“A woman should be weak, but I can’t afford it,” Natalia Bestemyanova once said, smiling. Although to whom, no matter how her, enjoy a happy family life and be weak with a strong man. Natalya’s husband is a famous skater, honored master of sports and now a coach, as well as ice show director Igor Bobrin. They got married back in 1983. But apparently calm - this is not about Bestemyanova. At 55, she again storms new peaks and does not give herself a slack. Natalya is in demand as a trainer, actively participates in television projects on figure skating, is engaged in charity work and helps her husband in their joint project “Ice Miniature Theater”. But behind her shoulders already have a dizzying career. Natalya Bestemyanova - figure skater, 1988 Olympic champion, repeated champion of the world and Europe.
How was temper tempered?
In front of a small black and white screen, a girl sits. With bated breath and enthusiasm, she watches Lyudmila Belousova magically glide along the ice in tandem with Oleg Protopopov. Through the flickering of the screen, you can see how easily the skate cuts the ice - Belousova as if flutters. And all this with music, with applause and with enthusiastic remarks by the commentator behind the scenes. Such a girl in love with figure skating, Natalia Bestemyanova remembers herself.
But nothing could have happened, and the dream of skiing risked remaining a dream. At 4 years old, little Natasha underwent surgery on her leg. A trifling, uncomplicated operation, as Bestemyanova admits now. However, psychological fear remained, it was scary to lean when walking on the operated leg. And so, to help the girl overcome her insecurity, doctors advised her to go in for sports.
Well, where can I give the girl? Of course, in figure skating! So decided the parents of Natasha. Choreography, posture, classical music - in general, some pluses! In addition, the popularity of this sport in the USSR was gaining momentum. So, at 5 years old Bestemyanova went on skates.
The days of training stretched. Natalia gritted her teeth and promised herself - to be at least Lyudmila Belousova on the ice!
Ordinary Soviet family
Natasha's parents had nothing to do with figure skating. It was the most ordinary, but quite prosperous and happy family, although not rich. Mom Natalya Bestemyanova was brought up in an orphanage and went through the horrors of war. But it was from the mother that the future champion inherited a love for beauty and artistry. Natalya's father taught technical sciences and defended his dissertation.
In the Bestemyanov family, it was customary to pay great attention to children. Natalya’s mother did not work, she devoted all her time to her daughter and son, empathizing with them and helping to solve any life issues.
From solo skating to doubles
From the age of 15, Natalia Bestemyanova began to ride under the guidance of Eduard Pliner. Well-deserved sporting achievements have appeared. As a lone figure skater, Natalia won the country's junior championship and also won the USSR Cup.
But then she made an unexpected decision for many - to go to pair figure skating, namely - to dance on ice. According to her, in his career at that time stagnation occurred. The thing is that a new figure skater, Elena Vodorezova, conquered the sports Olympus. Her performance programs were more complicated, and her performance technique was higher. "Surrendered, saved, scared?" - evil languages ​​whispered about Bestemyanova, but only she knew how difficult and bitter it was to make such a decision. After all, moving to pair skating at age 17 is akin to the beginning of a career, again making your way to the heights from the bottom ...
“If it weren’t for Andrei ...”
Since 1977, Natalia has paired up with Andrei Bukin in ice dancing. Tatyana Tarasova herself undertook to train them. It turned out that being a loner and performing in a duet are two big differences. Andrei Bukin was already experienced in this sport and taught many lessons to Natalia. While they were grinding against each other and mastering the program of performances, no one seriously relied on this pair. Tatyana Tarasova at that time had other, more promising and already popular wards.
However, the determination and industriousness of Natalia Bestemyanova did their job. Plus, the reliability and experience of Andrei Bukin, as well as the firmness and talent of Tatyana Tarasova, brought the couple to the victory podium. The guys began to successfully perform not only within the country, but also to take prize awards outside of it.
Sports commentators paid tribute to the brightness and emotionality of Natalia. She was often called the leader in the duet. But Bestemyanova herself strongly disagrees with this. “I wouldn’t look so good,” she assures, “if it weren’t not Andrei, but someone else.”
The main step in a career
This, of course, is about the Olympics. Each athlete has been preparing for these competitions for almost his entire career. And to take the "gold" at the Olympics is worth a lot.
But it didn’t work out the first time. In 1984, in Sarajevo Bestemyanova and Bukin became only the second in ice dancing, receiving "silver". However, already in 1988, the couple went to the Games in Calgary with a clear goal - to become leaders. As Tatyana Tarasova loved to repeat then, in order to win dances, one must be not one, but two heads better than rivals.
