# Natalia Mishkutionok

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 Masters 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 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 would later go on to become 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 "Natasha'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
* Pauline Irman / Benjamin Jalovick
* Naomi Williams / Lachlan Lewer
* Miyu Yunoki / Tristan Taylor

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| 1993–1994 | Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninov | "The Symphony of Emotions": Piano Concerto #2 by Sergei Rachmaninov | Eve by Uña Ramos Nostalgia |
| 1992–1993 | Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninov | Flute Dance | |
| 1990–1992 | Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns | Liebestraum by Franz Liszt performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra | Somewhere in Your Heart by Frank Sinatra War Drums Peasant Dance |
| 1988–1990 | The Swan | Let's Dance Together (Jewish folk music) | Piano Piece ("The Death Spiral") Peasant Dance Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninov War drums |
| 1987–1988 | Entrance of the Gladiators by Julius Fučík | 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 |