Inna Volyanskaya (; 5 July 1965 – 29 January 2025) was a Russian pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union. With Valery Spiridonov, she won six international medals, including gold at the 1982 Nebelhorn Trophy.
Career
Volyanskaya/Spiridonov won silver at the 1980 St. Ivel International, gold at the 1980 Blue Swords, silver at the 1981 Prague Skate, gold at the 1982 Grand Prix International St. Gervais, and gold at the 1982 Nebelhorn Trophy. After retiring from competition, they skated together in ice shows, including Torvill & Dean and the Russian Allstars.
From 2017 until her death in 2025, Volyanskaya worked as a skating coach at the Ashburn Ice House in Ashburn, Virginia, United States.
Personal life and death Volyanskaya was born on 5 July 1965. She was at one-time married to Spiridonov, and was at the time of her death married to Jeremy Wilson. Volyanskaya also had a daughter, Maria, whose godmother was Volyanskaya's former coach, Tatiana Tarasova.
On 29 January 2025, Volyanskaya died when the passenger jet she was onboard collided with an U.S. Army helicopter above the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., leaving no survivors. She was 59. On March 2, 2025, U.S. Figure Skating held the ice show Legacy on Ice, which paid tribute to Volyanskaya and the other victims that were killed aboard American Eagle Flight 5342. Volyanskaya's former students paid tribute to their coach by skating to "You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins.
Competitive highlights with Spiridonov
International Event 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 Blue Swords 1st 2nd Nebelhorn Trophy 1st NHK Trophy 4th Prague Skate 2nd St. Gervais International 1st St. Ivel International 2nd National Soviet Championships 3rd 6th 4th
References