Elena Berezhnaya is a Russian figure skater. For his contribution to the development of sports and physical culture, as well as high achievements in pair skating at the Games of the XIX Olympiad in 2002 in Salt Lake City, the Honored Master of Sports and Olympic champion was awarded the Order of Honor. He is a Knight of the Order of Friendship.
The hometown of Elena Viktorovna Berezhnaya is Nevinnomyssk. Everybody recognizes the famous sportswoman on its streets. The figure skater and TV star initiated the opening of the Axel cafe in her small homeland. It enjoys continued popularity.
Carier start
The biography of the famous skater began in 1977. The girl was born on October 11. The baby began to practice figure skating at the age of three. The famous coach Stanislav Zhuk drew attention to the plasticity and talent of the child. He immediately invited the promising girl to join his group.
From thirteen, Elena's training continued in Moscow. Lena was the only girl in the sports dormitory. Oleg Shlyakhov became her partner on the ice. They looked very impressive. However, the relationship between young people was not easy.
The skater was of the opinion that a man is always right, and he tried to explain his beliefs only in a position of strength. The press started talking about Shlyakhov's tyranny. All the club skaters stood up for the fragile Elena. As a result, together with his partner, Oleg moved to Latvia.
The results of the pair showed higher and higher results. The guys became the best, they won various tournaments, they took ever higher standards. In 1998, the famous coach Tamara Moskvina drew attention to the couple. Under the guidance of an experienced mentor, the athletes began training in St. Petersburg.
Oleg and Elena began to communicate as equals. The partner has become more tolerant. However, the situation soon became the same again. Two-time junior champion Anton Sikharulidze stood up for the girl. Oleg began to insist on moving to Latvia. Elena decided to leave an overly tough partner immediately after the European Championship.
New duet
At training in 1996, the girl was seriously injured. After two complex neurosurgical operations, the athlete could neither speak nor walk. She had to learn everything anew. Next to her were her mother and Anton, who became the closest people to her at that difficult time. Sikharulidze convinced Berezhnaya that she would certainly continue such a career.
Thanks to sensitivity and care, the 18-year-old figure skater managed to get back on her feet. According to doctors, no sport existed for her now. However, three months later, Berezhnaya went on the ice with Sikharulidze.
By that time, the couple of Anton and Maria Petrova had broken up. The current circumstances prompted the guys to come up with the idea of skating together. Moskvina agreed to train them. As a result, a new duo appeared, performing with triumph all over the world. The couple managed to conquer many fans of the spectacular sport.
1997 made them bronze medalists of the European Championship held in Paris. For the first time at the Olympic Games Berezhnaya performed in 1994. Then the Shlyakhov-Berezhnaya pair took 8th place. In Nagano 1998 in a duet with Sikharulidze Elena took silver. In 2001, a couple in Salt Lake City won. In the sports creativity of the skater, such a take-off was a real breakthrough. Twice Berezhnaya won the world championship, four times became the champion of the country.
In November 2002, the first prize in the category "Portraits of Salt Lake City Athletes" was awarded to the film "Roses for Elena Berezhnaya", about the difficult path of brilliant athletes. Skaters have moved to the professional category. The guys stayed in it until 2006. Then they announced the end of their sports career.
After professional sports
After leaving professional sports, Sikharulidze and Berezhnaya took part in the Stars on Ice show. They toured the United States. After returning to St. Petersburg, Elena became a member of the "Stars on Ice" project. On the project, the actor Alexander Nosik became her partner.
The RTR channel offered the athlete to join the skaters of the Star Ice show. This time the singer Dima Bilan joined the girl. After the final parting with Anton's figure skating, Elena continued performing in various shows as a single skater.
The athlete managed to find time for her personal life. For fans, her couple with Sikharulizde became an example of harmony. Everyone was sure that after the end of their careers, they would officially become husband and wife. However, the athletes chose their own paths. Berezhnaya admitted in an interview that over the years of skating, their relationship has moved into the category of real friendship.
Family and vocation
The girl was chosen by the figure skater Stephen Cousins. Acquaintance with him happened in 1993 at the European championship. Skater performed in single skating. At first, the Russian woman did not pay much attention to the British. But Stephen was persistent. During a tour of America, a romance began.
Soon, the athletes became husband and wife. In 2007, a child appeared in the family, the son of Tristan. The daughter, Sofia-Diana, was born in 2009. Long separations due to employment and distance did not help the couple to rally. The skaters parted in 2012.
Elena opened her figure skating sports school in St. Petersburg. A feature of the organization was the combination of health-improving work with active leisure for children. The school is attended by young athletes from 4 to 15 years old.
Any level of physical fitness is allowed. Groups are formed according to the age and degree of preparedness of the children. If possible, Berezhnaya's School travels to training camps. Together with Elena, the classes are conducted by the masters of sports Dmitry and Natalya Efremov.
In April 2017, an open figure skating championship was held in Nevinnomysslka. The athlete is sure that such events allow finding new talents.
