Ilia Kulik: Glorious Gold Medalist

"The shirt won" -- Ilia Kulik © ? "The shirt didn't clash so badly with the gold medal" -- John Jeansonne (Newsday)

Ilia Kulik is the most exciting skater since Viktor Petrenko! Yes, we have Elvis Stojko and Todd Eldredge and even Phillipe Candeloro is excellent, but in my heart I was cheering for Ilia to win the gold at the '98 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Congratulations! "...a Russian who... skates like a feather floating in a soft breeze. Kulik was too, too grand and belonged at the top of the stand. He combines superb athletic ability with Barishnikov ballet artistry, a flair of flying..." Woody Page, Denver Post 2/15/98

Ilia Alexandrovich Kulik Born May 23, 1977 in Moscow, USSR Height: 6'1" (185cm) Weight: 156lb (73kg) Family:    Nadezhda (mother, translator)    Alexander (father, civil engineer)    Svetlana (sister, swimmer) Currently dating figure skater Katerina Gordeeva

© Katja Rupp

"Kulik was as smooth as premium Russian vodka." Jim O'Leary - Canoe slam!sports 2/14/98

© Katja Rupp?