Olga Markova (figure skater)
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Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
| Olga Markova | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Markova in 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Olga Dmitriyevna Markova | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | Ольга Дмитриевна Маркова | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 January 1974 Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Russia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skating club | CSKA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Olga Dmitriyevna Markova (Russian: Ольга Дмитриевна Маркова; born 22 January 1974)[1] is a Russian former competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach, choreographer, and technical specialist. She is a two-time European medalist (bronze in 1994 and silver in 1995), and the 1994 Russian national champion.
Markova drew attention for her avant garde style and choreography.[citation needed] For example, her free skating program at Skate Canada in 1993, which she choreographed, emphasized the angular, straight-lined, and twisting shapes she made with her body, especially her long, thin arms and legs. Her costume was a streamlined solid-black dress and tights and produced a futuristic image consistent with the electronic music. Figure skating writer and historian Ellyn Kestnbaum called Markova's free skating program "an abstract program, focused on stark geometric shapes and direct movement qualities rather than on the classical moves or flowiness associated with traditional femininity".[2] She came in third place overall at Skate Canada.
Her highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was fifth, which she achieved in 1995. That year she was second after the short program, ahead of the eventual gold and silver medalists Lu Chen and Surya Bonaly. Her inability to land a clean triple lutz in the long program dropped her off the podium.
In 1998 Markova turned professional and won a silver medal at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in Jaca, Spain. She has coached and choreographed for Kristina Oblasova and currently coaches Adrian Alvarado. She is an ISU technical specialist for Russia.[3]