Marina Evgenievna Cherkasova(Russian:Марина Евгеньевна Черкасова;born 17 November 1964) is a Russian retiredpair skater.WithSergei Shakhrai,she won the1979 European titleat the age of 14. At 15, she was the1980 Olympic silver medalistand1980 World champion.
| Marina Cherkasova | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marina Evgenievna Cherkasova | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 November 1964 Moscow,Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1982 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
editCherkasova and Shakhrai trained inMoscowwithStanislav Zhuk.Their main rivals included fellow SovietsIrina Rodnina/Alexander Zaitsev,whom they never defeated,Irina Vorobieva/Igor Lisovsky,Marina Pestova/Stanislav Leonovich,andVeronika Pershina/Marat Akbarov.
Cherkasova and Shakhrai were 12 and 18 respectively when they were paired together. Initially, there was a 35 cm height difference between the pair, with Cherkasova only 138 cm tall.[1]
Cherkasova was 12 when the pair captured the bronze at their first European Championship in 1977. Their height difference facilitated innovation in twist and lift elements; they became the first pair to perform triple jump (toeloop) at"Moscow news" trophy9 december 1977[2]and the split quadruple twist in 1977.[3]Later, the judging standards were changed to value physical harmony between the partners, which handicapped Cherkasova and her partner.
They won theEuropeantitle in 1979. By 1980 Cherkasova had grown 20 cm.[1]The change affected their technical elements, however, the pair managed to win silver at 1980 Europeans, silver at the 1980 Olympics, and gold at Worlds.[4][1]At the age of 15 years, 93 days, Cherkasova was one of the youngest figure skating Olympic medalists.
Shakhrai's problems lifting his now 45 kg partner eventually resulted in them splitting up.[1]By 1981, Cherkasova had grown so tall that Shakhrai could no longer effectively lift her. This caused them to miss the medal podium at the World Championship inHartford,Connecticut,finishing in fourth place.
Cherkasova and Shakhrai continued to train into the 1982 season, however eventually broke up. She briefly paired withRashid Kadyrkaev,a World junior medalist in 1980 and 1981, but he left to skate withElena Kvitchenkoat the invitation ofIgor MoskvininLeningrad.
Later life
editIn 1982, Cherkasova joined the Moscow Ice Ballet where she met her husband.[1]In 1986, they had a son, Vitaly, and a few years later, a daughter named Daria.[1]Cherkasova is now a children's coach in Moscow.[1]
Competitive highlights
edit(with Shakhrai)
| International | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 76–77 | 77–78 | 78–79 | 79–80 | 80–81 |
| Winter Olympics | 2nd | ||||
| World Championships | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 4th |
| European Championships | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Prize of Moscow News | 1st | ||||
| National[5][6] | |||||
| Soviet Championships | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 3rd | |
References
edit- ^abcdefgMakarova, Ekaterina.Лед в сердце[Ice Heart] (in Russian). Ogoniok.com. Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.
- ^"Soviet sport", Moscow, #287, 10 december 1977
- ^"Marina Cherkasova & Sergei Shakhrai - 1977 World Championship FS [QUAD TWIST]".YouTube.
- ^"Soviet Skaters Capture Pairs Championship".New York Times.New York. 13 March 1980. p. D18.
- ^Черкасова Марина Евгеньевна[Marina Yevgenyevna Cherkasova].fskate.ru(in Russian).
- ^Черкасова Марина Евгеньевна[Marina Yevgenyevna Cherkasova].solovieff.ru(in Russian).