Katia speaks about her marriage to Ilia?

[jcspkbfan]

Katia was signing some of her figurines in Chicago yesterday and apparently she told a group of people at the signing that she and Ilia got married on June 10, 2001 (only five days before their daughter was born!) Kind of a strange time to get married, IMO, (talk about cutting it close--LOL!) but if this is true, I'm really happy for them and I wish them and their family the very best of luck.

Hopefully we'll find out a few more details in Katia's upcoming BOI interview (and hopefully this will put an end once and for all to all the "are they or aren't they married/still together" rumors that have been circling around about Katia and Ilia!)

Here's a link to the posting itself (scoll down past all the "abortion debate" threads and you should be able to find it!):

http://www.gg-corner.de/board.htm

And here's some photos of Katia at the signing (she looks great, BTW!):

http://www.gg-corner.de/pictures/e/e_200206_chicago.htm

[imanta]

I saw this over at G&G Corner! I wonder if it's true?? It certainly sounds like it if she really did say so herself. If you look at the pictures posted from the Lenox signing she's wearing a ring on her right 4th finger, so I guess it is a possibility. I hope she talks about it in the Blades on Ice interview. Has anyone seen the magazine yet? I went to the bookstore yesterday to see if it was in yet, but of course it wasn't! The new picture is up on the BOI website.

[imanta]

Oh, and if it is true, I am really very happy for them both. I absolutely loved G&G and always will, but it is totally understandable for her to continue to live her life to the fullest. And if for her that includes getting married again, so be it. I hope they are all very happy. :)

[HotIce]

I believe that the baby came much earlier then expected and they probably did not expect to be cutting it that close.
I had read a few months ago somewhere that they got married last year and then didn't hear anymore about it.
It just kind of died down. Guess it was true!

[jcspkbfan]

I don't know if the BOI with Katia on the cover is on sale yet, but you can at least see what the magazine will look like on their website:

http://www.bladesonice.com/mag/

[Jenny]

[quote:0f2b443c0f="HotIce"]I believe that the baby came much earlier then expected and they probably did not expect to be cutting it that close.
[/quote:0f2b443c0f]

Really? As I recall she was pregnant in September of the year before, so birth in June would be just right.

And how amusing if they were married for a year without anyone knowing about it!

Jenny

[Kruss]

[quote:fe2e945114="Jenny"]And how amusing if they were married for a year without anyone knowing about it!

Jenny[/quote:fe2e945114]


I think it would be cool, especially since they were dating almost a year before everyone got wind of it. :)

[Jenny]

[quote:6405f6894a="Kruss"]

I think it would be cool, especially since they were dating almost a year before everyone got wind of it. :)[/quote:6405f6894a]

Exactly. When one thinks of all the stuff that does get out, it's nice to know that some secrets can be kept. Plus, in the end it's more fun for us to keep guessing!

[HotIce]

I read somewhere in a magazine last year that Katia said the baby was due in mid July.
Could have been a misprint or she could have been trying to put people off for some reason.
But I really can't think of a logical reason to lie about when your baby is due!
So if it was due in mid July, it came a month early.
Or the Doctor gave her the wrong due date.
That happens a lot, actually.
Sometimes your body just gives off false signals about how far pregnant you are.
Please don't ask me to get technical!

[jcspkbfan]

I remember a People magazine article (the one accompanied by a photo of Ilia and a very pregnant Katia holding hands on the ice during Scott Hamilton's final SOI show last year) saying Katia's baby was due in June last year...so it sounds like the newest member of her family arrived "right on time," so to speak. :wink:

Someone posted a long summary of the Katia BOI article here:

http://pub36.ezboard.com/fkatiasergeisxrystalpondfrm1.showMessage?topicID=8 10.topic

Interestingly enough, the article doesn't seem to mention anything about Katia and Ilia's (supposed?) marriage, but a lot of the other rumors floating around about Katia recently have been answered here...and yes, she even mentions Sergei quite a few times! :D

[AxelAnnie22]

[color=indigo:4d4d3a0366]I don't understand the lack of an announcement when Ilia and Katia married. Why keep it secret? Especially since they were in the midst of having a baby - for heaven sake! I certainly recognize their right to a private life HOWEVER, it would have been nice to simply acknowledge that they were married.............if in fact that is accurate information.

