SLUTSKAYA, IRINA

SLUTSKAYA, IRINA ("Ira," "Slute"; 1979– ), Russian figure skater, Olympic silver medalist, two-time world champion, six-time European champion. Coached solely by Zhanna Gromova from the age of six, the Muscovite Slutskaya, whose father is Jewish, won her first senior international figure skating competition at the age of 14. By 2005, Slutskaya had garnered a total of 59 medals in senior internationals, including 30 gold medals and 18 silver medals, making her one of the top figure skaters in the world. Among her most impressive victories were two World Championships (2002 and 2005), six European Championships (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), four ISU Grand Prix titles (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005), and six Cup of Russia titles (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004). She has also won the Russian nationals four times, while placing second twice, and third on three occasions. Slutskaya earned a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. (Robert B. Klein (2nd ed.)