Tatiana Tarasova

Tatiana Tarasova
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Name	Tatiana Tarasova
Birth date	13 February 1947
Birth place	Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Figure skating coach, choreographer
Years active	1967–present
Spouse	Vladimir Krainev (m. 1975; died 2011)

Tatiana Tarasova is a preeminent Russian figure skating coach and choreographer, renowned as one of the most successful and influential mentors in the sport's history. The daughter of famed Soviet hockey coach Anatoli Tarasov, she has guided an unparalleled number of skaters to victory at the World Figure Skating Championships, the European Figure Skating Championships, and the Winter Olympic Games. Her innovative choreography and demanding training methods have defined entire eras of the sport, producing champions across multiple disciplines for over five decades.

Early life and family

Tatiana Tarasova was born on February 13, 1947, in Moscow into a legendary sporting family. Her father was Anatoli Tarasov, the revered architect of the Soviet Union national ice hockey team's dynasty, while her mother, Nina Tarasova, was a physical education teacher. Growing up in the intense athletic environment of CSKA Moscow, she initially pursued a career as a pair skater with partner Georgi Proskurin, but a serious ankle injury forced her retirement from competition. This pivotal moment steered her toward coaching, where she would apply the rigorous, systematic principles she absorbed from her father's work with HC CSKA Moscow to the world of figure skating.

Coaching career

Tatiana Tarasova began her coaching career in the late 1960s, quickly establishing herself at the Central Sports Club of the Army and later at the Luzhniki Palace of Sports. Her early successes came with pairs teams, including Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev, whom she coached to gold at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. She later formed a historic partnership with coach Elena Tchaikovskaya, mentoring singles skaters like Irina Slutskaya. Tarasova's coaching philosophy, often described as "the school of Tarasova," emphasizes dramatic artistry, intricate footwork, and powerful emotional expression, making her skaters instantly recognizable. She has been a central figure in major skating centers, including the Sporting Club "Moscow", and has frequently served as a consultant for the Russian Figure Skating Federation.

Notable students and achievements

Tatiana Tarasova's roster of champion students is unparalleled, spanning from the 1970s to the 2010s and earning a combined total of over forty medals at major international competitions. Her most celebrated protégés include Olympic champions such as Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, Ilia Kulik, Alexei Yagudin, and Evgeni Plushenko. She also coached world champions like Sasha Cohen, Mao Asada, and Johnny Weir, as well as European champions including Javier Fernández and Adelina Sotnikova. Her students have triumphed at events like the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and the Goodwill Games, solidifying her reputation for developing skaters who peak at the most critical moments, such as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Personal life and legacy

Tatiana Tarasova was married to the renowned pianist Vladimir Krainev from 1975 until his death in 2011; their son, Andrei Krainev, is a conductor. Beyond her direct coaching, her legacy is profound, having shaped the artistic standards of modern figure skating through her work as a choreographer for shows like Stars on Ice and Ice Age (Russian TV series). A charismatic and often outspoken television commentator for channels like Channel One Russia, she remains a dominant and respected voice in the sport. Her influence extends globally, having mentored not only Russian skaters but also top athletes from the United States, Japan, and Spain, ensuring her methodologies are embedded in training systems worldwide.

Awards and honors

For her extraordinary contributions to figure skating, Tatiana Tarasova has received some of the highest state and sporting honors. She is a recipient of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of Honour (Russia), and the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (IV class). The sporting world has recognized her with the International Skating Union's prestigious "Coaching Achievement Award." Her induction into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the Russian Figure Skating Hall of Fame cements her status as a true legend of the discipline.

Category:Russian figure skating coaches Category:Soviet figure skating coaches Category:1947 births Category:Living people