According to Bestemyanova, it was the Olympic Games that were always a stress for her. In a free program in Calgary, she almost fell, performing one of the elements. Bukin saved the situation, who managed to catch the athlete in time. Fortunately, the judges did not notice anything. From the outside it seemed that this was part of the program. And the "gold" went to the pair.
With her permanent partner Andrei Bukin, Natalia continued to perform after the Olympics. They won the world championship held in Budapest. Although they went to the competition without a coach. Tatyana Tarasova was hospitalized, and, in general, according to Bestemyanova, she did not even advise the couple to participate in competitions. Then it seemed that the skaters had already taken the main prize in their career, and they were already preparing a worthy shift. But the champion pair nevertheless proved that after the Olympics it can occupy the high steps of the podium.
Was there an office romance?
A red-haired, fiery girl and a stately tall partner ... Spectators were sure that Bukin and Bestemyanova had an affair. In addition, they were able to play incomparably the roles of passionate lovers in their performances on the ice. And yet this is just speculation. Andrei Bukin was already married at the time of the meeting with Natalia. The wife often attended their training. But Bukin did not give cause for jealousy. And Natalya Bestemyanova was secretly and hopelessly in love with ... married Igor Bobrin. Although they did not have a personal acquaintance. Bestemyanova only saw his performances and heard about him from colleagues.
"And I love married"
Natalya Bestemyanova does not consider herself a loser. According to her admission, if a man leaves the family, it means that not everything is safe there. And Natalia did not have a goal to lead Igor away. She admired him from the outside, but did not take steps towards rapprochement. And fate itself intervened - Bobrina and Bestemyanova were put in one pair at the final performance in the ice show in 1980. However, only a few months later, lovers began to meet. Moreover, Igor lived in Leningrad, and Bestemyanova - in Moscow. But the distance was easily overcome. Igor Bobrin literally flew over the weekend, inspired by love, to Natalia, leaving his wife and young son Maxim.
And then the problems began. Tatyana Tarasova was in a warm relationship with Bobrin's wife, therefore, such an extramarital affair was condemned by her. Fortunately, professionalism prevailed. The theme of the love triangle did not arise during training, but the atmosphere remained heated for a long time.
The wedding was played only in 1983. Natalia laughs, saying that it was she who made the proposal. Just like that, unexpectedly even for herself, after a quarrel with Bobrin because of some nonsense she suddenly blurted out: “But let's get married?”
The couple noted their decision to get married in Paris. Now they periodically fly to the French capital to visit the very restaurant where Igor gave the ring to Natalya.
By the way, Tatyana Tarasova nevertheless became a witness at their wedding, resigned to such an alliance.
Natalya Bestemyanova: children only in dreams
Unfortunately, this dream has remained a dream. A famous couple does not like to raise this topic when communicating with reporters. Rumor has it that Natalia cannot have children for health reasons. However, her husband Igor has a son, Maxim, from his first marriage. And Bestemyanova built warm friendly relations with him. Not immediately Maxim recognized Natalia. Only at a young age did he take the first step in communicating with his father's new darling. Today Maxim often visits a star family.
In general, Natalia loves quiet family evenings. However, they are issued infrequently. The Bobrin couple constantly travels on foreign business trips, tours, or just disappears for days at work. But the sweeter the return home, as Natalya admits.
Corner of calm and comfort
The house of Natalia Bestemyanova is a whole suburban mansion, which is designed according to all the requirements of a star couple. There is also a touch of personality. So, Natalia's father participated in the masonry of the fireplace. A family friend and artist Natella Abdulaeva embodied her creative ideas in the wall paintings of the mansion.
Pine, oak, spruce grow right under the windows of the house. Real forest fresh air perfectly restores strength. There are also luxurious flower beds. Bestemyanova is sure that a couple of minutes on the terrace of the house and the contemplation of such beauty, and you are again charged with positive energy.
But home care is a troublesome business, Natalya complains. In addition, she considers herself not the best mistress. What can I say there, Igor, in her opinion, even cooks much better than her. Especially he manages the meat on fire. A couple of years ago, Bobrin brought sesame seeds from Asia. He planted and now surprises the guests with a wonderful dish - pieces of meat wrapped in sesame leaves, fried on the grill.
Future plans
Here is such an interesting and extraordinary personality is Natalia Bestemyanova. Her biography is very eventful, as she is always full of energy and looks forward with optimism. So much more to come. Her main work today is participation in Igor’s project “Ice Miniature Theater”. There, Andrei Bukin has long been speaking. The theater has already toured in about 20 countries.
Natalia tried herself in the writing business. In collaboration with Bukin and Bobrin, she released the book "A couple in which there are three." In general, this is a biography of three skaters and their view of the world championships from the inside.
And, of course, Natalia Bestemyanova is waiting for coaching. Nowhere without it. So, she would not want to go on a well-deserved rest for many more years.