Marina Klimova Figure skater, performed in ice dancing together with Sergei Ponomarenko. Date of Birth: 28.06.1966 Country: Russia

1. Marina Klimova: A Biography
2. Rise to Success
3. Style Evolution
4. Retirement and Professional Career
5. Life After Skating

Marina Klimova: A Biography

Marina Klimova is a former figure skater who achieved great success in ice dancing alongside her partner Sergei Ponomarenko. Born in 1966 in Moscow, Russia, Klimova began her skating career at the Yunist Ice Rink in Sverdlovsk under the guidance of Oleg Volkov.

Rise to Success

Klimova and Ponomarenko quickly became a formidable pair, showcasing their talent in ice dance competitions. One of their first major competitions was the Winter Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in 1978, where they claimed third place in the junior category.

Throughout their career, Klimova and Ponomarenko achieved numerous remarkable accomplishments. They won the bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics, the silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, and became Olympic champions in 1992. Additionally, they were three-time world champions (1989, 1990, 1992) and four-time European champions (1989-1992).

Style Evolution

Under the guidance of coach Natalia Dubova, Klimova and Ponomarenko initially focused on a classical style, emphasizing beauty and grace in their movements. However, their style took a dramatic turn when coach Tatiana Tarasova introduced them to the avant-garde style, characterized by unique choreography and costumes.

Retirement and Professional Career

Klimova and Ponomarenko retired from competitive skating after the 1992 World Championships. They continued to perform in shows and achieved second place twice in the Professional World Championships. In 2003, their contributions to the sport were recognized when they were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Life After Skating

Currently, Marina Klimova resides in San Jose, California, in the United States, with her family. She is actively involved in coaching young figure skaters and works at a rink in San Jose. In 2007, Klimova participated in the Russian television show "Tantsy na L'du. Barkhatnyy Sezon," where she partnered with actor Anatoliy Zhuravlev.

Klimova has been married to her skating partner Sergei Ponomarenko since 1984, and they have two sons named Tim (born in 1998) and Anton (born in 2000).