Elena Yurievna Bechke (; born 7 January 1966) is a Russian former pair skater. She competed for the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Unified Team. With her then-husband Denis Petrov, she is the 1992 Olympic silver medalist, the 1989 World bronze medalist, and the 1991 and 1992 European silver medalist.
Career She skated with Valery Kornienko from 1979 to 1987. Their notable competitions included a gold medal at the inaugural pairs event of the 1984 Skate Canada International, as well as the 1986 European Championships, where they won the bronze.
Bechke began skating with Denis Petrov, two years her junior, in 1987. They trained with Tamara Moskvina at the Yubileyny Sports Palace in Saint Petersburg. They won their first international title at the 1988 Grand Prix International de Paris, although they missed the 1988 Olympic team as they finished fourth at the Soviet Figure Skating Championships. Their first appearance at the Worlds was at the 1989 World Championships. Again, Bechke and Petrov had finished fourth and initially did not qualify for the Soviet Worlds team, but they won a skate-off to replace an injured team. They captured the bronze medal at their first Worlds showing, but they again placed fourth at the Soviet Nationals in 1990, missing the World Championships. In 1991, they placed third at the Nationals and fourth at the Worlds. In 1992, they won the Soviet Nationals over the teams of Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov and Marina Eltsova and Andrei Bushkov (Bechke and Petrov's training partners and chief rivals, Natalia Mishkutenok and Artur Dmitriev, missed the Nationals but qualified for the Olympics as they were the reigning World Champions). Bechke and Petrov also won silver medals at the 1991 and 1992 European Championships, and the silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games behind Mishkutenok and Dmitriev. Their choreographer was Alexander Matveev. They retired from amateur competition after the 1992 Worlds.
Bechke and Petrov's moderate success as amateurs stemmed from Bechke's inconsistency in competition due to her nerves, as well as many uninspiring (and some downright questionable) competitive programs, such as the infamous "Dialogue of Cats," created by their coach that did little to showcase their talents. After turning professional in 1992, the pair steadily improved as competitors and performers, and were regarded by many as one of the best professional pairs teams of their time. They won every single competition they entered in 1996, including the World Professional Championships. They placed second at their last World Professional Championships, in 1999.
They toured with Stars on Ice for seven years (1994–2000). They resided and trained as professionals in Lake Placid, New York, before relocating to Richmond, Virginia, in 1997 to train and coach there. Bechke retired from skating after the 1999–2000 season, while Petrov continued to skate with Stars on Ice for another two seasons.
As both amateurs and professionals, Bechke and Petrov were known for their posture and lines, inventive moves (such as the "Impossible" death spiral), great unison and proximity on their jumps and side-by-side spins, as well as many difficult and intricate lift sequences.
Personal life Bechke is of Hungarian descent on her father's side (the Hungarian spelling of her last name being Becske). Her Hungarian heritage is reflected in two professional programs with Petrov: Joue Jusqu'au Matin (1997–1998) to a medley of songs by Hungarian Gypsy composer Yoska Nemeth, and Czardas by Leahy (1999–2000).
Bechke and Petrov began dating in 1988, were married in 1990, but divorced in 1995. In Steve Milton's book, Skate Talk, Bechke has said that while the marriage was not one of "convenience" (as was many times the case in the USSR), she did feel pressured by her parents to get married as she was getting "so old". Bechke and Petrov remained best friends and both said that their skating and friendship improved after the divorce. They even continued vacationing together after ending their off-ice relationship.
Bechke married Wayne Ellis in 2001. They have a son, Alex, born in 2002, and a daughter, Sophia, born in 2004. As of 2009, she is a coach in North Carolina.Chen Lu Married Denis Petrov, Posted By: Judy Tseng , accessed 20 July 2006.
Programs (with Petrov)
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 1999–2000 Csárdás
The Blizzard 1998–1999 Eva
Liebesträume 1997–1998 Joue Jusqu’au Matin
Whole Lotta Love
Liebesträume 1996–1997 Romance
The Lady and the Hooligan
The Blue Danube Radetzky March
Russian Dance 1995–1996 When You Tell Me That You Love Me
Spartacus 1994–1995 Eternally
Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix
I masnadieri
You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Kalinka 1993–1994 Morning Mood
Grand Pas de Deux
Wabash Blues
Once Upon a Dream
I masnadieri 1992–1993 Grand Pas de Deux
Wabash Blues
Yellow Submarine
Once Upon a Dream
I masnadieri 1991–1992 Milord Grand Pas de Deux I masnadieri 1990–1991 Money, Money, Money 1989–1990 The Dialogue of Cats 8½ 1988–1989
Competitive highlights With Petrov International Event 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 Olympics 2nd Worlds 3rd 4th 4th Europeans 2nd 2nd Goodwill Games 3rd Int. de Paris 1st 1st 3rd Moscow News 6th 2nd Nations Cup 1st NHK Trophy 2nd 1st 1st St. Ivel 2nd National Soviet Champ. 4th 4th 4th 3rd 1st USSR Cup 2nd 1st
Event 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 World Pros 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd US Open Pro 2nd 1st 1st 1st Challenge of Champions 4th 2nd 3rd 3rd 1st ESPN Pro 1st Jefferson Pilot Pro 2nd Canadian Professional Championships 1st Miko Masters 1st Metropolitan Open 3rd North American Open 3rd
With Kornienko International Event 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85 85–86 86–87 European Champ. 3rd Skate America 2nd Skate Canada 1st Int. St. Gervais 1st Moscow News 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd Nebelhorn Trophy 1st Prague Skate 2nd 2nd Universiade 2nd National Soviet Champ. 6th 3rd 4th 5th Spartakiada 2nd USSR Cup 5th 2nd 1st 2nd
References
External links
Change Partners But Keep Skating Anyway