# Natalia Bestemianova

Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova or Bestemyanova (Russian: Наталья Филимоновна Бестемьянова, born 6 January 1960) is a Soviet and Russian former competitive ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With her partner Andrei Bukin, she is the 1988 Olympic Champion, 1984 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World champion, three-time World silver medalist, and five-time European champion.

## Life and career

Bestemianova was coached by Tatiana Tarasova and competed in ice dance with Andrei Bukin. Figure skating historian James R. Hines called their free dance programs "unconventional and avant garde", and stated that they were "equally strong in the more conservative compulsory dances". Hines compared Bestemianova and Bukin to British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, saying that they were "less suave" and "more energetic".
Bestemianova and Bukin came in 10th place at the 1979 World Championships. In 1980, they came in fifth place at the European Championships. In 1981, they came in fourth place at both Worlds and Europeans. In 1984, Bestemianova was named an Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.
Bestemianova and Bukin capped their lengthy career by winning the gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics and that year's World Figure Skating Championships. The Besti Squat was Bestemianova's signature move and is unofficially named for her.
They skated in ice shows after their retirement, including in Champions on Ice and Holiday on Ice.
In 1983, Bestemianova married Igor Bobrin. After she finished her career she performed in the Ice Miniature Theater, led by her husband. She is the stepmother of Maxim, Igor's son from his previous marriage. Together, they run Moscow Stars on Ice.
In 2006–2008, Bestemianova appeared as a coach and show-host in the Russian version of the British show Dancing on Ice, shown on Russian RTR. In early 2007, she appeared as a member of the ice panel for the British show Dancing on Ice, shown on ITV1. In 2011–2012, Bestemianova was on the panel of judges for the Channel One Russia television show Cup of Professionals.

## Competitive highlights
### Ice dance with Bukin

International :
| Event | 77–78 | 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 | |

### Ladies' singles

International :
| Event | 1976–77 |
| Prague Skate | 5th |

## Programs

(With Bukin)
| Season | Original set pattern | Free dance |
| 1987–1988 | Tango Hernando's Hideaway | Polovetsian Dances |
| 1986–1987 | | Cabaret medley |
| 1985–1986 | | Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini |
| 1984–1985 | | Carmen |
| 1983–1984 | Paso Doble | |
| 1982–1983 | | |
| 1981–1982 | | FD: "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khatchaturian, "Romeo and Juliet" by Tchiakovsky, Finale from "William Tell" Overture by Rossini (modern piano version) |
| 1980–1981 | | |
| 1979–1980 | | |