Ilia Sergeyevich Klimkin (russian: Илья Серге́евич Климкин, born 15 August 1980) is a Russian former competitive figure skater. He is the 2003 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, the 2004 European bronze medalist, the 1999 World Junior champion, and a three-time Russian national silver medalist.

Personal life

Klimkin was born on 15 August 1980 in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

Russian SFSR The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR or RSFSR ( rus, Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая Республика, Rossíyskaya Sovétskaya Federatívnaya Soci ...

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

Career

Klimkin's grandmother introduced him to skating at the age of four because she felt it would be good for his health. He was coached by Igor Rusakov for thirteen years until Rusakov's sudden death in July 2003. He was then coached by Viktor Kudriavtsev. At the 1999 Nebelhorn Trophy, Klimkin became the first skater to land two different quadruple jumps in one program, which he did by landing a quad salchow and a quad

toe loop The toe loop jump is the simplest jump in the sport of figure skating. It was invented in the 1920s by American professional figure skater Bruce Mapes. The toe loop is accomplished with a forward approach on the inside edge of the blade; the ska ...

in the free skate. Klimkin spins in both directions, and is also known for his

cantilever A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a cant ...

. In the summer of 2003, Klimkin had a calf injury which became infected and required three surgeries; he returned to the ice in late September and won 2002 NHK Trophy two months later. In the fall of 2004, he underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon, keeping him off the ice for four months; after another three months, he was able to practice jumps. He did not compete in the 2004–05 season. He announced his retirement from competitive skating on 19 April 2007.

Programs

Results

''GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Klimkin, Ilia Sergeyevich 1980 births Living people Russian male single skaters Figure skaters at the 2006 Winter Olympics Olympic figure skaters of Russia Figure skaters from Moscow European Figure Skating Championships medalists World Junior Figure Skating Championships medalists