WHERE
ARE THEY NOW? ELENA VALOVA.
by Alina Adams. October 2004.
Elena
Valova, with partner and then husband Oleg Vassilliev, won Olympic Gold
in Pair skating in 1984, and Olympic Silver in 1988. Though Elena
asserts that “Olympic Champion is the most honorable title an athlete
can achieve,” she is equally proud of her other titles. “Olympic silver
medalist, three time World Champion, three time World silver medallist…
because they show for how long we were on the top. You don't see this
often in a skater's career.”
The team retired in 1988, because of “Age. It became hard to handle the
intensity of practices and the pressure of the competitions.”
Exhausted from competing as an amatuer, Elena never enjoyed professional
competition, though she lists touring with "Brian Boitano & Katarina
Witt’s Skating" as a professional highlight. “Great skaters, a high
level show and a friendly atmosphere!”
Elena moved to Pittsburgh, PA from Russia in 1997 with her second
husband, German, and their son, Roman (now 8). Elena teaches skating at
the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center, thrilled that, “My
students, Kylie Gleason and Taylor Toth, were the 2002 US Champions in
Juvenile Pairs and the 2003 US Champions in Intermediate pairs. My
experience in skating really helps me in my teaching career and in my
life generally. I can't believe how many people still remember me, and
how many lives my skating affected in a good way. I just want to thank
all of my fans for their love and support.”
The
source:
http://www.figureskatingmystery.com/2004/10/elena-valova.html
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