Kulik goes to the 1998 Winter Olympics, held in the city of Nagano located in Japan. And returns from there the winner. In addition to the Olympic medal, Kulik also received the title of Cavaller the Order of Honor for achievements in sports.
In 1999 decided to move from amateur sports in professional. Began to participate in Skate America and Skate Canada tournaments, as well as in Trophee Eric Bompard competitions (France), NHK Trophy (Japan), Finlandia Trophy (Finland) and Nebelhorn Trophy (Germany).
In 2000, he starred in the American art film "Avanscena", fulfilling the role of Russian guy Sergey. Later became a member of the star on the ice show and "Ice Champions", and also took up coaching activities, later receiving the title of Honored Coach of Russia.
Personal life
During participation in the show, Kulik met Catherine Alexandrovna Gordeva, the Russian figure skater, which became a widow in 1995. It is worth clarifying that Ilya and Katya have already intersected earlier in training - the Kulik was then 9 years old, and the Gordeeva - 14. The skaters attracted each other purely from a professional point of view, and soon began to jointly take part in group speeches.
During the break between the next speeches, Kulik decided to disperse and relax to relax with his comrades and colleagues Denis Petrov and George Surah. The choice fell on a parachute jump. The idea to invite Gordeyev came unexpectedly, but her consent to join the company was even more unexpected. As a result, Ilya and Catherine performed a pair jump.
"I screamed loudly," the figure skater remembers, "and my belly is scored from cold air." It was amazing to see the earth rapidly approach. "A few months later, Ilya and Catherine got married. It happened on June 10, 2001 in San Francisco, and on June 15, 2002, Elizabeth's daughter was born in Los Angeles. For Gordeeva, it was already the second child - September 11, 1992 she gave birth to Daria's daughter from her first husband Sergei Grinkov. Katya was very afraid that Ilya and Daria are not afraid, but even the opposite came true - they became friends, and the Kulik became a personal trainer of a girl figure skating.
In 2007, their family moved to the city of Newport Beach, located on the territory of California, where they live to this day. It is not planned to return to permanent accommodation in Russia, because they are satisfied with work in America, while there is no prospects for their development to develop them. Nevertheless, none of the Family of Ilya and Catherine does not forget their roots - at home they speak exclusively in Russian, cultivate national traditions, and also regularly visit the depreciation.
Ilya Kulik now
For the past seven years, Ilya spends little time on the ice - on the hour per day three or four days a week, to maintain the form. Although there are exceptions. For example, in 2016, together with his wife, began work on the Ice Show "Romeo and Juliet". In 2017, this show was presented to the general public.
Also in 2017, Ilya and Catherine appeared on the anniversary of their coach Tatyana Tarasova - delivered the number, and later spent an autograph session. The details of the personal life of the couple does not disclose, and about their activity can be judged by the photo on which users of the Social Network "Instagram" celebrate themselves with figure skaters.
Achievements
- 1990 - First place at the Piruetten Juniors Competition Competitions
- 1992 - Third place at the World Junior Cattery Championships
- 1994 - First place at the World Junior Cattery Championships
- 1995 - First place at the European Figure Skating Championship
- 1997 - First place in the final of the Grand Prix of figure skating
- 1998 - Victory in the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano
- 1998 - Getting the title of Kavalera Honor Order