She was not a particularly strong jumper, and in August 1981, coach Vladimir Zaharov paired the 11-year-old Gordeeva with the 15-year-old Sergei Grinkov.
Non era unha saltadora especialmente forte, e en agosto de 1981, o adestrador Vladimir Zaharov uniu a Gordeeva, de 10 anos. con Sergei Grinkov, de 14.