1. Early Life and Background
Irina Slutskaya's early life in Moscow laid the foundation for her distinguished career in figure skating.
1.1. Birth and Family
Irina Eduardovna Slutskaya was born on February 9, 1979, in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. She is the only child of a Russian mother, Natalia, and a Russian Jewish father, Eduard. Raised in the Russian Orthodox faith, Slutskaya was known to cross herself before her competitive performances. Her mother had previously competed as a cross-country skier for the Soviet Union.
1.2. Childhood and Introduction to Skating
As a child, Slutskaya was often in fragile health. Doctors recommended she engage in outdoor sports to improve her physical condition. Following this advice, she began figure skating at the age of four, encouraged by her mother. This early introduction to the sport proved to be a pivotal moment in her life.
1.3. Coaching and Early Development
From the age of six, Slutskaya began training under coach Zhanna Gromova. Gromova remained her sole coach throughout her entire competitive career, a testament to the strong bond and trust that developed between them. This long-term coaching relationship was a significant factor in Slutskaya's consistent development and eventual rise to the elite level of figure skating.
2. Career
Irina Slutskaya's competitive career spanned over a decade, marked by numerous junior and senior titles, technical breakthroughs, and a remarkable comeback from illness.
2.1. Junior Career
Slutskaya quickly made her mark as a promising junior skater. She earned a bronze medal at the 1994 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, held in December 1993 in Colorado Springs. This event also marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry with American skater Michelle Kwan, who won gold at the same competition. In the 1994-95 season, Slutskaya continued to excel, winning the 1995 World Junior title in November 1994 in Budapest.
2.2. Senior Career
Slutskaya's transition to the senior circuit was rapid, leading to a decade of high-level competition and significant achievements.
2.2.1. 1995-1998 Seasons
In the 1994-95 season, Slutskaya secured a bronze medal at the 1995 Russian Figure Skating Championships, earning her a spot at her first senior ISU Championship. At the 1995 European Figure Skating Championships, she recovered from a fall in the short program to place fifth overall. She then finished seventh at the 1995 World Figure Skating Championships, despite a fall in the short program, by performing six triple jumps in the free skating.
The 1995-96 season saw Slutskaya compete in the inaugural Champions Series. She won bronze at 1995 Skate America and placed fourth at the 1995 Trophée de France. In January 1996, at the 1996 European Figure Skating Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, she made history by becoming the first Russian woman to win the European title, dethroning five-time defending champion Surya Bonaly with a free skating performance that included six triple jumps. She also won the Centennial on Ice, where she and Maria Butyrskaya handed Michelle Kwan her only defeat of the season. At the 1995-96 Champions Series Final in Paris, she earned a silver medal behind Kwan. In March, she competed at the 1996 World Figure Skating Championships in Edmonton, Canada, where she secured her first World podium finish with a bronze medal, recovering from an early fall to complete six triples.
In 1996-97, Slutskaya started strong, winning her first Champions Series title at the 1996 Skate Canada International, defeating rising star Tara Lipinski. She followed this with victories at the 1996 Nations Cup and 1996 Cup of Russia. In January 1997, she successfully defended her European title, landing seven triple jumps. By the 1996-97 Champions Series Final in late February and early March 1997, she was struggling with her jumps, finishing third. At the 1997 World Figure Skating Championships in Lausanne, a missed combination placed her sixth in the short program. Despite a back injury from a hard fall in practice, she completed six triples in the free skating, including a triple Salchow-triple loop combination, and received three first-place votes for that segment, ultimately finishing fourth overall.
The 1997-98 season saw Slutskaya take silver at the 1997 Nations Cup and gold at the 1997 Cup of Russia. In December, she finished off the podium at the 1998 Russian Figure Skating Championships and the 1997-98 Champions Series Final. In January 1998, she won the silver medal at the 1998 European Figure Skating Championships in Milan. Her first Winter Olympics appearance came in February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Ranked fifth after a short program where her planned combination was reduced, Slutskaya performed five triples in the free skating, placing fifth in the segment and overall. Her presentation during this period sometimes showed a hunched-over posture and an incompletely-stretched free leg. The Russian folk dance choreography in Slutskaya's free skating program emphasized youthful femininity. The following month, she won silver at the 1998 World Figure Skating Championships, recovering from a short program fall and successfully landing two triple-triple combinations in the free skating.
