Irina Slutskaya

Irina Slutskaya
Irina Slutskaya in 2016
Personal information
Native name	Ири́на Эдуа́рдовна Слу́цкая
Full name	Irina Eduardovna Slutskaya
Country represented	Russia
Born	(1979-02-09) 9 February 1979 (age 38) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Residence	Moscow, Russia
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Coach	Zhanna Gromova
Choreographer	Sergei Petukhov
Skating club	Sport Club Moskvitch
Began skating	1984
Retired	2006
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	198.06 2005 Cup of Russia
Short program	70.22 2005 Cup of China
Free skate	130.48 2005 Cup of Russia
Medal record Representing  Russia Figure skating: Ladies' singles Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 1 1 World Championships 2 3 1 European Championships 7 2 0 Grand Prix Final 4 3 2 World Junior Championships 1 0 1 Total 14 9 5 Winter Olympics 2002 Salt Lake City Ladies' singles 2006 Turin Ladies' singles World Championships 2002 Nagano Ladies' singles 2005 Moscow Ladies' singles 1998 Minneapolis Ladies' singles 2000 Nice Ladies' singles 2001 Vancouver Ladies' singles 1996 Edmonton Ladies' singles European Championships 1996 Sofia Ladies' singles 1997 Paris Ladies' singles 2000 Vienna Ladies' singles 2001 Bratislava Ladies' singles 2003 Malmö Ladies' singles 2005 Turin Ladies' singles 2006 Lyon Ladies' singles 1998 Milano Ladies' singles 2002 Lausanne Ladies' singles Grand Prix Final 1999–2000 Lyon Ladies' singles 2000–01 Tokyo Ladies' singles 2001–02 Kitchener Ladies' singles 2004–05 Beijing Ladies' singles 1995–96 Paris Ladies' singles 2002–03 Saint Petersburg Ladies' singles 2005–06 Tokyo Ladies' singles 1996–97 Hamilton Ladies' singles 1998–99 Saint Petersburg Ladies' singles World Junior Championships 1995 Budapest Ladies' singles 1994 Colorado Springs Ladies' singles

Irina Eduardovna Slutskaya (Russian: Ири́на Эдуа́рдовна Слу́цкая Irina Eduardovna Slutskaya  (listen) ; born 9 February 1979) is a Russian figure skater. She is a two-time World champion (2002, 2005), two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 2002, bronze in 2006), seven-time European champion (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006), a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (2000–2002, 2005) and a four-time Russian national champion (2000–2002, 2005). Slutskaya, known for her athletic ability, was the first female skater to land a triple lutz-triple loop combination. She is also known for her trademark double Biellmann spin with a foot change, which she also invented. With her women's record seven European titles she is generally considered to be the most successful ladies' singles skaters in Russian history.

Slutskaya started skating at the age of four, encouraged by her mother. Coached by Zhanna Gromova from the age of six, she first made her mark as a promising junior skater by winning the bronze medal at the 1994 World Junior Championships, held in December 1993 in Colorado Springs. This would be the beginning of a twelve-year rivalry with American legend Michelle Kwan, who won gold at this same event.