Lubov Iliushechkina

Lubov Iliushechkina
Iliushechkina and Maisuradze in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Lubov Ivanovna Iliushechkina
Country represented	Russia
Born	(1991-11-05) 5 November 1991 Moscow
Height	1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Former partner	Yannick Kocon, Nodari Maisuradze
Former coach	Natalia Pavlova, Inna Utkina, Alexei Sokolov, Lubov Fedoshchenko
Former choreographer	Daria Garmash
Skating club	UOR 4 Moscow
Began skating	1996
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	177.44 2010–11 Grand Prix Final
Short program	62.54 2009 Cup of China
Free skate	117.38 2010–2011 Grand Prix Final

Lubov Ivanovna Iliushechkina (Russian: Любовь Ивановна Илюшечкина, born 5 November 1991) is a Russian pair skater. With former partner Nodari Maisuradze, she is the 2010 Skate Canada champion, 2011 Winter Universiade champion, 2009 World Junior champion, 2008 World Junior silver medalist, and 2009 Russian national bronze medalist.

Career

Iliushechkina began skating at the age of four or five in Moscow.^[1] Her coach, Lubov Fedoshchenko, suggested she try pair skating and took her to Saint Petersburg to train under Natalia Pavlova in 2006.^[1] Iliushechkina began skating with Nodari Maisuradze in April 2006.^[2] Though initially skeptical, coach Natalia Pavlova decided to work with them because she had no pairs at the time and grew impressed by their commitment.^[1] In September of that year, Pavlova moved to Moscow and the pair followed her.^[1]

During the 2007–2008 season, Iliushechkina and Maisuradze took silver at the 2008 Junior Worlds and placed 4th at the senior Russian Nationals.

During the 2008–2009 season, they won the World Junior title, along with gold at the Junior Grand Prix Final. They also competed at the senior level, winning the bronze at Russian Nationals and placing 5th at their first European Championships. They earned a berth to 2009 Worlds but were forced to withdraw due to an injury to Maisuradze. He injured ligaments in his hand in a skiing accident.^[3] They were replaced by Ksenia Ozerova and Alexander Enbert.

During the 2009–2010 season, Iliushechkina and Maisuradze placed third in the short program at 2009 Cup of China and achieved their personal best score of 62.54. However, they struggled in the long program, finishing seventh in that segment, and fifth overall. At Russian Nationals, they also struggled and finished in fourth.^[4] After the difficult season, they made some adjustments in training.^[3]

Iliushechkina and Maisuradze began the 2010–2011 season by capturing the gold at 2010 Skate Canada, their first medal on the senior Grand Prix circuit. Only a week later, they competed at the 2010 Cup of China and placed 4th. Their results qualified them for their first Grand Prix Final at the senior level. They finished fourth, setting new personal bests in the long program (117.38) and combined total (177.44). At the 2011 Russian Nationals, they placed sixth in the short program and fourth in the long, to finish fifth overall. They were named to the 2011 Winter Universiade team but missed the European and World teams. Iliushechkina and Maisuradze won the gold medal at the Winter Universiade.

In the 2011–2012 season, Iliushechkina and Maisuradze competed at 2011 Skate Canada, where they placed 5th, and 2011 NHK Trophy, where they finished 6th. They were 6th at the 2012 Russian Championships. In March 2012, their coach, Natalia Pavlova, confirmed that their partnership had ended.^[5]

In May, it was reported that Iliushechkina hoped to skate for France with Yannick Kocon but the Russian skating federation was unwilling to release her.^[6] Iliushechkina contacted him after learning he was available.^[7]

Programs

Iliushechkina and Maisuradze with coach Natalia Pavlova

Competitive highlights

Iliushechkina and Maisuradze at 2008 Junior Worlds

(with Maisuradze)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lubov Iliushechkina.

• Lubov Iliushechkina / Nodari Maisuradze at the International Skating Union