2.2.2. 1998-2002 Seasons
During the 1998-99 season, Slutskaya earned a silver and two bronze medals on the Grand Prix series, qualifying for her fourth Final. However, she placed fourth at the 1999 Russian Figure Skating Championships in January 1999, leading to her exclusion from the Russian teams for the European and World Championships. She took bronze at the 1998-99 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Saint Petersburg in March 1999, finishing behind Tatiana Malinina and Maria Butyrskaya. During this period, she experienced a significant slump, partly due to weight gain during puberty, which affected her jumps, particularly the lutz. She even considered retiring from the sport but decided to continue with the support of her friend and future husband, Sergei Mikheev, who helped her with weight management.
Slutskaya made a strong comeback in the 1999-2000 season. In December 1999, she defeated reigning world champion Maria Butyrskaya to win her first Russian national title. The following month, she won the 1999-2000 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Lyon, triumphing over both Butyrskaya and Kwan. In the "super final" segment, Slutskaya landed seven triple jumps, including two triple-triple combinations, and notably became the first woman to perform a triple lutz-triple loop combination in competition, earning a perfect 6.0 for technical merit. In February, she secured her third European title in Vienna, Austria. At the 2000 World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France, Slutskaya won her qualifying pool and placed second in the short program. She completed six triples in the free skating, finishing second overall behind Kwan.
The 2000-01 season began with Slutskaya in dominant form. After defeating Kwan to win Skate Canada International, she claimed her fourth European title in January 2001 in Bratislava, and then successfully defended her Grand Prix Final title in February in Tokyo. At the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships, she won the short program. In the free skating, she became the first woman to land a triple Salchow-triple loop-double toe loop combination, though her attempt at a more difficult triple lutz-triple loop-double toe loop combination resulted in a two-footed landing on the loop. Despite some rough landings, the judges voted 7-2 to award the gold medal to Kwan, leaving Slutskaya with the silver.
In the 2001-02 season, Slutskaya won all five of her encounters with Michelle Kwan, but also faced a new challenge from the 2001 World bronze medalist, Sarah Hughes. After winning her first Goodwill Games title, she placed second to Hughes at Skate Canada International before winning gold at the Cup of Russia. At the Grand Prix Final, Slutskaya performed well in the first two segments, but her second free skating contained only three clean triples. Despite some judges placing her third, a majority placed her first, securing her third GPF title. She then won her third consecutive Russian national title but lost her European title to Maria Butyrskaya, finishing second after a fall in the short program.
Slutskaya's next major event was the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. She was ranked second after the short program, behind Kwan. In the free skating, Slutskaya did not attempt any triple-triple combinations and had rough landings on two jumps. Sarah Hughes, who performed seven triples and two triple-triple combinations, won the free skating in a 5-4 decision, resulting in Hughes taking gold and Slutskaya the silver. Russia, still upset over the outcome of the pairs competition, filed a complaint against the result, which was rejected. Slutskaya's silver medal was only the second for a Russian competitor in an Olympic ladies' figure skating event, following Kira Ivanova's bronze in 1984. Later, Russian businessman and politician Anton Bakov presented Slutskaya with a "consolation" custom gold medal made of 25 oz (700 g) of gold.
The following month, Slutskaya won her first World title in Nagano, Japan. She was ranked first in both the qualifying round and the short program and won a majority of the judges' votes in the free skating, securing the gold medal.
2.2.3. 2002-2006 Seasons: Illness and Comeback
In the 2002-03 season, Slutskaya took silver at the 2002 NHK Trophy and bronze at the 2002 Cup of Russia. She subsequently lost her national title to Elena Sokolova at the 2003 Russian Figure Skating Championships in December 2002. However, in January 2003, she defeated Sokolova to win her fifth European title in Malmö. The following month, she earned silver at the 2002-03 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Saint Petersburg, placing first in one segment but second to Sasha Cohen in the other two. Slutskaya withdrew from the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships after learning that her mother was seriously ill, requiring a kidney transplant. The initial transplant was rejected, and another one had to be performed.
Soon after her mother's condition began to improve, Slutskaya herself experienced severe fatigue and swelling in her legs, which multiple hospitals struggled to diagnose correctly. She missed most of the 2003-04 season and was eventually diagnosed with vasculitis, an autoimmune disease that caused inflammation of blood vessels and led to complications like bronchitis, making walking difficult at times. Despite doctors advising her to avoid the cold, she chose to compete at the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, marking her return to competition after nearly a year. Although she finished ninth due to her incomplete recovery and lack of practice, she expressed joy at her comeback.
