Andrei Anatolyevich Bukin (, born 10 June 1957) is a Soviet and Russian former ice dancer who represented the Soviet Union in his competitive career. With his partner Natalia Bestemianova, he is the 1988 Olympic Champion, 1984 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World champion, three-time World silver medalist, and five-time European champion.
Career Bukin began figure skating at age seven, entering the Children and Youth Sports School of CSKA in Moscow. The group trained at a small stadium in Chapayevsky Park near Pesochnaya Square. At age ten, he joined Spartak and began ice dancing, originally training at the Small Sports Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium. In his early career, he was coached by Nadezhda Shirokova and his ice dancing partner was Olga Abankina, whom he married. In 1977, he joined the group of the famous coach Tatiana Tarasova, who paired him with Natalia Bestemianova. Bukin was the USSR Olympic Team Flag Bearer at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The duo capped their lengthy career by winning the gold medal there and at that year's World Championships.
Personal life Bukin married former ice dancing partner, Olga Abankina, with whom he has a son Andrei (born 1983). With his current partner, Yelena Vasyukova, a former ice dancer, he has a son, Ivan Bukin, born in 1993, who is also a competitive ice dancer.
Competitive highlights With Bestemianova International Event 78–79 79–80 80–81 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85 85–86 86–87 87–88 Olympics 8th 2nd 1st Worlds 10th 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st Europeans 6th 4th 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st Skate America 2nd NHK Trophy 1st 1st Moscow News 4th 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st National Soviet Champ. 3rd 4th 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 2nd 1st
With Abankina Event 1975–1976 Soviet Championships 5th
Programs (with Bestemianova)
Season Original set pattern Free dance Exhibition 1987–1988 Tango Hernando's Hideaway Polovtsian Dances 1986–1987 Cabaret medley 1985–1986 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini 1984–1985 Carmen 1983–1984 Pasodoble 1982–1983 1981–1982FD: "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khatchaturian, "Romeo and Juliet" by Tchiakovsky, Finale from "William Tell" Overture by Rossini (modern piano version) 1980–1981 1979–1980
References
External links Bobrin's Moscow Stars on Ice official site Care to Ice Dance? - Bestemianova & Bukin Biographies of Andrei and Natalia at Tatiana Tarasova's website