My Sergei: A Love Story

Ekaterina "Katia" Gordeeva is a Russian (former Soviet) figure skater. Together with her partner and husband, the late Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 Calgary and 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in Pair Skating. I was drawn to this book for the insular experience she would have had in the Communist USSR. Her early life was doubly insular. Gordeeva began figure skating at age four, when she entered Children and Youth Sports School of CSKA Moscow. CSKA Moscow is a major Russian sports club based in Moscow. It is popularly referred to in the West as "Red Army" or "the Red Army team" because during the Soviet era, it was a part of the Armed Forces sports society, which in turn was associated with the Soviet show more Army. So, she was basically inducted into the Red Army's athlete mill and lived an almost cloistered life of training and performance. In 1991, they began with Stars on Ice, the vehicle for Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in men's figure skating. This opened a door to capitalism and professional skating for profit during the end of the Soviet Era. The thrills and risks of freedom and a career without a safety net was an exciting and pivotal time for the athletes starting a bumpy road of highs and some lows ending suddenly with Sergei's death from a coronary to rehearsal and being the unfortunate impetus for Gordeeva's solo career.

As an outsider to skating I found I did not need to know the inside dope on the sport, or the Olympics, or even be interested in sports to enjoy this honest, revelatory, and forthcoming memoir.

One part of skating I found from this that I do not I could get from what I catch occasionally on TV is the personal and artistic impulses and themes expressed by the skating pair during prepared programs. This book is like the synopsis of a ballet for all their high-profile programs. show less

I was expecting sad but it wasn't quite as sad as I had anticipated. I found the life of an Olympic skater in the USSR in the 80s very interesting. I was always finding tidbits to tell my husband!

I found some parts amusing like being bored at a dinner with Reagan and Gorbachev! I was surprised by how they left Daria with her grandparents so often, but I could tell that skating was her life.

This book group read will provide a good discussion for love and loss.

This was a beautiful look into the partnership/relationship of Katia and Sergei. Katia came across as open and honest, not afraid of revealing some of her insecurities and flaws. Getting an inside look at the world of competitive figure skating was interesting too. The end was sad but hopeful.

Gordeeva and Grinkov were my favorite pair skaters during the 80s and early 90s, but for some reason, I did not read this book until now. It isnt the best as far as writing goes, but the love story is amazing and absolutely beautiful. Katia tells the heartwarming and passionate story of the fairy tale romance that she shared with her beloved Sergei, beginning with their meeting when she was 11 and ending with his untimely death, and her moving performance following the tragedy. The book was especially interesting to me, because it was filled with people Ive met and places Ive been during my many years of skating. Its an easy read that you will finish in one or two sittings, and it will make you weep, but it will be worth it.

I enjoyed reading this story very much. I loved the casual and personal tone, and all the little anecdotes. I felt like I'd gotten to know Katya and Sergei through this book. Needless to say, I was deeply moved and saddened once again at how the story ends. A sad yet beautiful love story!

I've always loved the skating magic of G&G and therefore I was heartbroken upon hearing about the tragic and untimely death of Sergei Grinkov. The skating world suffered a huge loss, as did his family and child. This book was difficult to read - and yes, I shed many tears during the process. But it was also a beautiful testimony of the love these two amazing skaters shared.

This is a very lovely and moving memoir. There was a lot of ugly crying. I loved their story and it was told beautifully.