In 2005, Slutskaya made a remarkable comeback after a prolonged hospital stay. The 2004-05 season became her most dominant, as she went undefeated, winning every competition she entered. She particularly excelled under the new scoring system, which heavily rewarded her strong jumps, intricate spins (especially her Biellmann spins), difficult footwork, and overall speed and power. By winning the 2005 European Figure Skating Championships, she matched the record for the most European titles in ladies' singles. At the 2005 World Figure Skating Championships in her hometown of Moscow, Slutskaya was first after the short program. In the free skating, she performed seven triples, including a triple lutz-triple loop combination, and despite one triple loop being disallowed due to performing three of them, she received the highest technical and program component scores. She described this performance as "the skate of her life" because she was skating at home in front of her friends and family. Reflecting on her illness, she stated, "When a person is ill, it's not a fall, it's a misfortune. And no one, unfortunately, is safe from that. I only want to say to those who don't believe in their [own capacity for] recovery: believe, fight. I got up - you can too."
On January 19, 2006, Slutskaya won the 2006 European Figure Skating Championships for the seventh time, surpassing the record she had shared with Sonja Henie and Katarina Witt to become the most successful ladies' skater at the event. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Slutskaya was considered the favorite, especially as 15-year-old Mao Asada, who had beaten her at that season's Grand Prix Final, was too young to compete. Slutskaya was in second place after the short program, trailing Sasha Cohen by a mere 0.03 points. In the free skating, however, she made uncharacteristic errors, doubling a triple flip and falling on a triple loop jump. She ultimately won the bronze medal, finishing behind gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa of Japan and silver medalist Cohen. Slutskaya did not compete at the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships the following month, as her request to enter was deemed too late. Although she denied retirement reports in November 2006, she has not competed since the 2006 Turin Olympics.
2.3. Skating Style and Technical Innovations
Irina Slutskaya's skating style was characterized by her athleticism, power, and pioneering technical elements, which significantly influenced women's singles skating.
2.3.1. Jumps and Combinations
Slutskaya possessed exceptional jumping ability. She made history as the first female skater to successfully land a triple lutz-triple loop combination in competition at the 1999-2000 Grand Prix Final. Later, she also became the first woman to land a triple Salchow-triple loop combination. Her loop jumps were particularly well-executed, often used as the second jump in combinations, and her single loop jumps were frequently preceded by a three-turn.
2.3.2. Spins and Choreography
Beyond her jumps, Slutskaya was renowned for her technically complex and aesthetically pleasing spins. Her signature element was the double Biellmann spin with a foot change, which she is credited with inventing. She demonstrated the rare ability to perform the Biellmann spin on both her left and right legs, and was the first to showcase continuous Biellmann spins with a foot change. Her left-leg Biellmann often transitioned from a beautiful layback spin, while her right-leg version typically evolved from a donut spin. Slutskaya also pioneered the "Biellmann spiral," a spiral sequence performed from a Biellmann position. While her technical prowess was undeniable, her presentation in the 1998 Olympics sometimes showed a hunched-over posture and an incompletely-stretched free leg, though her Russian folk dance choreography emphasized youthful femininity.
2.4. Programs and Music
Irina Slutskaya's competitive programs featured a diverse range of musical selections and themes.
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | Totentanz by Franz Liszt performed by Maksim Mrvica | Mario Takes a Walk by Jesse Cook Rhumba Flamenco by Valery Didula | So Many Things by Sarah Brightman |
| 2004-2005 | Ballet Suite No. 5, Op. 27a: IV. Koelkov's Dance with Friends (Tango) performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra (from The Bolt) by Dmitri Shostakovich | Croatian Rhapsody by Maksim Mrvica Whisper From the Mirror by Keiko Matsui Wonderland by Tonči Huljić performed by Maksim Mrvica | It Must Have Been Love Catwoman |
| 2003-2004 | Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns | Wonderland by Tonči Huljić | |
| 2002-2003 | Victory by Bond | La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi | Shine |
| 2001-2002 | Serenade by Franz Schubert | Tosca by Giacomo Puccini Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns | Never Be the Same Again Old Pop in an Oak Cotton-Eyed Joe |
| 2000-2001 | Culture by Chris Spheeris | Schindler's List by John Williams Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus | Timeless |
| 1999-2000 | Appassionata by Rolf Løvland | Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet | Free Yourself |
| 1998-1999 | Les Feuilles Mort (Autumn Leaves) | Ballet For Carolyn Carlson | |
| 1997-1998 | Les Feuilles Mort (Autumn Leaves) Piano Waltz | Ah, Nastasia by Ossipov Balalaika Ensemble Russian folk dance | Gauglione |
| 1996-1997 | Il Bel Canto (from The Phantom of the Opera on Ice) by Roberto Danova | Overture (Dance of the Four Muses) (from The Phantom of the Opera on Ice) by Roberto Danova | Tico Tico Kalinka |
| 1995-1996 | Aguas De Invierno by Raúl di Blasio from CD Barroco | Broadway show tunes | New York, New York |
| 1994-1995 | Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin | The Heart of Budapest Csárdás Heire Kati by Vidor, Monti, Hubay | |
| 1993-1994 |
2.5. Major Competition Results
Irina Slutskaya's career was marked by consistent medal-winning performances at the highest levels of international figure skating.
