Ilya Alexandrovich Kulik (; born 23 May 1977) is a Russian figure skater. He is the 1998 Olympic Champion, the 1995 European Champion, the 1997–1998 Grand Prix Final champion, and the 1995 World Junior champion.
Career Kulik began skating at the age of five. In November 1994, he won the 1995 World Junior title and then, a few months later, the 1995 European title, at the age of 17. He was ninth at his first senior World Championships. The next season, he won silver at the 1996 World Championships. During the 1997-98 season, Kulik won gold at the 1997 NHK Trophy and silver at the 1997 Skate Canada International to qualify for the Champion Series Final (now known as the Grand Prix Final) where he won the gold medal. He also won the Russian national title but missed the 1998 European Championships as a result of back problems. At the 1998 Olympics, Kulik placed first in both the short and long programs and won the Olympic title at the age of 20 years and 267 days, became one of the youngest male figure skating Olympic champions.
He withdrew from the 1998 World Championships due to his recurring back injury. He retired from competitive skating and has focused on performing in shows. Kulik has skated with the Stars on Ice tour, shows in Russia, the 2009 Ice All Stars, the 2010 Festa on Ice. In 1999, he skated a duet with his wife, Ekaterina Gordeeva.
Kulik also ventured briefly into acting, playing the role of Sergei, a Russian dancer, in the 2000 ballet-themed movie Center Stage.
In 2012, Kulik and Gordeeva opened a skating rink in Lake Forest, California.
Kulik was the former coach of Michael Christian Martinez.
In March 2025, Kulik performed in the Legacy on Ice gala.
Personal life Kulik has one sibling, sister Svetlana, who also lives in California. His parents live in Russia.
Kulik married Ekaterina Gordeeva in San Francisco on 10 June 2002. They have one daughter, Elizaveta Ilinichna Kulik (born 15 June 2001). Gordeeva has another daughter, Daria Sergeevna Grinkova (born 11 September 1992), from her first marriage to her late husband and skating partner, Sergei Grinkov. The family lived in California for several years before moving to Avon, Connecticut, in 2003. They returned to the Los Angeles area in the summer of 2007 and resided in Newport Beach. According to People magazine's 2018 Special Edition "The Best of Olympic Figure Skating", Gordeeva and Kulik divorced in 2016.
Programs
Post–1998
Season Pro/Pro-am events Exhibition 2012–2013 Kashmir by Led Zeppelin Carmina Burana performed by Edvin Marton Let's Go by Calvin Harris 2011–2012 Who Wants to Live Forever covered by David Garrett Love in This Club by Usher 2008–2009 Song for the King by Michael W. Smith Sixteen Tons performed by Oliver Darley 2007–2008 Sounds of Inspiration by Ilia Kulik Deal with It performed by Corbin Bleu 2006–2007 Go the Distance performed by Michael Bolton Too Darn Hot by Kiss Me, Kate (Broadway Revival Cast) 2003–2004 The Nutcracker A House is Not a Home performed by John Pagano 2002–2003 Piano Concerto in A Minor Rubberbandman The Nutcracker Ballet Suite Op 71A by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto in A Minor by Edvard Grieg, performed by Jenő Jandó 2001–2002 Pick up the Pieces Rubberbandman Rhapsody in Blue Rendez-Vous by Jean-Michel Jarre Pick up the Pieces by Average White Band Rubberbandman by Yello Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 2000–2001 Drive/Driven Rockit Devil's Trill Sonata Blues for Narada Drive/Driven by Yello Rockit by Herbie Hancock Devil's Trill Sonata by Giuseppe Tartini, performed by Vanessa-Mae 1999–2000 Blues for Narada by Gary Moore Baseball Cap by Faithless 1998–1999 Jumpin' Jack Flash Cool Seisouso (Tango) Seisouso (Tango) Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo
(with Ekaterina Gordeeva) Season Program 1999–2000 Casi Un Bolero by Ricky Martin Si tú no estás aqui by Rosana Arbelo
Pre–1998 Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 1997–1998 Revolutions by Jean-Michel Jarre Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin Demon Warriors/Final Kombatfrom Mortal Kombatby George S. Clinton Liebestraum by Franz Liszt 1996–1997 Faust by Henryk Wieniawski Romeo and Juliet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky Liebestraum by Franz Liszt 1995–1996 The Addams Family Aladdin Always by Bon Jovi The Addams Family 1994–1995 Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Competitive highlights
International Event 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Olympics 1st Worlds 9th 2nd 5th Europeans 1st 3rd 4th CS Final 4th 4th 1st CS NHK Trophy 2nd 1st CS Skate America 6th CS Skate Canada 2nd 2nd CS Trophée de France 1st Finlandia Trophy 2nd Karl Schäfer Memorial 3rd Nebelhorn Trophy 1st International: Junior Junior Worlds 3rd 11th 1st National Russian Champ. 2nd 2nd 1st 1st CS = Became part of Champions Series in 1995–1996(renamed Grand Prix in 1998–1999)
References
External links
Official fan club