And, as far as the baby being 1 1/2 months early due to a doctor's miscalculation........not likely with all the measurments, ultrasounds, etc., used standardly today.[/color:4d4d3a0366]

[Trillian]

[quote:7cbf80e1f1="AxelAnnie22"]I certainly recognize their right to a private life HOWEVER, it would have been nice to simply acknowledge that they were married.............if in fact that is accurate information.[/quote:7cbf80e1f1]

I'm sure (if the info is accurate) they DID make an announcement--to their family, friends, and other people whose business it was. They have no obligation to announce it to fans. Are you going to send out wedding announcements to a bunch of total strangers? Sounds to me like if this story is true, they were operating on the "if they ask, we'll tell them the truth" policy. Personally, I find it pretty amusing. I can totally imagine taking that attitude myself if I were in their position. They, and their friends, probably thought it was hilarious.

[quote:7cbf80e1f1]And, as far as the baby being 1 1/2 months early due to a doctor's miscalculation........not likely with all the measurments, ultrasounds, etc., used standardly today.[/quote:7cbf80e1f1]

That doesn't mean the July figure was accurate. Media outlets report things incorrectly all the time. Based on what I've heard from people who actually knew what was going on, Katia had to have been due in June. I'm told people who knew her found out she was pregnant too early for a July due date to make any sense.

[olivia]

Like you, Trillian, I find it very amusing. Katia and Ilia couldn't have won either way. If they told people and made a formal announcement, we would have heard derogatory comments from some (who cares, they're only getting married b/c she's pregnant, he's too young for her, how can she do that to her deceased husband, yadda yadda yadda :roll: ). And, we've seen the reaction by some people as a result of Katia's and Ilia's discretion.

Personally, I think Katia has learned something about the media and fans and so-called fans after all these years, and decided to keep her private life low-key for a reason. It's her choice. Reminds me of Janet Jackson (except that was more extreme, she not only kept the secret, but lied about it).

O-

[AxelAnnie22]

[color=darkblue:6b56354814]It is interesting to me that Katia didn't mind sharing her life with us after Sergi's tragic death. We all shared her pain and admired her courage. Why would she not share her joyous news with us? She avoids no judgements by not announcing her marriage........she was already pregnant, everyone knew who the father was. So, instead of announcing that she was happy, in love, married, and expecting a child, she left the door open to rumor and innuendo............none of which was flattering.

When you live in (and make your living from) the public spotlight, it's not like people aren't going to notice a pregnancy, or another child. I am not being mean. Instead of leaving people being happy for her and Daria, and Ilia, it leaves one wondering if there is more to the story....... I don't understand why.

[/color:6b56354814]

[Ardena]

Katia wrote a book sharing her life with Sergei because this was a completely unexpected, shocking event. Before that happened, was she one to make announcements every time something happened in her life? So what if people are now wondering about the circumstances surrounding events in her life. Like a lot of people, maybe she knows they'll eventually go on with their own lives and get over worrying, obsessing or whatever - about hers. If she's being judged about actions in her life, which quite a few people find completely normal, I would love to know by whom? And so what if they are? Let me guess, they won't go see her skate anymore :roll:. Good, that's a seat I can have, where I'll enjoy the skating and not expect details in the skaters personal and private lives.

[quote:5f76d09dee="AxelAnnie22"][color=darkblue:5f76d09dee]It is interesting to me that Katia didn't mind sharing her life with us after Sergi's tragic death. We all shared her pain and admired her courage. Why would she not share her joyous news with us? She avoids no judgements by not announcing her marriage........she was already pregnant, everyone knew who the father was. So, instead of announcing that she was happy, in love, married, and expecting a child, she left the door open to rumor and innuendo............none of which was flattering.

When you live in (and make your living from) the public spotlight, it's not like people aren't going to notice a pregnancy, or another child. I am not being mean. Instead of leaving people being happy for her and Daria, and Ilia, it leaves one wondering if there is more to the story....... I don't understand why.

[/color:5f76d09dee][/quote:5f76d09dee]

[kara]

I didn't read the article yet, but I'm so happy for her if they got married! What pleasant news :) !

[Trillian]

[quote:d9ac9e7b93="AxelAnnie22"]she was already pregnant, everyone knew who the father was.[/quote:d9ac9e7b93]

Yes, but how long did it take that to become a publicly confirmed thing? I mean, a lot of us knew long beforehand, but as I recall, it wasn't reported in an actual news source until April or May, was it? Clearly she's in no rush to make announcements to the public about her personal life--otherwise her pregnancy would have been confirmed long before it was. I'm amazed this would surprise anyone, after her lack of announcement about that issue last year. It just seems to be following the pattern.

