In the information field, a discussion periodically arises about what figure skating is - art or sport. Clever experts prefer to keep quiet delicately. Elena Leonova began her career on the ice as an athlete. Today she is an actress.
Childhood and youth
Hundreds of books and articles have been written about early specialization for children. In order to succeed in any type of activity, it is necessary to begin the appropriate training as early as possible. Japanese career counselors suggest starting at the age of three. Russian teachers advise bringing children to the figure skating section at the age of four. The famous Soviet and Russian figure skater Elena Rudolfovna Leonova was born July 12, 1973 in an ordinary family. Parents at that time lived in Moscow. My father taught at the Moscow Institute of Physical Education. Mother worked as a therapist in one of the city polyclinics.
Helen was put on skates at the age of eight. Dad brought her to the children's sports school at CSKA and enrolled her in coach Elena Loboda. The girl did not demonstrate outstanding abilities. However, she did not have any obvious contraindications to practicing figure skating. At the start, a lot is determined by the coach. It is very important to choose the appropriate general physical training technique. And only after that proceed to the development of certain movements and elements. Leonova’s training process was regular. She managed to master the school curriculum and not miss workouts.
The girl trained according to the program of single skating. Two years later, the coaches came to the conclusion that Leonov should be transferred to pair skating. At that time, the promising skater Gennady Krasnitsky did not have a partner. A further “turn of events” showed that the decision of the coaching council was correct. Relationship specialists are well aware that the most important link in a sports couple is psychological compatibility. After three years of systematic training, Elena and Gennady demonstrated the highest level of skating for their age status.
For two consecutive seasons, since 1986, a pair of Leonov-Krasnitsky occupied the top steps of the podium at the World Junior Championships. Partners have gained invaluable experience in performing at international competitions. They won the NHK Trophy Japan Open without any errors. In 1989, at the international tournament "Skate Canada" in Canada, they pulled out the first place among the owners of the ice. Then they demonstrated the highest level of skating at the "Nebelhorn Trophy" competitions held in Germany.
On professional ice
In 1990, a pair of Leonov-Krasnitsky won the bronze medals of the USSR championship. And, completely unexpectedly for coaches and fans, it broke up. Such partings are difficult to tolerate and it took time for the athlete to recover. Elena went into a group with another coach. Rebuild on single skating was already pointless. After some time, she resumed training in tandem with Sergei Petrovsky. For three years, they worked hard on the new program. However, the couple failed to achieve the desired results. The partners broke up.
By that time, the All-Star Ice Theater became famous around the world. One of the best coaches in the world of figure skating Tatyana Tarasova figured out how to use the unspent potential of the skaters who left the big sport. Professional skaters with unspent energy, with great desire, were engaged in creativity in their usual environment. Elena Leonova received an offer to participate in this project. Here she "stood up" in a pair with Andrei Khvalko, who was also alone.
Paired Performances
For four years, Elena and Andrey performed on the stage of the ice theater. According to many actors, the load here was no less than on sports ice. We had to work on the performances “from dark to dark”. In this context, it should be noted that no one forced the athletes who completed their careers to retrain into actors. All procedures took place by mutual agreement. Another important circumstance - the actors earned very well. The troupe toured with tours of the capital of all civilized countries.
Constant communication at work has grown into sincere affection. Elena and Andrey began to live together. And not just live, but make real plans for the future. After a thoughtful analysis. The couple decided to take part in the World Figure Skating Championship among professionals. The conditions for these competitions are significantly different from those that operate in amateur sports. The calculation turned out to be accurate. At the end of the twentieth century, Leonova and Khvalko twice climbed to the top step of the pedestal.
