Yelena Valova

Yelena Valova and Oleg Vasilyev were the first Soviet pair to turn professional in 1989. Before that they were a very successful amateur pair, winning Olympic gold in 1984 and silver in 1988. They were World Champions in 1983, 1985 and 1988 and won silvers in 1984 and 1986-1987. They were also European Champions three times in a row from 1984-86 and won silvers at the European Championships in 1983 and 1987. At the Soviet Championships, Valova and Vasilyev won their only title in 1986, placing second in 1985 and third in 1982. They were also the first pair to perform the parallel triple jump. After turning professional in 1989, Valova and Vasilyev won silver at the 1990 and bronze at the 1994 World Professional Championships. They also won silvers at the 1990 and 1993 and bronze at the 1994 World Challenge of Champions tournament. Valova and Vasilyev were married from 1984-1992. In 1995 Valova finished her competitive skating career and started to work as a figure skating coach, teaching skating at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in the United States.