Olga Markova (figure skater)

Olga Markova
Markova in 1993
Full nameOlga Dmitriyevna Markova
Native nameОльга Дмитриевна Маркова
Born (1974-01-22) 22 January 1974 (age 50)
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Figure skating career
CountryRussia
Skating clubCSKA
Retired1998
Medal record
Figure skating: Ladies' singles
Representing  Russia
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1995 Dortmund Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Copenhagen Singles

Olga Dmitriyevna Markova (Russian: Ольга Дмитриевна Маркова; born 22 January 1974)[1] is a Russian former competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach, choreographer, and technical specialist. She is a two-time European medalist (bronze in 1994 and silver in 1995), and the 1994 Russian national champion.

Career

Markova drew attention for her avant garde style and choreography.[citation needed] For example, her free skating program at Skate Canada in 1993, which she choreographed, emphasized the angular, straight-lined, and twisting shapes she made with her body, especially her long, thin arms and legs. Her costume was a streamlined solid-black dress and tights and produced a futuristic image consistent with the electronic music. Figure skating writer and historian Ellyn Kestnbaum called Markova's free skating program "an abstract program, focused on stark geometric shapes and direct movement qualities rather than on the classical moves or flowiness associated with traditional femininity".[2] She came in third place overall at Skate Canada.

Her highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was fifth, which she achieved in 1995. That year she was second after the short program, ahead of the eventual gold and silver medalists Lu Chen and Surya Bonaly. Her inability to land a clean triple lutz in the long program dropped her off the podium.

In 1998 Markova turned professional and won a silver medal at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in Jaca, Spain. She has coached and choreographed for Kristina Oblasova and currently coaches Adrian Alvarado. She is an ISU technical specialist for Russia.[3]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
1994–95
1993–94
  • Space Opera
    by Didier Marouani

Results

GP: Champions Series (Grand Prix)

International
Event 90–91 91–92 92–93 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98
Worlds 10th 5th 12th
Europeans 12th 3rd 2nd 11th 8th
GP Final 6th 5th
GP Skate Canada 4th 6th
GP Cup of Russia 3rd 2nd
GP NHK Trophy 3rd
GP Nations Cup 4th
Inter. de Paris 4th
Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd
NHK Trophy 7th 5th
Schäfer Memorial 3rd
Skate America 7th
Skate Canada 2nd
National[4]
Russian Champ. 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 2nd 9th
Soviet Champ. 4th

References

  1. ^ "Olga Markova". Figure Skating Corner. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007.
  2. ^ Kestnbaum, Ellyn (2003). Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning. Middleton, Connecticut: Wesleyan Publishing Press. p. 179. ISBN 0-8195-6641-1.
  3. ^ "Communication No. 1467". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009.
  4. ^ "Ольга Дмитриевна Маркова" [Olga Dmitriyevna Markova] (in Russian). fskate.ru.