Yekaterina Gordeeva, born in 1971, Russian figure skater, best known for her pairs skating accomplishments with her husband, Sergei Grinkov. Together they became the world’s top pairs skaters, winning four world championships and the gold medals at the 1988 and 1994 Winter Olympic Games.

Born in Moscow, Gordeeva was 11 years old when her coach paired her with Grinkov, then 14. The pair won the world championship in 1986 and 1987. At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, their performances, marked by perfectly synchronized movements and an elegantly athletic style, earned them their first Olympic gold medal. They went on to win the world championship again in 1989 and 1990. Following their marriage in 1991, Gordeeva and Grinkov turned professional. After professional skaters were admitted to Olympic competition, Gordeeva and Grinkov competed at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway, and won their second Olympic gold medal.

After the Lillehammer Games, Gordeeva and Grinkov returned to professional skating and moved to the United States. While practicing in 1995, however, Grinkov collapsed from a heart attack and died. Gordeeva returned to skating in 1996, launching her own solo career with a special performance designed as a tribute to her husband.