Marina Klimova & Sergei Ponomarenko

[Mohacz]

Marina Klimova (Marina Vladimirovna Klimova; Russian: Марина Владимировна Климова; born 28 June 1966) and Sergei Vladilenovich Ponomarenko (Russian: Серге́й Владиленович Пономаренко; born October 6, 1960) are former Soviet and Unified Team ice dancers. The husband-and-wife team became one of the most successful ice dance competitors of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Together, they won the gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics, silver at the 1988 Winter Olympics, and bronze at the 1984 Winter Olympics. They are also three-time World champions (1989–1991) and four-time European champions (1989–1992). Known for their elegant style, strong skating skills, and innovative choreography, Klimova and Ponomarenko were among the dominant ice dance teams of their era and later transitioned into coaching after retiring from competition. With their coach Natalia Dubova, they are credited with creating the Golden Waltz, the Compulsory Dance based on their 1987 Original Set Pattern Dance (OSP).

They were married in September 1984 and have two sons: Tim, born in 1998 and Anthony, born on 5 January 2001. Anthony is a competitive ice dancer (with Christina Carreira) and represents the USA. For more information about Anthony and Cristina, their fan fest is here.

Klimova's first partner was Oleg Volkov. They competed two seasons and won two silver medals of the Cup of USSR Final (1978 and 1979) and placed third at the 4th Winter USSR Spartakiad.

In 2000 Klimova and Ponomarenko were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Currently they live in California and coach young skaters. Additionally, Sergei is an ISU technical specialist.

Marina's Wikipedia

Sergei's Wikipedia Entry

Marina's Fskate.ru entry

Sergei's Fskate.ru entry

Marina's Allskaters bio

Sergei's Allskaters bio

Programs and Videos

1991/1992
CDs Paso Doble, Blues, Tango Romantica, Viennese Waltz
OD: Polka from "Ballet Suite no. 2" by Shostakovich
FD: "Air from Suite No.3" by Johann Sebastian Bach / "Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Ex: "E lucevan le stelle"

1992 World Championships
CD 1 - Viennese Waltz - "The Blue Danube": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH5y_aYWwow
CD 2-Tango Romantica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3GMned1WVk
OD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox56BZ2Wx5g
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkv8s67DNmY
Medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMWeQ3O9k00
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PLv5Sp6Qyk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Nr_m-oPts

XVI Winter Olympic Games Albertville 1992
CD 1 Paso Double:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOUCBZT2R1E / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOUCBZT2R1E
CD 2 Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFfGq3TXNY4 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaPrM8C6KIA
OD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N13-Xu7ttk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feSKO6NbqpQ
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4LnD0laELk
Medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PKZQ9wRlZE
Interview after medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e027yGIWnjo
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_6Oz2NxGU

1992 European Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCg66bcmuHM

1990/1991
CDs: Ravensburger Waltz, Rhumba
OD: Blues
FD: "Lawrence of Arabia" by Maurice Jarre

1991 World Championships
CD 1 Ravensburger Waltz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noipgvYHQas
CD 2 Rhumba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYBxj7GdWz0
OD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM1eDwPioJQ / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcujUBy3sXM
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO7mqvAxqjU / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HN_cStcp80

1991 European Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uCQYozQhdY / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wxqHtdBcz0
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COzHT16DScg

1990 Goodwill Games
CD Starlight Waltz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZjU1dP2Cpk

1989/1990
CD's Starlight waltz, Kilian, Paso Doble, Tango Romantica
OSP: Samba - "La cucaracha"
FD: "My Fair Lady"
Ex: "Once upon a Time in America"

1990 World Championships
OSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz_l3PkGl78 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIcJ0tNgh4g
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLwYcdCzboM / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrW9-4SGTUw
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uy_G9T-Y64

1990 European Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63VVhC7r0aM

1988/1989
CDs: Westminster Waltz, Yankee Polka
OSP: Charleston
FD: "Mack the Knife" from "Three penny opera" by Kurt Weil / "My Fair Lady" by Frederick Loewe