2.5.1. Olympic Games
Slutskaya competed in three Winter Olympics, earning two medals:
- 1998 Nagano: 5th place
- 2002 Salt Lake City: Silver medal
- 2006 Turin: Bronze medal
2.5.2. World Figure Skating Championships
Slutskaya won two gold medals and four other medals at the World Championships:
- 1996 Edmonton: Bronze medal
- 1998 Minneapolis: Silver medal
- 2000 Nice: Silver medal
- 2001 Vancouver: Silver medal
- 2002 Nagano: Gold medal
- 2005 Moscow: Gold medal
She withdrew from the 2003 World Championships and did not compete in 2006.
2.5.3. European Figure Skating Championships
Slutskaya holds the record for the most European titles in ladies' singles, with seven gold medals:
- 1995: 5th place
- 1996 Sofia: Gold medal
- 1997 Paris: Gold medal
- 1998 Milano: Silver medal
- 2000 Vienna: Gold medal
- 2001 Bratislava: Gold medal
- 2002 Lausanne: Silver medal
- 2003 Malmö: Gold medal
- 2005 Turin: Gold medal
- 2006 Lyon: Gold medal
2.5.4. Grand Prix Final
Slutskaya was a dominant force in the Grand Prix Final, winning four gold medals:
- 1995-96 Paris: Silver medal
- 1996-97 Hamilton: Bronze medal
- 1997-98 Munich: 4th place
- 1998-99 Saint Petersburg: Bronze medal
- 1999-2000 Lyon: Gold medal
- 2000-01 Tokyo: Gold medal
- 2001-02 Kitchener: Gold medal
- 2002-03 Saint Petersburg: Silver medal
- 2004-05 Beijing: Gold medal
- 2005-06 Tokyo: Silver medal
2.5.5. Grand Prix Series
Slutskaya won a record 17 titles across various Grand Prix events:
- Cup of Russia: Gold (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)
- Cup of China: Gold (2004, 2005)
- Skate Canada International: Gold (1996, 2000)
- Nations Cup (later Bofrost Cup on Ice): Gold (1996)
- NHK Trophy: Gold (2000)
- Skate America: Bronze (1995)
- Trophée de France: 4th (1995)
2.5.6. National Championships
Slutskaya was a multiple national champion in Russia:
- 1994: Bronze medal
- 1995: Bronze medal
- 1996: Silver medal
- 1997: Bronze medal
- 1998: 4th place
- 1999: 4th place
- 2000: Gold medal
- 2001: Gold medal
- 2002: Gold medal
- 2003: Silver medal
- 2005: Gold medal
- She also won the Russian Junior Championships in 1994.