This topic came up in conversation with someone who's been acquainted with her, and that person was also of the opinion that she learned quite a bit about public scrutiny [i:d9ac9e7b93]after[/i:d9ac9e7b93] her book was published. Knowing what she does now, it's quite likely she's simply changed her attitude about sharing personal information with the public. Just because she did something one way once, doesn't mean she has to keep doing it that way.

[HotIce]

I think the whole thing is pretty funny!
It ISN'T anyone who doesn't know her personally's business and I see no reason why she should make a formal announcement of her marriage if she doesn't want to.
After all, she saw what happened after her book came out.
Why should she go through that again?
I am all for personal privacy for celebs.
I wish Katia and Ilia good luck and much happiness.

[KittyKins]

When I read Katia's book about Sergei, I got the distinct impression that she did not view marriage in the same way that we do in North America (although we can't all agree on that either, :lol:). She said that in Russia a man doesn't ask a woman to get married, but to live with him. She decided to go to get the marriage license on her own. So, possibly it was not that big a deal to them. Now that approach doesn't seem too romantic to me and certainly many Russians get married, so I don't quite get it. Read the book if you don't believe me, :P

[AxelAnnie22]

[quote:a667984490="KittyKins"]When I read Katia's book about Sergei, I got the distinct impression that she did not view marriage in the same way that we do in North America (although we can't all agree on that either, :lol:). She said that in Russia a man doesn't ask a woman to get married, but to live with him. She decided to go to get the marriage license on her own. So, possibly it was not that big a deal to them. Now that approach doesn't seem too romantic to me and certainly many Russians get married, so I don't quite get it. Read the book if you don't believe me, :P[/quote:a667984490]

[color=darkblue:a667984490]Well, that may be true-------but I think Irina might argue the point. Her wedding looked like a big deal...and quite romantic. [/color:a667984490] :wink:

[loveskating]

I'm always of the view that what "celebs" do privately is their business...I suppose I'm not mainstream, but I don't worship celebrities or consider them rolemodels except as to what they accomplished, in this case, as to figure skating. I appreciate very greatly, in this case, Katia's and Ilia's ability to SKATE. I don't ever conclude that because someone can compose, that makes them a superior person in other respects, necessarily (citing Mozart), nor does Mozart's carelessness privately devalue in any way the incredible contribution he made to humanity!

However, the mind speculates...and I could see many reasons why Katia might not want to get married right off the bat...legally, marriage puts her wealth at Ilia's disposal, and that, for a woman, is a very big deal...Ilia is 6 years younger than Katia, and these things don't matter until they do, sometimes...later in life. Katia had one child, and had to consider her inheritance rights as well...and I would do the same.

Also, how do you "blend" a family? The divorce rate for "blended families" is a whopping 75%!!! The reason, I believe, is that most people don't understand the feelings of the kid(s), fathers or mothers either consciously or unconsciously seek to take the place of the "gone" father or mother, rather than just being a freind and an adult resource to the child(ren) of the former marriage ...and in any case, there are MANY things to work out, legally, emotionally, etc.

Sounds like things are going well for everyone, and I'm happy for them all! From a great distance, I have always felt for some reason that Katia and Ilia were perfect for one another.

[AxelAnnie22]

[quote:b3675f6c7c="loveskating"]
Sounds like things are going well for everyone, and I'm happy for them all! From a great distance, I have always felt for some reason that Katia and Ilia were perfect for one another.[/quote:b3675f6c7c]

[color=darkblue:b3675f6c7c]Yep - and good for them!

Now, it would all be perfectly more perfect if they would skate together. Be Still My Heart![/color:b3675f6c7c] 8)

[KittyKins]

I didn't mean that Katia and Ilia's wedding wouldn't be important to them or something that they looked upon with pleasure. I meant that the movement toward getting married (or time leading up to it) might have been more laid back.

I'm glad to hear that they are so happy and wish them the best. I too don't understand why they would hide the fact that they got married. Not that it's any of our business, but it is interesting all the same. I mean I heard at the dentist's office (while my mouth was open of course) that she was pregnant in the first place. :-) By not being open about things it created more gossip in some ways, but then it is their business. If she were 9 months pregnant they might not want to have a big splashy wedding.

I re-read the part in the Sergei book about marriage and realize it didn't seem as laise fair as I remembered it. She was very eager to be married in the Russian Orthodox church. Sergei was rather laid back about things, so she went to get the marriage certificate on her own. Sergei's way of proposing was to ask her to live with him according to Katia.