1989 World Championships
CD Westminster Waltz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgYtyT_h3E8
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DO9ANl2rrc

1989 European Championships
CD 2 (Rhumba): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taMOixgZ7a4
OSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXspcION4m0
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL-24cD5Lg0
1988 NHK Trophy
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSaDeLha63E

1987/1988
CD's Kilian, Paso Doble, Viennese Waltz
OSP: Tango
FD 1: "Mack the Knife" by Kurt Weill
FD 2: Beatles medley: "Yesterday" / "I Want to Hold Your Hand" / "Let It Be" / "Get Back" / "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
.
1988 World Championships
OSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQEMlcOeqBY
FD (Beatles medley): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldhBWhmtgcw / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An_EnaM06Es
.
XV Winter Olympic Games Calgary 1988
CD1 Kilian - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cWz4xEgUD4
CD 2 Paso Double:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8NXChC1y4w
CD 3 Viennese Waltz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeOP6kNI5FE
OSP (Tango)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgG89YpKM4k
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scah2zPgID4 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acXA79rFf8c
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USo3e2w12C8

1986/1987
CDs: Westminster Waltz, Blues, Yankee Polka, Rhumba
OSP: Waltz by Johann Strauss
FD: "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor" by Franz Liszt

1987 World Championships
OSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BN7KU8bmQ
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9nn6J7GyR0 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mKFO04Bovs

1987 European Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEL3cQLYqSA

1985/1986
CDs: Paso Doble, Westminster Waltz
OSP: "Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214" by Johann Strauss
FD: "The Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss and "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor" by Franz Liszt

1986 World Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O85swOkgj8

1986 European Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLsKqJTHbM
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alRe5xaVKxI

1984/1985
CDs: Viennese Waltz, Yankee Polka, Blues
OSP: "Hello Dolly"
FD: "La cumparsita"

1985 World Championships
CD1 Yankee Polka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVcaBxYQ9zI
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2SRqS43JQ0

1985 European Championships
OSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F58Zixxx0bo
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_vE5sCkPac

1983/1984
CDs: Rhumba, Westminster Waltz, Paso Doble
OSP: Paso Doble
FD: "The Circus Princess "by Emmerich Kálmán

1984 World Championships
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etOfVCi7h5Q / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLKNRCejyLg

XIV Winter Olympic Games Sarajevo 1984
OSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHUiK_11-Ek
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHtjRmkBV_E / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d2CBzOFPKI
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C276YWLXeQk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H1F9ksdGHU

1982/1983
CDd: Quickstep, Argentine Tango, Ravensburger Waltz
OSP: Rock ‘n Roll
FD: "Sinfonia per un addio" by Rondo Veneziano

1982 "Moscow News" Trophy
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLkdzrHrGM

Competitive History

Competition	CD 1 or CD Comb	CD 2	OSP / OD	FD	Final Result
1991/1992
1992 World Championships	1	1	1	1	1
XVI Winter Olympic Games Albertville 1992	1	1	1	1	1
1992 European Championships	1	1	1	1	1
1990/1991
1991 World Championships	2	2	3	2	2
1991 European Championships	-	-	-	-	1
1990 Goodwill Games	-	-	-	-	1
1989/1990
1990 World Championships	1	-	1	2	1
1990 European Championships	1	-	1	1	1
1990 USSR National Championships	-	-	-	-	1
1989 NHK Trophy	1	1	1	1	1
1988/1989
1989 World Championships	1	-	1	1	1
1989 European Championships	1	-	1	1	1
1989 USSR National Championships	-	-	-	-	1
1988 "Moscow News" ("Московские Новости") Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1988 NHK Trophy	1	-	1	1	1
1987/1988
1988 World Championships	2	-	2	2	2
XV Winter Olympic Games Calgary 1988	2	-	2	2	2
1987 "Moscow News" ("Московские Новости") Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1987 Fujifilm Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1986/1987
1987 World Championships	2	-	1	2	2
1987 European Championships	-	-	-	-	2
1986 "Moscow News" ("Московские Новости") Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1985/1986
1986 World Championships	2	-	1	2	2
1986 European Championships	2	-	1	2	2
1986 USSR National Championships	-	-	-	-	1
1985 "Moscow News" ("Московские Новости") Trophy	-	-	-	-	2
1985 NHK Trophy	1	-	1	1	1
1984/1985
1985 World Championships	2	-	2	2	2
1985 European Championships	-	-	-	-	2
1985 USSR National Championships	-	-	-	-	1
1984 Ennia Challenge Cup (today: International Challenge Cup)	-	-	-	-	1
1984 "Moscow News" ("Московские Новости") Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1983/1984
1984 World Championships	4	-	4	4	4
XIV Winter Olympic Games Sarajevo 1984	4	-	4	3	3
1984 European Championships	-	-	-	-	3
1983 Ennia Challenge Cup	-	-	-	-	1
1983 International St. Gervais	-	-	-	-	1
1983 Nebelhorn Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1982/1983
1983 European Championships	-	-	-	-	4
1982 Ennia Challenge Cup (today: International Challenge Cup)	-	-	-	-	2
1982 International St. Gervais	-	-	-	-	1
1982 Nebelhorn Trophy	-	-	-	-	1
1981/1982
1981 Golden Spin of Zagreb	-	-	-	-	2

List of Post-retirement programs

• "Evergreen" by Luther Vandross
• "Gone with the Wind" by Max Steiner
• "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess" by George Gershwin
• "Romeo and Juliet" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
• "Clowns March to Sousa"
• "The Brides" from "Dracula" (1992 film) by Wojciech Kilar
• "Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia" by Aram Khachaturian
• "Masquerade Waltz" by Aram Khachaturian
• "Song of India" / "Symphony No. 5" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Videos of Galas, Shows and Professional competitions

2007 - Dances on Ice - The Velvet Season - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLFaWsdSNOo

2000 - Seventeen Moments in Spring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HHVSbh--Zw

"Gone With the Wind" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-aGYfRgxi0

1994 Lalique Trophée d'Or ex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exrKZV3mHRM

1994 - Lalique Trophée d'Or - "Romeo and Juliet" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCykFh1FmI

1996 Legends - "Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia" from "Spartacus" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eixBm3WMUsU

1995- "Romeo and Juliet" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay37hDvEU8c

1995 Halloween on Ice - "Dracula" soundtrack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaMD9oBx288

1994 Disney's Greatest Hits on ice -
Fantasia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biIyKnSJjks
Love Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wspnq52nteg

1993 World Professional Championships Artistic Program:
"Dracula" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YsZ4kUJoso / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEIUzczNc-4

1992 World Challenge of Champions - "Symphony No. 5" by Tchaikovsky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXxkLJ7omA0

1992 World Challenge of Champions Ex - "Song of India" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESN7ZmomQYw

1990 USSR vs. USA Exhibition - "Dr Zhivago" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxOtOsbrCk

1987 Tour of Champions Exhibition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uop0jFV8tcA

Interviews, Articles and Other Media

1992 - "Profile on Klimova and Ponomarenko" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06_KB7vKYtE

1991 Profile on The Duchesnays (FRA) & Klimova/Ponomarenko (URS) - 1991 Worlds, Free Dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNU5xxjy2nQ

 

[gsk8]

I always remember her hair! They had the most dramatic routines in their professional years

Both Sergei and Marina now coach young skaters at Sharks Ice at San Jose, California. Their son, Anthony Ponomarenko, still refers to his parents as his “background coaches” and he gets regular technical feedback from his father.

 

[dorispulaski]

They were amazing. Their Golden Waltz is the most elegant OSP ever.




I will be interested to see how the dancers this coming season do with incorporating a segment into their RD's.

 

[dorispulaski]

I was at 1987 Worlds. Their performances are some of my most treasured memories, particularly their Golden Waltz OSP!