| Event | 92-93 | 93-94 | 94-95 | 95-96 | 96-97 | 97-98 | 98-99 | 99-00 | 00-01 | 01-02 | 02-03 | 03-04 | 04-05 | 05-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | 5th | 2nd | 3rd | |||||||||||
| Worlds | 7th | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | WD | 9th | 1st | ||||
| Europeans | 5th | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | WD | 1st | 1st | |||
| GP Final | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | ||||
| GP Cup of China | 1st | 1st | ||||||||||||
| GP Cup of Russia | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | |||||
| GP France | 4th | |||||||||||||
| GP Nations/Spark. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | |||||||||||
| GP NHK Trophy | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | |||||||||||
| GP Skate America | 3rd | |||||||||||||
| GP Skate Canada | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | ||||||||||
| Goodwill Games | 6th | 5th | 1st | |||||||||||
| Finlandia Trophy | 1st | |||||||||||||
| Nebelhorn Trophy | 1st | 1st | ||||||||||||
| Universiade | 2nd | |||||||||||||
| International: Junior | ||||||||||||||
| Junior Worlds | 8th | 3rd | 1st | |||||||||||
| National | ||||||||||||||
| Russia | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | WD | 1st | ||
| Russia: Junior | 1st | |||||||||||||
| 2005-06 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 21-23 February 2006 | 2006 Winter Olympics | 2 66.70 | 3 114.74 | 3 181.44 | |
| 17-21 January 2006 | 2006 European Championships | 1 66.43 | 1 126.81 | 1 193.24 | |
| 16-18 December 2005 | 2005-06 Grand Prix Final | 2 58.90 | 2 122.58 | 2 181.48 | |
| 24-27 November 2005 | 2005 Cup of Russia | 1 67.58 | 1 130.48 | 1 198.06 | |
| 2-6 November 2005 | 2005 Cup of China | 1 70.22 | 1 125.90 | 1 196.12 | |
| 2004-05 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 14-20 March 2005 | 2005 World Championships | 1 29.77 | 1 62.84 | 1 130.10 | 1 192.94 |
| 25-30 January 2005 | 2005 European Championships | 1 65.02 | 1 103.69 | 1 168.71 | |
| 5-8 January 2005 | 2005 Russian Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 16-19 December 2004 | 2004-05 Grand Prix Final | 1 65.46 | 1 115.42 | 1 180.88 | |
| 25-28 November 2004 | 2004 Cup of Russia | 1 61.12 | 1 121.90 | 1 183.02 | |
| 11-14 November 2004 | 2004 Cup of China | 1 62.96 | 1 114.84 | 1 177.80 | |
| 2003-04 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 22-28 March 2004 | 2004 World Championships | 5 | 8 | 9 | |
| 2002-03 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 28 February-2 March 2003 | 2002-03 Grand Prix Final | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 20-26 January 2003 | 2003 European Championships | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 November-1 December 2002 | 2002 NHK Trophy | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| 21-24 November 2002 | 2002 Cup of Russia | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2001-02 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 16-24 March 2002 | 2002 World Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 9-21 February 2002 | 2002 Winter Olympics | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 14-19 January 2002 | 2002 European Championships | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 14-16 December 2001 | 2001-02 Grand Prix Final | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 21-25 November 2001 | 2001 Cup of Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1-4 November 2001 | 2001 Skate Canada | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2000-01 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 17-25 March 2001 | 2001 World Championships | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 15-18 February 2001 | 2000-01 Grand Prix Final | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 22-27 January 2001 | 2001 European Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 November-3 December 2000 | 2000 NHK Trophy | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 16-19 November 2000 | 2000 Cup of Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1-5 November 2000 | 2000 Skate Canada | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1999-2000 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 26 March-2 April 2000 | 2000 World Championships | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 6-13 February 2000 | 2000 European Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 13-16 January 2000 | 1999-2000 Grand Prix Final | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 25-28 November 1999 | 1999 Cup of Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 11-14 November 1999 | 1999 Sparkassen Cup | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1998-99 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 4-7 March 1999 | 1998-99 Grand Prix Final | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 21-31 January 1999 | 1999 Winter Universiade | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2-6 December 1998 | 1998 NHK Trophy | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 26-29 November 1998 | 1998 Cup of Russia | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| 5-8 November 1998 | 1998 Skate Canada | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1997-98 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 28 March-5 April 1998 | 1998 World Championships | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 8-20 February 1998 | 1998 Winter Olympics | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| 10-18 January 1998 | 1998 European Championships | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| 19-21 December 1997 | 1997-98 Champions Series Final | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| 19-23 November 1997 | 1997 Cup of Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 30 October-2 November 1997 | 1997 Sparkassen Cup | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 1996-97 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 17-23 March 1997 | 1997 World Championships | 6 | 4 | 4 | |
| 27 February-2 March 1997 | 1996-97 Champions Series Final | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 22-27 January 1997 | 1997 European Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20-24 November 1996 | 1996 Cup of Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 7-10 November 1996 | 1996 Nations Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1-3 November 1996 | 1996 Skate Canada | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995-96 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 17-24 March 1996 | 1996 World Championships | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 23-25 February 1996 | 1995-96 Champions Series Final | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 22-28 January 1996 | 1996 European Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 14-17 November 1995 | 1995 Trophée de France | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| 25-29 October 1995 | 1995 Skate America | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1994-95 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 6-12 March 1995 | 1995 World Championships | 7 | 5 | 7 | |
| 31 January-5 February 1995 | 1995 European Championships | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| 22-27 November 1994 | 1995 World Junior Championships | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1993-94 season | |||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| 1-5 December 1993 | 1994 World Junior Championships | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
3. Post-Competitive Career
After retiring from competitive skating, Irina Slutskaya transitioned into various roles in show business, sports ambassadorship, and eventually, politics.
