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Natalia Bestemianova
Natalia Bestemianova
	Natalia Bestemianova in 2019
Full name	Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova
Other names	Natalya Bestemyanova
Born	6 January 1960 (age 64); Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Figure skating career
Retired	1988
Medal record
Figure skating
Ice dancing
Representing Soviet Union
Olympic Games
World Championships
European Championships

Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova or Bestemyanova^[1] (Russian: Наталья Филимоновна Бестемьянова,^[2] born 6 January 1960)^[3] is a Soviet and Russian former competitive ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With her partner Andrei Bukin, she is the 1988 Olympic Champion, 1984 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World champion, three-time World silver medalist, and five-time European champion.

Life and career

Bestemianova was coached by Tatiana Tarasova and competed in ice dance with Andrei Bukin. Figure skating historian James R. Hines called their free dance programs "unconventional and avant garde", and stated that they were "equally strong in the more conservative compulsory dances". Hines compared Bestemianova and Bukin to British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, saying that they were "less suave" and "more energetic".^[4]

Bestemianova and Bukin came in 10th place at the 1979 World Championships. In 1980, they came in fifth place at the European Championships. In 1981, they came in fourth place at both Worlds and Europeans.^[5] In 1984, Bestemianova was named an Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.^[3]

Bestemianova and Bukin capped their lengthy career by winning the gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics and that year's World Figure Skating Championships. The Besti Squat was Bestemianova's signature move and is unofficially named for her.

They skated in ice shows after their retirement, including in Champions on Ice and Holiday on Ice.^[4]

In 1983, Bestemianova married Igor Bobrin. After she finished her career she performed in the Ice Miniature Theater, led by her husband. She is the stepmother of Maxim, Igor's son from his previous marriage.^[3] Together, they run Moscow Stars on Ice.^[6]

In 2006–2008, Bestemianova appeared as a coach and show-host in the Russian version of the British show Dancing on Ice, shown on Russian RTR. In early 2007, she appeared as a member of the ice panel for the British show Dancing on Ice, shown on ITV1. In 2011–2012, Bestemianova was on the panel of judges for the Channel One Russia television show Cup of Professionals.^[7]

Competitive highlights

Ice dance with Bukin

International
Event	77–78	78–79	79–80	80–81	81–82	82–83	83–84	84–85	85–86	86–87	87–88
Olympics			8th				2nd				1st
Worlds		10th		3rd	2nd	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st
Europeans			6th	4th	2nd	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st
Skate America			2nd
NHK Trophy										1st	1st
Moscow News		4th	2nd	3rd	1st	1st	1st	2nd	1st
National^[3]
Soviet Champ.	3rd	4th	2nd	3rd	1st	1st		2nd		1st

Ladies' singles

International
Event	1976–77
Prague Skate	5th

Programs

(With Bukin)

Season	Original set pattern	Free dance
1987–1988	Tango Hernando's Hideaway	Polovetsian Dances
1986–1987		Cabaret medley
1985–1986		Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
1984–1985		Carmen
1983–1984	Paso Doble
1982–1983
1981–1982		FD: "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khatchaturian, "Romeo and Juliet" by Tchiakovsky, Finale from "William Tell" Overture by Rossini (modern piano version)
1980–1981
1979–1980