Andrei Griazev

Andrei Griazev
Andrei Griazev in October 2005
Full name	Andrei Vladimirovich Griazev
Born	(1985-07-26) July 26, 1985 Perm
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
Country	Russia
Retired	2009

Andrei Vladimirovich Griazev (Russian: Андрей Владимирович Грязев, born July 26, 1985, in Perm, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union) is a Russian figure skater. He is the 2007 Russian national champion and 2004 World Junior Champion.

Career

Griazev began skating at the age of four. At the age of 11, he moved from Perm to Saint Petersburg to train with famous coach Alexei Mishin at the Yubileyny training center.

During his time training with Mishin, Griazev learned the triple Axel. After several years with Mishin, Griazev placed a disappointing 14th at the 2002 Junior Worlds. After this, Mishin sent Griazev to work with Mishin's wife, Tatiana Mishina. Frustrated and disappointed, Griazev left Yubileyny, went home to Perm, and did not skate at all for several months. Reportedly, his mother had contact with former training mate Alexei Yagudin, who suggested Griazev train with Tatiana Tarasova. Griazev moved to the United States to train with Tarasova. He became the 2004 World Junior Champion. That same year, he won bronze at Russian senior nationals and earned a chance to compete at the 2004 European Championships and 2004 World Championships, where he placed 8th and 12th, respectively.

During the 2004-2005 season, Griazev suffered a back injury and had to withdraw from the 2004 Skate America. He struggled at 2004 Cup of Russia, placing 7th, but then earned silver at Russian Nationals. He went again to the European Championships, where he placed 5th, and moved up a spot at Worlds to 11th.

For the 2005-2006 season, Tarasova returned to Russia and so Griazev did so well, training with both Tarasova and Elena Vodorezova in Moscow. Griazev had a very disappointing performance at 2005 Skate Canada International, placing 9th out of 11 men. The very next week, however, he won the bronze medal at 2005 Cup of China, his first senior Grand Prix medal. At that competition, he was in the lead after the short program, and earned new personal best scores for his short program, long program, and overall total. At the 2006 Russian nationals, Griazev struggled badly in both programs and ended in 9th. He missed going to Europeans and the Olympics. Due to the withdrawal of other skaters, Griazev was sent to 2006 Worlds, where he struggled in the qualifying and short programs, but performed a strong long program. Griazev returned to Russia in March 2006 to take part in the Italian Carnival skating tour produced by Ilia Averbukh. He had also taken part in this tour the previous year. His touring schedule was cut short when he suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery.

For the 2006-2007 season, Griazev continued to struggle with consistency, as well as suffering illness at several competitions. At both the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard and 2006 Cup of Russia, he finished 7th. At the 2007 Russian Championships, Griazev was finally able to put together two good programs. Although trailing Andrei Lutai after the short program, Griazev managed to perform a strong long program to win his first national title. He went on to the 2007 European Championships, where he finished 16th and as a result missed the Russian team for the 2007 World Championships. He spent spring 2007 again on Ilia Averbukh's skating tour, which traveled to over twenty cities in Russia, as well as shows in Lithuania, Latvia and Israel.

For the 2007-2008 season, Griazev was initially assigned to the 2007 Nebelhorn Trophy competition in Oberdstorf, Germany, but injured ligaments in his ankle in September 2007 and had to withdraw from the event. He won the bronze at the 2007 Cup of Russia in Moscow and placed 7th at the 2007 NHK Trophy. He won the bronze medal at the 2008 Russian Championships.

He placed 5th at the 2009 Russian Championships. He retired from competitive skating following that season.

Programs

March 2007, Ice show in Mytischi, Russia

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2007–2008	Souvenir from Rio by Space	The Godfather by Nino Rota	Harlem Nocturne by Earl Hagen You can leave your hat on by Joe Cocker
2006–2007	Latin Medley	Notre-Dame de Paris Le Temps des Cathédrales/Belle/Les Sans-Papiers	Latin Medley
2005–2006	Carmen	Notre-Dame de Paris Le Temps des Cathédrales/Belle/Les Sans-Papiers	Libertango Carmen
2004–2005	Carmen	The Feeling Begins Incantation	Libertango
2003–2004	Libertango	Selection from Fellini soundtracks	Korobushka
2001–2002	Incantation	Il barbiere di Siviglia

Results

Event	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09
World Championships				12th	11th	17th
European Championships				8th	5th		16th
World Junior Championships		14th		1st
Russian Championships	8th	6th	5th	3rd	2nd	9th	1st	3rd	5th
Russian Junior Championships		2nd
Cup of Russia					7th		7th	3rd
NHK Trophy								7th
Trophée Eric Bompard							7th
Cup of China						3rd
Skate Canada International						9th
Cup of Nice	3rd				1st
Junior Grand Prix Final		6th	4th	2nd
Junior Grand Prix, Slovakia				1st
Junior Grand Prix, Bulgaria				1st
Junior Grand Prix, USA			1st
Junior Grand Prix, Canada			1st
Junior Grand Prix, Czech Republic		1st
Junior Grand Prix, Sweden		1st

External links

• http://andrei-griazev.com/
• Andrei Griazev at the International Skating Union
• http://skate-gryazev.narod.ru