3.1. Show Skating and Media Appearances
On April 10, 2007, Slutskaya announced her return to Russia from the United States, stating she would not participate in the 2007 Champions on Ice tour due to her pregnancy. She expressed her enjoyment of motherhood and stated she had no plans to return to competitive skating, remarking, "I don't see the target. I don't know why I have to go there. I have almost all the titles."
She embarked on a career in show business, co-hosting figure skating reality shows on Russia Channel 1, including Stars on Ice with Evgeni Plushenko and Ice Age with actor Marat Basharov. In April 2006, she released a CD. In 2008, she participated in Hot Ice, a Russian TV soap opera about figure skating. She also toured as the lead skater in the Russian version of the "Winx on Ice" show. In November 2008, Slutskaya performed in the Skate from the Heart show.
Slutskaya continued to participate in ice shows, including Yuna Kim's All That Skate Summer show in 2011. In October 2012, she competed in the first Medal Winner's Open, an event for Olympic and World medalists, where she placed third in the ladies' field. She also participated in the second Medal Winner's Open in January 2015, placing fifth.
3.2. Coaching and Ambassador Roles
Beyond performing, Slutskaya has taken on ambassadorial roles. She served as an ambassador for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, appearing at the figure skating venue.
4. Political Career
In 2016, Irina Slutskaya entered the political arena. She participated in the United Russia party primaries for nomination as a candidate for deputy of the Moscow Oblast Duma in the Pushkin single-mandate constituency No. 17 of the Moscow Region. In September 2016, she was successfully elected and became a deputy of the Moscow Oblast Duma representing the United Russia party.
5. Personal Life
Irina Slutskaya's personal life has seen significant changes, including marriages and the growth of her family.
5.1. Family and Marriage
Slutskaya married her boyfriend, Sergei Mikheev, in August 1999. They had met three years prior at a summer camp near Moscow, where Mikheev worked as a physical education instructor. Their marriage ceremony took place in a Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. After 17 years of marriage, Slutskaya and Mikheev divorced in 2016. In June 2018, she married businessman Alexei Govyrin.
5.2. Children
Slutskaya is a mother of three. She gave birth to her first child, a son named Artem, in November 2007 in Moscow. Artem weighed 0.1 K oz (2.30 K g) at birth and was delivered via C-section. As an only child herself, Slutskaya had expressed a desire for more children. In October 2010, she gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Varvara. Her third child, a daughter named Kira, was born in October 2019, her first with Alexei Govyrin.
6. Legacy and Recognition
Irina Slutskaya's impact on figure skating is profound, marked by numerous records, pioneering technical achievements, and lasting influence on the sport.
6.1. Records and Achievements
Slutskaya holds several significant records in figure skating:
- She is the only ladies' singles skater to win seven European Championship titles.
- She holds the record for the most Grand Prix series titles, with 17 victories.
- She was the first female skater to successfully land a triple lutz-triple loop combination in competition.
- She also pioneered the triple Salchow-triple loop combination.
- Her signature double Biellmann spin with a foot change was an innovation she introduced to the sport.
- In her undefeated 2004-05 season, particularly at the 2005 World Championships, she achieved both the highest program component scores (artistry) and the highest technical scores, demonstrating a rare blend of skill and artistry.
6.2. Impact on the Sport
Irina Slutskaya is widely regarded as one of the most successful ladies' singles skaters in the history of Russian and European figure skating. Her athletic ability and groundbreaking technical elements, such as her triple-triple jump combinations and unique Biellmann spin variations, pushed the boundaries of women's singles skating. She served as an inspiration for many aspiring skaters, particularly within Russia and Europe, and her consistent excellence at the highest level of competition solidified her role as a pioneering athlete in the sport.
6.3. Awards and Honors
In recognition of her contributions to sports, Slutskaya was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Following the controversial judging at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Russian businessman and politician Anton Bakov presented her with a "consolation" custom gold medal made of 25 oz (700 g) of gold, symbolizing public support and recognition of her performance.