[loveskating]

Hi Kittykins:

Thank you for raising the issue of cultural diversity...I think its important that we realize that different cultures deal with many issues differently...I'm not knowledgeable enough to speak to cultural issues as to Russians, but I do appreciate what you are saying in general.

And I'm with AxelAnnie...I want to see them skate pairs again...I thought they were incredible in that adagio number in SOI several years ago despite some technical flaws. It was the highlight of the show for me (and my daughter, who played it over and over and over again, and she still does, LOL!)

Ilia is my favorite, and Katia has the most incredible flow with speed over the ice and does everything beautifully except the jumps. IMHO she is still the best pairs skater on the planet. No one has topped her yet.

[KittyKins]

Well, thank you. I was hoping that I hadn't offended anyone with my comments. Yes, different cultures certainly approach things differently.

I agree with you that Katia is the best female pairs skater around. Jamie Sale is a close second though. I too enjoyed seeing her and Ulia skate. I guess it's more difficult for him though, not being a pairs skater. He did quite well though I thought.

[jcspkbfan]

Everyone wanting to see Katia and Ilia skate together again [b:217505e4af]might[/b:217505e4af] get their wish during Brian Boitano's holiday special--the cast list says "Sarah Hughes or Ekaterina Gordeeva & Ilia Kulik." (I'm guessing this means Katia and Ilia will skate if Sarah can't make it for whatever reason??)

[AxelAnnie22]

[quote:db5cfebf67="loveskating"]
Ilia is my favorite, and Katia has the most incredible flow with speed over the ice and does everything beautifully except the jumps. IMHO she is still the best pairs skater on the planet. No one has topped her yet.[/quote:db5cfebf67]

[color=darkblue:db5cfebf67]The only thing I would add here, is that as far as female pairs skater.........no one is even close![/color:db5cfebf67]

[loveskating]

I think that Barezhnaya & Sik skated the best pairs skating I have ever seen in my life in the LP at Cup of Russia in 2001/2002 GP event...but overall, I don't think either of them are quite as good as Sergei and Katia were.

Its things like the lifts, the number of rotations in the air and on one arm, the air position Katia held, and the amout of ice they covered, their quiet edges with enormous speed and flow, the perfection of the 3 twist, and the unison...right down to how far apart they were at all times, which hardly varied. G&G's technical skill was enormous, and their presentation was simply magical most of the time.

For me the "seminal" or "qualitative" pairs are the Protopopovs, Rodina/whoever and G&G...and I also think that Artur Demietriev and his two partners added a whole new deminsion to pairs skating with Moskvina's innovations...and Artur's passionate style, which we are not likely to see again after they are gone. For me, no one has come along to take things to a higher level yet.

The SOI adagio contained many flaws, mostly of Ilia...but the sum is greater than its parts, and that number was magical, anyway, LOL, and in a show, one is not really watching for the technical...shows are for fun so the "sum" becomes very important to me...however, in competition, I do seem to notice every little flaw.

[ToddFan]

Congrats to the entire family :)

[flippet]

[quote:edcf8591bd="jcspkbfan"]
And here's some photos of Katia at the signing (she looks great, BTW!):

http://www.gg-corner.de/pictures/e/e_200206_chicago.htm[/quote:edcf8591bd]

Wow, she does look great! (I wish I'd known about the signing...I'm not that far away. :( ) She looks [i:edcf8591bd]healthy[/i:edcf8591bd]...not that she didn't before, but she was so incredibly skinny...looks like she's made friends with a touch of the 'baby weight', and it's a good look for her. :) (And her hair looks so THICK! ::green with envy:: )

[Mistyeyed]

Sounds to me like the girls got her noggin in good working order. She didn't jump into anything, she thought it through. In the past she shared her pain in front of the whole world and I a complete stranger was so devasted for her. All I wanted was for her to find happiness. It appears that now she has got a new life for herself. She has grieved and gone on and she has survived and become a new person and for that I applaud her courage and just wish her and Ilia and Daria and new baby the best of luck and happiness. I have a family member myself who married a woman almost 12 years older than himself and that was thirty something years ago and they are still together and still happy and even though they never had kids together they have lived and loved and been sooo happy together. I could never knock someone for that. Not someone who really love and care for one another. Now, if Daria skates that could be a new and exciting chapter. Stay tuned..............