Lyudmila Pakhomova: biography, photo, cause of death

Lyudmila Pakhomova is a famous figure skater on the ice, who entered the sport history with her partner and husband Alexander Gorshkov. They are six-time champions of Europe and the world. In 1976, having shown an excellent performance of the tango "Kumpparsita", deservedly received gold medals and became champions of the Olympic Games. Their duet was bright and interesting.

And although she lived only 39 years, Lyudmila Pakhomova was very famous. The biography, the cause of death, the personal life of this unique woman has always aroused the interest of journalists and fans. The most interesting thing is that in the young Pakhomova none of the coaches, except Ryzhkin, saw the champion. She was called a hopeless and very ordinary figure skater. Yes, those who did not believe in its success and sports career were mistaken.

The first steps on the ice Lyuda Pakhomova

In the military family of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the aviation colonel Aleksey Konstantinovich Pakhomov, a new daughter was born in 1946. Father, being a colonel, dreamed that his daughter would become a paratrooper officer. But Lyudmila went on a different path.

At 7 years old schoolgirl Ludu was taken to the stadium and recorded to the figure skating coach. The girl was engaged without any pressure, did not stand out. Attending training, she tried, but did not give much hope. Coaches have not yet seen in it a good figure skater and champion. After leaving school, the father (and he became already a general) firmly decided to take his daughter to the aviation, so she engaged in parachuting. A chance meeting of her mother with V. Ryzhkin played a big role in the future career of the future champion. Victor at that time, training the national team of the Union, decided to return to the big sport to do a new kind of dancing on ice. He, remembering Milla, her gracefulness, plasticity and incredible artistry, offered to become a coach and partner for the girl. For a long time she could not make up Lyudmila Pakhomova's decision. Her biography could be completely different, if not for cooperation with Victor.

Work with V. Ryzhkin

The athlete was determined before the European Championship (1965), deciding to perform with Ryzhkin. However, the competitions were held without the participation of a pair. The management felt that they were not yet experienced skaters. In Bratislava at the European Championships and at the World Championships in Davos, they fell a year later - in 1966, where they won their gold medals.

Their duet was disharmonious, it was clear that the couple could not work together. Although Viktor Ryzhkin is recognized as an experienced coach and a strong partner, but for Luda someone needed something different for a different temperament. As a result, the duo breaks up. But Lyudmila Pakhomova remains famous. Her photo often adorns the first pages of Soviet newspapers and sports magazines.

She offers to train together Gorshkov. By this time the sportswoman had already twice championed the USSR.

How did the duo Pakhomov-Gorshkov

A. Gorshkov before meeting with Pakhomova was not a famous person. And he did not dream of sports career. Mom brought little Sasha to a figure skating school. Coach a year later, not seeing in him a special talent for this sport, transferred the boy to a group of weak students. Gorshkov after a few years of training performed on the ice singly and in pairs, but no one in him saw the talent and especially did not suspect that the middle peasant would become the champion and partner of the already famous Pakhomova.

The proposal of Lyudmila to work on ice in a pair turned his whole life. She was already known to the whole world, and also won the Union title in ice dancing in singles. Gorshkov, realizing that his partner is much stronger than him in choreography and more experienced, trained hard to not only justify Mila's confidence, but also not let her down.

The first wins and the championship

Everyone was surprised why she took to partners a completely unknown and unpromising figure skater with the first rank. But in a few years the couple was a step above the English - legislators of dancing on ice. The coach of Gorshkov and Pakhomova was E. Chaikovskaya.

On the big ice, Soviet athletes were inferior in professionalism to foreign ones. Difficult training and perseverance led the couple to victory at the World Cup in 1969. They deservedly received silver. And a year later they win the championship and the title of world and European champions. Their performances are not similar to the work of other duets. Live and funny productions with elements of folk art were filled with the most complicated sports tricks. Their dancing on the ice was beautiful and bright.

In 1970 Lyudmila Pakhomova graduated from GITIS and simultaneously receives a second diploma confirming her world title. Skaters-champions do not stop there, they continue to work hard, inventing new productions with heavy sports stunts.

