In 1985 I was enchanted by the Russian pair team of Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov when they competed in my hometown of Colorado Springs. I was 12-years-old at the time but happily followed their exceptional pairs skating career. Following Sergei Grinkov’s journey home in November 1995, I watched Ekaterina’s routines for many years. Nonetheless, once you’ve been witness to perfection, it’s hard to cultivate enthusiasm for what comes after; G&G; were that magical and Sergei Grinkov was, to me, both a regal man and skater.
At one time I had a website dedicated to the memory of Sergei Grinkov and the opinions that follow were submitted to that site.
When we are parted, we each feel the lack of the other half of ourselves. We are incomplete like a book in two volumes of which the first has been lost. That is what I imagine love to be: incompleteness in absence.
-Goncourt
Sergei was very well-spoken in his interviews. He was so composed, intelligent and professional. He does better in interviews than Katia does, even though she was the spokesperson for the pair.
– Jenn
The only thing that Sergei Grinkov did not have was many years to live. He sure had everything else.
– Beth Ann
Sergei knew how to dress! I think that is part of what made Sandra Bezic describe him as “an elegant man,” that and the fact that he was a gentleman.
– Cathryn
Wasn’t Sergei so warm and loving in his manner during interviews? And that is just in interviews. Small wonder he was known for his gentleness and warmth in everyday life.
– Anonymous
I keep reminding myself of what I believe about life after death. That it is bliss, pure bliss. I remind myself that Sergei is the lucky one, not Ilia, nor Katia. The only ones on earth who have really lost are Daria, his daughter, and Natalia Grinkova, his sister. Sergei has gained everything! He did his job as a human being and set a great example of kindness and male gentleness. He deserves a high place in the heavens because coming from Russia in the age of their lack of religious training, having the stresses of his life, he surely turned himself into a fine person. I don’t believe Ilia Kulik or Katia Gordeeva will ever have the same effect as human beings, even combined. Many fans praise and love Katia for her beauty, charm and perceived strength, but often leave Sergei out of the picture or refer to his tragic death as a means to make her stronger. Sadly, he wasn’t given the credit he truly deserved and now Katia barely even speaks of him. It is not a betrayal to her new husband to speak well of Sergei.
– Miranda
Can you imagine having had the privilege to live with a man like Sergei? Sometimes I have to wonder what is behind that smile of his. I am sure that things were not always perfect for him, yet he always smiled. Sergei Grinkov was a true thinker and happy soul; he knew what was going on around him without being told. He was wise beyond his years.
– Anonymous
I love watching Sergei skate solo. He was breathtaking and so gorgeous. I wish we could have had seen more of him!
– Kerri
Sergei Grinkov was interested in politics and read many books. He had a certain life code, too. He was not like those skaters who were only interested in skating. He had a wide view of life and was very intelligent.
– Anonymous
You should have seen Sergei Grinkov’s handwriting! He drew a skate into his signature and it was gorgeous!
– Anonymous
Damn, that man had the BEST lips! Sorry, had to say it.
– Amber
As Scott Hamilton said, Sergei Grinkov was “bigger than life.” I think about Sergei and what he has lost. It just breaks my heart to know that he will never be able to see Daria grow up. All that goes through my mind is how unfair it is that Sergei is not here and another man gets so easily what he lost so tragically.
– Eva
Sergei loved family life and he couldn’t even live to raise his little girl! I remember someone said that even as a baby Daria would put both hands around Sergei’s neck as if not wanting to lose him. When Sergei already held onto her so tightly, she held him tighter. I was running through old tapes when I noticed how different Sergei was in some of the introductions to shows. They all smiled, of course, but Sergei Grinkov laughed, really laughed, and looked so approachable.
– Anonymous
I think from what Sergei said in one interview, that the “emotional needs” were the most important in a relationship. I think he took great care of Katia Gordeeva. I loved the way he treated her. We should all be so lucky.
– Shellie
My favorite thing about Sergei was his ordinary attitude. He was living a fairy tale while the world watched. Not once in this broadcast of his and Katia’s life did he seem flawed. God rest his soul.
– Nikki
Even Ekaterina’s grandmother was crazy about him and loved him, she said. That is the proof of the pudding right there! He must have been very charming to have been loved by people of all ages. Katia was so lucky to have had him in her life.
