About Marina Cherkasova
Born 1964. Marina Cherkasova is a Russian figure skater and figure skating coach.
Marina Evgenievna Cherkasova (; born 17 November 1964) is a Russian retired pair skater. With Sergei Shakhrai, she won the 1979 European title at the age of 14. At 15, she was the 1980 Olympic silver medalist and 1980 World champion.
Career Cherkasova and Shakhrai trained in Moscow with Stanislav Zhuk. Their main rivals included fellow Soviets Irina Rodnina / Alexander Zaitsev, whom they never defeated, Irina Vorobieva / Igor Lisovsky, Marina Pestova / Stanislav Leonovich, and Veronika Pershina / Marat Akbarov.
Cherkasova and Shakhrai were 12 and 18 respectively when they were paired together. Initially, there was a height difference between the pair, with Cherkasova tall. and the quadruple twist lift in 1977. According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, their twist lift was possible due to their "enormous differences in their height and weight", leading the International Skating Union to adopt a rule that penalized pairs teams with a "serious imbalance" in their physical appearances.
External sources
Cherkasova and Shakhrai's free skate at the 1977 World Championship
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Marina Cherkasova?
Russian retired pair skater
When was Marina Cherkasova born?
Marina Cherkasova was born on 17 November 1964 in Moscow.
What is Marina Cherkasova's occupation?
Marina Cherkasova is a figure skater and figure skating coach.
What nationality is Marina Cherkasova?
Marina Cherkasova is Russian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Marina Cherkasova
· DBpedia: Marina Cherkasova (pair skater)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Marina Cherkasova. https://biography.guide/marina-cherkasova/
MLA: "Marina Cherkasova." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/marina-cherkasova/.
Chicago: "Marina Cherkasova." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/marina-cherkasova/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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