Winter 1975 brought a new victory. The couple, having come to the competition in Copenhagen, win it. Not having time to enjoy success, Gorshkov after shooting in a cold room gets sick. On the way to Moscow, he becomes very ill. From the death of Sasha saved experienced pulmonologist and surgeon M. Perelman. Three weeks - and Gorshkov was already ready to go to America, where the World Cup was held. As a result, he refused the competition, having lighted with Lyuda only in a demonstration performance, performing the composition "Romance".

Despite the recent operation, Gorshkov continued to train. Pakhomova Lyudmila Alekseevna was a strong woman with an imperious nature. From the side it seemed that she forced the partner to work for wear and tear. However, Gorshkov himself recalled that thanks to Luda's insistence he quickly came to the form, as if there was no operation.

Incident in Calgary

In Calgary, at the World Cup, with the pair an unpleasant situation occurred that could seriously damage the future of the skaters. There were rumors that the incident was specially designed by rivals to remove strong competitors. Lyudmila and Alexander before the performance doctors pumped out after a severe poisoning. They went to the ice in terrible condition. But, as always, they performed with dignity.

In 1976, ice dances for the first time included in the list of competitions in the Olympic Games. Luda and Alexander get a gold medal here, participating in the White Olympics. In the same year, the star duet becomes a family.

Strong in spirit Ludmila

Pakhomova Lyudmila Alekseevna was a very strong spirit and strong-willed woman. She gave herself to her favorite occupation entirely. Working on the ice for her became life. And nothing could prevent her from showing herself worthy and a real professional. Once on the ice, in the competition "Prague Skates", her leg was accidentally cut by the partner's skate. Nobody noticed that Lyudmila Pakhomova was dancing, experiencing a terrible pain. The wound was bleeding heavily, but the woman continued to show her party with complex tricks. She was taken to the hospital only after the evaluation of the performance became known.

Family and career

It so happened that the star couple, speaking, each time showed new heights of skill. They could not afford the next time to perform worse or at a level with the previous match. And this was the basic rule of Luda and Sasha. But the moment came when the victories ceased to please, and the conquests of the new peaks did not seem so desirable. They were tired and wanted quiet family happiness and home comfort. Once the skaters came to coach Tchaikovsky Elena, announced that they were leaving the ice and finishing their performances.

At the farewell party Lyudmila Pakhomova and Alexander Gorshkov danced on the ice before the guests came their famous "Cumparsita".

Soon they have a daughter, Julia (1977). Mum Lyudmila brought up and cared for the child. The figure skater herself plunged into coaching.

Serious Disease

In 1980, Luda fell seriously ill. Close relatives and doctors did not hide the seriousness of the situation. Yes, and the woman understood that chemotherapy is not prescribed for the treatment of colds. After the next consultation she was told about an urgent need to undergo serious and very long treatment.

Operations and therapy were exhausted. But Lyudmila Pakhomova found the strength to continue her coaching activities, took part in competitions and sports gatherings, detailed the lessons for her students. The figure did not want to admit that she was ill and weak, although her condition worsened every day. Cancer of the lymphatic system did not respond to treatment and burned her body. The disease could have been stopped if Luda had treated the disease more seriously and was clearly following the orders of the doctors. But she, constantly escaping from the hospital, went to the gym to become skating.

The last birthday of Pakhomova

In 1985, she celebrated her last birthday. Viktor Ryzhkin, arriving to congratulate Luda, did not pay attention to how depleted her chemotherapy. She was beaming and smiling affably. In the eyes there was no sadness and pain.

Another six months she fights cancer in the hospital. Being on a hospital bed, he writes his last book, "And Music Always Sounds", the work on which ends literally on his deathbed. The woman, experiencing a terrible pain, until the last hour struggled with the disease. Helpless and tired, but not abandoned by relatives and friends, Lyudmila Pakhomova dies. The cause of death is cancer of the lymphatic system.

In May (17) 1986 the great figure skater died. Many people came to say goodbye to her and honor her memory. People stood for several hours in line to bend over the body. The famous figure skater was buried in Moscow. At the Vagankovskoye cemetery is the grave of Lyudmila Pakhomova. Outsiders often come here and leave fresh flowers.

Her husband Alexander had a hard time surviving the death of his wife. For several years he spent days on end bending over her tombstone. In 2000, Alexander headed the L. Pakhomova Charitable Foundation.