– Kathy
Sergei was such a gentle man and he loved Katia so much. You could just see it in his eyes and his smile could brighten a room. I thought Sergei was gorgeous; he was such a beautiful man and his body was so strong. He had such grace and presented Katia so well. One fan referred to Sergei as the frame and Katia, the picture – so true! I will always keep Sergei’s memory alive.
I went to visit Sergei Grinkov’s resting place. I bought two bouquets of flowers–one from all of us in the group and one from me. As I walked near I could see the picture of Sergei. I began to choke up and then I was there. I couldn’t believe it at first, but then reality hit me and I knew I was actually standing before the man that I admired for so many years. It was so calm and peaceful there. I didn’t want to go. I stood there for what seemed like hours. I gently placed the flowers down right by the Ice Crystal and said some words. Then I walked away.
– VM
When I watched G&G; skate, I couldn’t take my eyes off Sergei’s gorgeous face. Another thing that attracted me to Sergei was that he was so sweet and romantic (e.g., letting Katia lean on his shoulders on the plane when they were not *together* as a couple yet, holding Katia’s hand at the movies, sneaking out of the house & pushing the car out to get the stuff he needed to make breakfast in bed for Katia on her birthday, giving tulips to Katia for no special reason or occasion, and I could go on and on!). Get the point? He was just an ideal partner, husband, dad, son, and friend. How could you not love and remember this man?
In addition, I liked Sergei’s personality. I read somewhere (in a newsletter I believe), where someone had said that they wanted to get Sergei Grinkov’s autograph but they were hesitant to because Sergei was eating at that moment. But Sergei, seeing that they wanted his autograph, put his food down and happily signed autographs instead.
– Jennifer
Sergei had qualities that most people do not possess. He was down-to-earth, kind, respectful and humble. He could have been just as much a “star” as Katia, but he unselfishly let her take the focus and the praise. I first really saw Sergei in 1988. Katia had all this attention and you could see Sergei in the background quietly going about his business. He was always so humble, composed and had such respect for others.
– Summer
Sergei gave enough love to last a lifetime.
– Donna
Sergei Grinkov was a total stranger to me and yet he has touched my heart. Oh yes, he was an unbelievably handsome man. But often I find handsome men arrogant and boring. No, it wasn’t Sergei’s good looks that captivated me. What, I ask, was it about Sergei Grinkov that has made such a lasting impression on me? Speaking for myself, the answer is clear. It was Sergei’s character that has made me such a fan.
– Kathy M
Sergei held all the characteristics of a person I admire, respect and would want to be like. His positive attitude about life, trying to find joy in everyday happenings, his compassion and kindness, and his modesty about his performances really touched my life. He sounded like a character in a novel: strong, handsome, gentle, tough and intelligent. When I found out he loved to read, and took books to his heart, well, that clinched it for me. I was a real fan of the man, and the skating took a separate place from that. He was the greatest male pair skater ever in my opinion, but I respect what he must have been as a human being even more. To this day, I still think of him, and try to use his short life as an example.
– Kathy B
I loved his kindness, maturity and wisdom. Now all of these qualities are apparent in Katia’s book, but I also think seeing how his friends were affected by his death made me see how great a man he must have been. I look at photos of him and see the kindness just radiating out of his eyes.
– Gia
The thing I remember most about Sergei was the way he looked. He was extraordinarily hot but he also looked like a kind person. I also like the way he was so great at giving his beautiful Katia the spotlight.
– Tatiana
I will always remember how big and strong, yet kind and gentle Sergei was. The way he looked at Katia, the way he held her hand, and especially his smile. The kind of joy that Sergei and Katia brought onto the ice and the kind of love they shared with each other is something that can never be forgotten or duplicated.
– Lexi
I first saw G&G; at the 1988 Olympics. Seeing them perform was what got me interested in watching figure skating, and I watched regularly after that. After Sergei’s death, my interest in skating declined. I’ll admit that I haven’t kept up with Katia’s solo career. Part of it is that I’ve never been much of a fan of singles skaters; I’ve always preferred watching the pairs. And part of it was that it just wasn’t the same. Without Sergei, Katia’s skating just didn’t have as much meaning to me and I didn’t find the same joy in watching her solo performances.
I still love going back and watching G&G; together….seeing the love and joy they shared. That is what I’ll always remember about them. Sergei was a superb athlete and human being; it would be a shame if he was ever forgotten or not spoken of by those whose lives he touched.
– Dayna
