Natalia Bestemianova

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.

Natalia Bestemianova
Natalia Bestemianova in 2019
Full nameNatalia Filimonovna Bestemianova
Other namesNatalya Bestemyanova
Born (1960-01-06) 6 January 1960
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 CalgaryIce dancing
Silver medal – second place 1984 SarajevoIce dancing
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1988 BudapestIce dancing
Gold medal – first place 1987 CincinnatiIce dancing
Gold medal – first place 1986 GenevaIce dancing
Gold medal – first place 1985 TokyoIce dancing
Silver medal – second place 1984 OttawaIce dancing
Silver medal – second place 1983 HelsinkiIce dancing
Silver medal – second place 1982 CopenhagenIce dancing
Bronze medal – third place 1981 HartfordIce dancing
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1988 PragueIce dancing
Gold medal – first place1987 SarajevoIce dancing
Gold medal – first place1986 SarajevoIce dancing
Gold medal – first place1985 GothenburgIce dancing
Silver medal – second place1984 BudapestIce dancing
Gold medal – first place1983 DortmundIce dancing
Silver medal – second place1982 LyonIce dancing

Life and career

Bestemianova was coached by Tatiana Tarasova and competed in ice dance with Andrei Bukin. In 1984, she 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.

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.[4]

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.[5]

Competitive highlights

Ice dance with Bukin
International
Event 77–78 78–79 79–80 80–81 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85 85–86 86–87 87–88
Olympics8th2nd1st
Worlds10th3rd2nd2nd2nd1st1st1st1st
Europeans6th4th2nd1st2nd1st1st1st1st
Skate America2nd
NHK Trophy1st1st
Moscow News4th2nd3rd1st1st1st2nd1st
National[3]
Soviet Champ.3rd4th2nd3rd1st1st2nd1st

Ladies' singles
International
Event 1976–77
Prague Skate5th

Programs

(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

References
  1. http://ice-theatre.com/about/
  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. Great Russian Encyclopedia (2005), Moscow: Bol'shaya Rossiyskaya enciklopediya Publisher, vol. 3
  4. Torchio, Chiara (November 25, 2007). "Bestemianova, Bukin & Bobrin land in Italy". ArtOnIce.it. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  5. "Cup of Professionals". Channel One (Russia). Archived from the original on 2012-03-02.
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