Ilia Averbukh


Ilia Izyaslavovich Averbukh is a Russian ice dancer. With former wife Irina Lobacheva, he is the 2002 Olympic silver medalist, the 2002 World champion and the 2003 European champion.
With Marina Anissina, he is the 1990 and 1992 World Junior champion.

Early life

Averbukh is Jewish, and was born in Moscow.

Career

Averbukh started skating at the age of 5. He initially competed with Marina Anissina. They won two World Junior Championships. Averbukh teamed up with Irina Lobacheva in 1992. After the Goodwill Games in the summer of 1994 their coaches moved with many of their students to the United States to train at the University of Delaware. Lobacheva and Averbukh joined them the next year.
In September 2001, Lobacheva injured her knee in training, causing them to miss the Grand Prix season. They won the silver medal at the 2002 Olympics behind Marina Anissina / Gwendal Peizerat.
Lobacheva / Averbukh won gold at the 2002 World Championships and at the 2003 European Championships. They retired from competition at the end of the 2002–2003 season.

Post-competitive career

Following his retirement from competitive skating, Averbukh became a producer of skating shows and tours. Among his projects are Ice Symphony/Ice Age; City Lights; Bolero ; and Small Stories of a Big City, an ice show during the 2012 Olympics in London. In January 2013, Averbukh was named an ambassador for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Averbukh works as a choreographer. His past and current clients include:
SeasonOriginal danceFree danceExhibition
2002–2003

by Johann Strauss II
  • Unter Donner und Blitz
by Johann Strauss II
version by Little Richard
version by Elvis Presley
  • Jumpin' Jack
performed by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
2001–2002

  • Tanguera
by M. Mores
  • Bulerias Magna Mafa
by Thomas Espanner
by Rita
  • Ronde de Vigo
2000–2001

  • Toccata
    • from Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    by Chris de Burgh
    ----
    performed by Russian Jewish Choir
    1999–2000

    • Ritmo de Bom Bom
    by Vimi
    • Rhumba de le more
  • Jesus Christ Superstar
    • by Andrew Lloyd Webber
    ----
    • Alegría
    • Release

    by Sinéad O'Connor
    1998–1999

    by Johann Strauss II
    • Diablo
  • Tutti Frutti
    • by Little Richard
    1997–1998

    • Tutti Frutti
    by Little Richard
    • Jesus Christ Superstar
    by Andrew Lloyd Webber
    1996–1997

    • Argentine Tango:
  • The Mask
  • This Business of Love

    • by Domino
    1995–1996

    by Ernesto Lecuona
  • Malagueña
    • 1994–1995
  • Hava Nagila
    • 1993–1994
  • Hungarian Dances
    • by Johannes Brahms

    Results

    With Lobacheva

    With Anissina

    Hall of Fame

    Averbukh was elected to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame's induction class of 2015.

    Other sports

    Averbukh will play a role in the opening ceremony of the 2016 Bandy World Championship.

    Personal life

    Lobacheva and Averbukh married in 1995. Their son, Martin, was born in 2004. They divorced in 2007.