Alexei started skating in 1976
at age 4. In 1992, he was unable to find a partner and was
sent to Japan to skate with Yukiko Kawasaki (pictured
right @ 1993 NHK Trophy) in a deal between the Russian
and Japanese skating federations. The highlights of this
pairing were a third place finish at the 1993 NHK Trophy
in Japan and fifteenth at the 1994 World Championships.
In 1994, the pair split up
and Alexei was invited to join Tatiana Tarasova’s Russian
All-Stars ice theater. He was paired with Inna
Volyanskaya and skated in productions including Cinderella
and Beauty and the Beast. Performances were skated on 10
by 10 meter ice surfaces. Alexei has great respect for Tatiana
Tarasova. He felt that when he first started with the tour
he was a good technical skater, but Tarasova helped bring
out his artistic potential. Although he enjoyed skating
in the shows and found it a great learning experience, he
found that he missed competing immensely.
Maria Petrova (picture right w/Anton Sikharulidze
@ the 1994 World Championships) started skating in
1986 at age 7. Although this was considered late by some
standards, Maria proved she was able to handle this responsibility
and became a reliable partner.
While Alexei was on tour,
Maria Petrova was having a successful partnership with Anton
Sikharulidze. In 1994 and 1995, Maria and Anton won the
World Junior Championships. Yet, after the 1996 season,
Masha and Anton made the decision to end their partnership.
At
the same time, the Russian All-Stars were starting to wind
down as Tatiana Tarasova was devoting more time to training
her new student, Ilia Kulik.
Ludmila
Velikova arranged for Alexei to skate a tryout with Maria.
It was after one month of skating, that Alexei Tikhonov
all but disappeared without a word to Maria. A choice
he admits was a mistake. He then returned to
show skating, this time with Torvill and Dean’s
tour. After realizing his mistake, he called
Velikova and was turned away since Maria had teamed
with Teimuraz Pulin (pictured left at 1997 Nations Cup)
and was loyal to her new partner.
After the 1998 season, Alexei
had a tryout with Marina Eltsova, who had decided
not to continue with partner, Andrei Bushkov.
Alexei debated this partnership and decided not to pursue
it. After hearing that Teimuraz
Pulin decided to quit skating, Alexei called Velikova immediately.
He apologized for his earlier behavior and expressed his
interest in skating with Maria. She left this
decision to Masha who said no. She said no several
times over a two week period. Eventually,
Alexei’s persistence was rewarded when she agreed to
skate with him.
Alexei
Tikhonov with Yukiko Kawasaki: |
Maria
Petrova with Anton Sikharulidze: |
15th
- 1994 World Championships
3rd - 1993 NHK Trophy
|
5th
- 1996 European Championships
4th - 1996 Russian Nationals
5th - 1995 Trophée Lalique
2nd - 1995 Skate Canada
6th - 1995 World Championships
6th - 1995 European Championships
2nd - 1995 Russian Nationals
7th - 1994 NHK Trophy
1st - 1995 World Junior Championships
7th - 1994 Goodwill Games
8th - 1994 World Championships
6th - 1994 Russian Nationals
1st - 1994 World Junior
Championships
3rd - 1993 World Junior Championships |
Maria
Petrova with Teimuraz Pulin |
6th - 1998 Russian Nationals
5th - 1997 NHK Trophy
6th - 1997 Nations Cup
2nd - Winter University Games
5th - 1997 Russian Nationals
2nd - 1997 Worlds Juniors
1st - 1996 Blue Swords
|
Photos
© Takami Hashimoto |
