Ilia Kulik

Career

Kulik began skating at the age of five. In November 1994, he won the 1995 World Junior title and then, a few months later, the 1995 European title, at the age of 17. He was ninth at his first senior World Championships. The next season, he won silver at the 1996 World Championships. During the 1997-98 season, Kulik won gold at the 1997 NHK Trophy and silver at the 1997 Skate Canada International to qualify for the Champion Series Final (now known as the Grand Prix Final) where he won the gold medal. He also won the Russian national title but missed the 1998 European Championships as a result of back problems. At the 1998 Olympics, Kulik placed first in both the short and long programs and won the Olympic title at the age of 20 years and 267 days, became one of the youngest male figure skating Olympic champions.

Kulik withdrew from the 1998 World Championships due to his recurring back injury. He retired from competitive skating and has focused on performing in shows. Kulik has skated with the Stars on Ice tour, shows in Russia, the 2009 Ice All Stars, the 2010 Festa On Ice. In 1999, he skated a duet with his wife, Ekaterina Gordeeva.

Kulik also ventured briefly into acting, playing the role of Sergei, a Russian dancer, in the 2000 ballet-themed movie Center Stage.

In 2012, Kulik and Gordeeva opened a skating rink in Lake Forest, California.

Kulik was the former coach of Michael Christian Martinez.

In March 2025, Kulik performed in the Legacy on Ice gala.

Personal life

Kulik has one sibling, sister Svetlana, who also lives in California. His parents live in Russia.

Kulik married Ekaterina Gordeeva in San Francisco on 10 June 2002.

Programs

Post–1998

(with Ekaterina Gordeeva)

Pre–1998

Competitive highlights

References

Navigation

References

1. "Martinez vying in skate America".
2. ((The Editors of PEOPLE)). (19 January 2018). "PEOPLE The Best of Olympic Figure Skating: Favorite Stars & Future Champions". [[People (magazine).
3. "ILIA KULIK VS EKATERINA GORDEEVA {{!}} Court Records".
4. (28 March 1998). "Olympic champion Kulik withdraws from worlds". Canoe.ca.
5. Longman, Jere. (28 March 1998). "Kulik Withdraws With Back Injury". [[The New York Times]].
6. (30 September 2008). "Ilia Kulik, Interview in Films, July 2008". figureskating-online.
7. Bangs, Kathleen. (August 2007). "A Happy Ending: Katia Gordeeva and Ilia Kulik's Leap of Faith". ifsmagazine.com.
8. Elfman, Lois. (13 September 2012). "Figure skating only at Kulik, Gordeeva's new rink". Ice Network.
9. "2013 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
10. "2012 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
11. "2009 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
12. "2008 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
13. "2007 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
14. "2002 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
15. "2001 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
16. "2000 Tour Music". [[Stars on Ice]].
17. "木下グループ メダル・ウィナーズ・オープン2012". [[TV Tokyo]].
18. "Ice Wars – World Ice Figure Skating Challenge". Golden Skate.
19. "World Professional Figure Skating Championships – Landover, MD". Golden Skate.
20. "Figure Skating Pro-AM Competitions (2000 – Present)". Golden Skate.
21. "Figure Skating Pro-AM Competitions (1995-1999)". Golden Skate.
22. "Figure Skating Professional Championships (2000-Present)". Golden Skate.
23. "USFSA Pro-AM Figure Skating Competitions (1992-1999)". Golden Skate.
24. "Seisouso Tango". Official Fan Club.
25. "Pagliacci". Official Fan Club.