Natalia Yevgenievna Mishkutionok (born 14 July 1970) is a Belarusian figure skating coach and former competitive pair skater. With Artur Dmitriev, she is the 1992 Olympic champion, the 1994 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time World champion (1991, 1992), and a two-time European champion (1991, 1992).

Personal life Natalia Mishkutionok was born on 14 July 1970 to a Polish mother and a Belarusian father in the Byelorussian SSR. From 1989 to 1995, she attended Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she earned a master's degree in physical education.

Following her retirement from competitive figure skating, Mishkutionok settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1995 before moving to Texas in 2001. She was formerly married to American ice hockey player Craig Shepherd, with whom she skated professionally on occasion during the late 1990s. She divorced Shepherd and married Alan Hainline. Their daughter, Natasha Alena Mishkutionok-Hainline, was born on 16 January 2006. Natasha became a competitive figure skater as well.

In 2020, Mishkutionok moved back to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she now coaches.

Career Mishkutionok began skating in 1976. She teamed up with Artur Dmitriev around 1986. They were coached by Tamara Moskvina in Saint Petersburg and their choreographers were Alexander Matveev with Moskvina. Together, Mishkutionok/Dmitriev won the 1991 and 1992 World and European Championships, and Olympic gold in 1992. They performed to Franz Liszt's Liebesträume (Dream of Love), which became one of the most noted programs of their career and earned them four perfect 6.0 marks at the 1992 World Championships in Oakland, California. They turned professional shortly after that championship.

Mishkutionok/Dmitriev chose to reinstate as amateurs after the ban against such actions was lifted. They attempted to defend their Olympic title in the 1994 Winter Olympics, where they delivered two strong programs. Their free skate to Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto earned a standing ovation and is considered one of their finest performances. The judges awarded the gold medal to Mishkutionok and Dmitriev's friends and countrymen Ekaterina Gordeeva / Sergei Grinkov ("G & G"). Mishkutionok decided to retire from competition in 1994.

One hallmark of Mishkutionok/Dmitriev's style was her flexibility and their creative spins, especially one in which Mishkutionok would do a split and point her head down, with an arm around Dmitriev's calf so that they were both vertical and aligned; this signature move, called "Natalia’s spin" was incorporated into most of their programs. Another signature move was a backwards inside death spiral in which Mishkutionok bent backwards, holding her foot behind and above her head while Dmitriev also held her raised skate blade and her free hand. Mishkutionok/Dmitriev competed before, during, and after the breakup of the Soviet Union, thus, they competed for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia, all within a four-year period.

Mishkutionok previously coached pairs and singles skaters in Grapevine, Texas and Farmers Branch, Texas, before relocating to Colorado Springs, Colorado to coach at the Broadmoor World Arena. Her students have included: Nica Digerness / Mark Sadusky Olivia Flores / Luke Wang Hannah Herrera / Ivan Khobta Pauline Irman / Benjamin Jalovick Milada Kovar / Jared McPike Naomi Williams / Lachlan Lewer Miyu Yunoki / Tristan Taylor

Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 1993–1994 Don Quixote

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini "The Symphony of Emotions": Piano Concerto #2 Eve

Nostalgia 1992–1993 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Flute Dance 1990–1992 Don Quixote

The Swan Liebestraum Somewhere in Your Heart

War Drums

Peasant Dance 1988–1990 The Swan Let's Dance Together Piano Piece ("The Death Spiral")

Peasant Dance

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

War drums 1987–1988 Entrance of the Gladiators unknown

Competitive highlights (with Artur Dmitriev)

International Event 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1993–94 Winter Olympics 1st 2nd World Champ. 3rd 1st 1st European Champ. 4th 3rd 3rd 1st 1st 3rd GPI de Paris 1st 1st Nations Cup 1st NHK Trophy 3rd Skate America 1st 1st Goodwill Games 2nd 1st Moscow News 4th 1st Piruetten 1st Universiade 1st National Russian Champ. 2nd Soviet Champ. 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd

Professional Event 1992–93 World Pro. Championships 3rd World Challenge of Champions 3rd US Open Pro. 1st

Notes

References