Alexander Gorshkov is a famous Soviet athlete and figure skater. The Honored Master of Sports of the USSR won the World Figure Skating Championships 6 times. Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation and Honored Trainer of the USSR was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, the Labor Red Banner, For Services to the Fatherland, Friendship of Peoples, and the Order of Honor.
Alexander Georgievich Gorshkov is currently engaged in social activities. However, the most impressive part of his life is devoted to sports.
The path to big sport
The biography of the future champion began in 1946. The boy was born on October 8. The child got up on the ice for the first time at six. Having learned about the recruitment of children to the group, Sasha's mother brought her son to the rink. At first, the baby had a difficult time.
After a year of hard training, the future champion ended up in the laggard group. Such castling meant futility in sports. The mentor's decision disappointed Sasha's mother. However, the woman went for a trick. After half a month, she brought her son to the group of the strongest. The coach got the impression that the boy returned to sports after a long illness.
Gorshkov thought about his professional career after school. In 1964, he decided to receive education at the Institute of Physical Education. Elena Tchaikovskaya became the skater's mentor in 1966. She chose a couple for a guy who had already won fame in the country, Lyudmila Pakhomova. Her performances with Viktor Ryzhkin were completed, and the skater was looking for a new partner.
Only the young people themselves and their coach believed in the success of their idea. At the time of his acquaintance with the star, Alexander was a simple first-class athlete who performed in tandem with Irina Nechkina. In the young athlete, Mila was attracted by perseverance, hard work and endurance. The main task of the new couple was the installation never to repeat the performances of other skaters, even in trifles.
I had to train long and hard. Alexander was ahead of the rest in crosses and runs on the sand. Together with Lyudmila, he developed a unique style of skating, calling it Russian. In an unusual way of performing ice dancing, a variety of elements have merged with motives of folk and Soviet styles. The idea was successful. The approach to ice dancing that existed at that time was completely changed.
Unique skaters
In 1969, three years after starting to work in pairs, Pakhomova and Gorshkov won bronze at the world championship. The British who bypassed them named the couple their successors.
The first domestic athletes were the next year. After 6 times, the couple climbed to the top of the pedestal. The names of both skaters have gained worldwide fame.
The couple was listed in the Guinness Book of Records for sporting achievements. At first, I had to compete with American, British and German athletes. The test was passed with flying colors. The dance compositions "Chastushki", "Waltz", "Cumparsita" and "In Memory of Louis Armstrong" have become reference for the next generations of skaters. For the first time, the original movements of the legs, arms and body were transferred to the ice.
The Spanish specific move, which has never been seen in other athletes, was remembered by the audience. For the first time, the dialogue of partners was also used. The traditional synchronicity has been relegated to the background. The disharmony of some of the movements of "Kumparsita" became a reflection of the inner harmony of the dance, the amazing dialogue of lovers.
In 1973 a new dance was prepared with the name "Tango Romance". He entered the compulsory part of the competitive program.
A family
After returning from the European Championship, Alexander in 1975 was in the hospital. At first, the back pain, taken for the consequences of a cold, led to a complex operation. Sports hardening and perseverance helped to cope with the test. The skater got on his feet three days later. I walked in five.
Gorshkov resumed skating after three weeks. The following year, the couple took part in a sports dance show in Innsbuka. Athletes won first place. During the preparation, new supports, steps were created, the original movements of the "Dance of Heels" and flamenco were transferred to the ice.
After the triumph, Pakhomova and Gorshkov left the ice. Alexander switched to coaching. In this capacity, he worked until 1992. Then he headed the international relations department of the ROC. The athlete's personal life has also improved. Lyudmila became his partner in life. While working on the dances, the young man realized that he was carried away by the famous figure skater.
In April 1970, the lovers became husband and wife. The relationship was registered after the success in the competition in Ljubljana. The couple planned to become a family, receiving the "gold". In 1977, a child was born, daughter Julia. Due to sheer employment, the stellar parents could not devote enough time to the baby.
The girl was raised by her grandmother. Lyudmila died early. Until the last moments, Alexander remained with his wife.
Time present
Yulia Alexandrovna did not follow in the footsteps of her parents. Her daughter's stellar career was also opposed by her mother. She understood perfectly well how difficult it is to raise a champion.
The girl studied at MGIMO. Subsequently, Julia became a designer and settled in France. Years passed before the athlete decided to rebuild his personal life. His chosen one was Irina, who supported Gorshkov in a difficult time for him. She worked as a translator at the Italian embassy. The new family has developed relationships full of harmony.
In 2000, Alexander Georgievich became the head of the Lyudmila Pakhomova Art and Sport Charity Foundation. In the same period, Gorshkov became vice-president of the figure skating federation in the capital region.
Since 2010, the famous figure skater has been the country's figure skating president. After multiple re-elections, the post remained with Gorshkov by 2018. Alexander Georgievich organized the state fund "Talent and Success".
