Irina Eduardovna Slutskaya is a famous Russian figure skater, European and world champion, two-time Olympic medalist, multiple winner of the Grand Prix series finals. Honored Master of Sports of Russia, Chevalier of the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honor. She finished her professional career in 2006.
Slutskaya did not disappear from television screens after completing her figure skating career. She became a sports commentator and columnist, TV presenter, actress, producer. And also the founder of the Voluntary Sports Union and the deputy of the Regional Duma of the Moscow Region.
short biography
The future figure skater was born in the winter of 1979. Her father worked as a teacher in one of the schools, and her mother was an engineer.
Parents gave the girl to figure skating not with the aim of achieving high results. They were concerned about her health, because Ira was very sick in her childhood. Therefore, it was decided to send the child to the figure skating section. At the age of four, the girl first went out on the ice and began to train.
Zh. F. Gromova became her first mentor. She was able to discern great potential and a desire to achieve good results in a novice athlete. Together with her coach, Ira began to take the first steps in figure skating, learn complex elements, and train hard. Soon she was able to achieve her first victories.
Sports career
Irina was a very disciplined child and had a strong character. It was these qualities that allowed her to achieve great success and receive the first awards at the junior competitions.
When Slutskaya was seventeen years old, for the first time she was able to get a gold medal at the European Championship. This was a great achievement, because before her, none of the Soviet and Russian athletes could achieve such an excellent result.
Having won the European Championship, the skater went to the World Championship, where she managed to take third place. At the Olympics, Slutskaya took only fifth place. After that, she had to take a short break in her career. Without joining the national team, the girl did not despair and continued to train.
A few years later, Irina managed to win again the awards of the world championships and, in addition, receive a diploma from the Academy of Physical Education.
In 2002, Slutskaya again became a participant in the Olympics. This time she received a silver medal, losing only one point to the champion.
Throughout her sports career, Irina has had many ups and downs. But she always stubbornly went to her goal and managed to become one of the most famous representatives of figure skating in Russia.
In the personal life of the skater, not everything was smooth either. Her mother became seriously ill. Therefore, the girl had to spend a lot of time next to her.
There was also a period when doctors completely banned Slutskaya from playing sports. The girl was diagnosed with vasculitis, a disease that destroys blood vessels. She had to spend a lot of time and effort to restore her health.
She was able to defeat the disease and again achieve the highest results in sports. Slutskaya received a gold medal at the World Championships and a bronze medal at the Olympics.
Further career
Leaving professional sports in 2006, Irina did not disappear from the sight of her fans and figure skating fans. Slutskaya began to host television programs and shows, sports news, act in films and engage in social activities.
The figure skater became one of the presenters of the First Channel "Ice Age" show, then appeared in the "Stars on Ice" program. A year after the end of her sports career, Irina starred in a movie. She played a small role in the film "Three and a Snowflake", then appeared in the project "Hot Ice" and the musical "Good Deal".
Slutskaya became the ambassador of the Winter Olympic Games held in Russia. Then she was invited to television, where she became a commentator and columnist for sports events and news.
Irina Eduardovna opened her own sports school, where children learn figure skating and are engaged in several programs designed for both beginners and professional athletes.
Two years later, Slutskaya created another project called "Scandinavian Walking School" for diabetics and everyone who wants to keep fit. Currently, ten centers have already been opened in the Moscow region, in which those who wish can study under the guidance of experienced trainers.
In addition, Irina organizes summer outdoor sports camps, where both children and adults can come. There are several camp programs for beginners or professional skaters.
In 2016, Irina Eduardovna began her political career, becoming a member of the Regional Duma from United Russia.
Slutskaya is a producer of ice shows. So in 2018 she presented the play Fixies on Ice. The Big Game”, and in 2019 -“The Endless Story”.
The famous figure skater dreams of building a large Palace of Figure Skating, but so far she does not have the opportunity to implement this idea. According to preliminary estimates, the project requires more than 400 million.
Income
Slutskaya receives most of her income from her figure skating school, where talented athletes train, among whom there are probably future stars.
Another source of income is production. Irina has already shown several ice shows and is preparing another program, where only children from sixteen to nineteen years old will perform on the ice.
Working as a deputy, Slutskaya does not receive any money from this activity. She has no salary. As the athlete herself explained in one of her interviews, this is how a large percentage of officials work. Having come to this job, Irina did not think about how to increase her financial condition. It is important for her to help people and solve their pressing problems.
