Ilia Klimkin
Klimkin in 2006.
Full name	Ilia Sergeyevich Klimkin
Native name	Илья Сергеевич Климкин
Born	(1980-08-15) 15 August 1980 (age 43) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Figure skating career
Country	Russia
Skating club	SC Moskvich
Retired	19 April 2007
Medal record Representing  Russia Figure skating: Men's singles European Championships 2004 Budapest Men's singles Grand Prix Final 2002–03 St. Petersburg Men's singles World Junior Championships 1999 Zagreb Men's singles Junior Grand Prix Final 1998–99 Detroit Men's singles

Ilia Sergeyevich Klimkin (Russian: Илья Серге́евич Климкин, born 15 August 1980) is a Russian former competitive figure skater. He is the 2003 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, the 2004 European bronze medalist, the 1999 World Junior champion, and a three-time Russian national silver medalist.

Personal life

Klimkin was born on 15 August 1980 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.^[1]

Career

Klimkin's grandmother introduced him to skating at the age of four because she felt it would be good for his health.^[2] He was coached by Igor Rusakov for thirteen years^[2] until Rusakov's sudden death in July 2003.^[1] He was then coached by Viktor Kudriavtsev.^[1]

At the 1999 Nebelhorn Trophy, Klimkin became the first skater to land two different quadruple jumps in one program, which he did by landing a quad salchow and a quad toe loop in the free skate.^[2] Klimkin spins in both directions, and is also known for his cantilever.^[1]

In the summer of 2003, Klimkin had a calf injury which became infected and required three surgeries; he returned to the ice in late September and won 2002 NHK Trophy two months later.^[2] In the fall of 2004, he underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon, keeping him off the ice for four months; after another three months, he was able to practice jumps.^[1] He did not compete in the 2004–05 season.

He announced his retirement from competitive skating on 19 April 2007.

Programs

Results

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix