How did Sergei Grinkov die? All about heart attacks in figure skaters

The life of Russian figure skater Sergei Grinkov, known for his grace on the ice and his electric partnership with wife Ekaterina Gordeeva, was tragically cut short at the peak of his career.

On November 20, 1995, the 28-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist was rehearsing with Gordeeva for the Stars on Ice tour in Lake Placid, New York, when he suddenly collapsed on the ice.

Paramedics rushed him to Adirondack Medical Center, according to the New York Times. Grinkov suffered a severe heart attack due to severe undiagnosed coronary artery disease and was pronounced dead about an hour after arriving, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Grinkov’s death shocked not only the figure skating world but the world. But his legacy continues through his wife and daughter Daria, who was only three years old at the time of his death.

“I don’t want Daria to cry when she talks about Sergei. I want her to be able to explain to everyone who her father was and how wonderful he was,” Gordeeva said in an October 1996 interview with the Chicago Tribune.

So how did Sergei Grinkov die? Here’s everything you need to know about a figure skater’s fatal heart attack.

How did Sergei Grinkov die?

Grinkov died of a severe heart attack on November 20, 1995, at just 28 years old.

The Los Angeles Times reported that an autopsy conducted by Dr. Francis Varga revealed that Grinkov had severe coronary artery disease, one of his major arteries was almost completely blocked, and that his heart, which had become “disproportionately enlarged” related to high blood pressure, had not been treated. No drugs or alcohol were involved.

Doctors also found signs that he had suffered a smaller, silent heart attack the day before he died.

“The entire anterior half of his heart muscle and part of the left side of his heart muscle were deprived of oxygen. His heart was disproportionately enlarged,” Varga told the Los Angeles Times in November 1995.

He continued: “A genetic predisposition is probably involved. Had his condition been discovered and without a bypass, he would have had little chance of survival. In young people, the first sign of coronary artery disease is often sudden death.”

Duke Health said subsequent genetic testing showed he carried the P1A2 variant, now sometimes called the Grinkov risk factor, which is associated with early heart attacks. According to the Los Angeles Times, Grinkov’s father also died of a heart attack four years ago.

When and where did Sergei Grinkov die?

The Russian figure skater tragically passed away while training with his wife and skating partner Gordeeva at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York.

Grinkov suddenly fell onto the ice during a lift. His coach, Marina Zueva, was the first to make contact, and within minutes paramedics arrived and administered emergency treatment. He was immediately taken to Adirondack Medical Center, where medical staff spent about an hour trying to resuscitate him.

Despite their efforts, Grinkov was pronounced dead at 12:28 p.m. ET, according to the Los Angeles Times.

What is Grinkov risk factor?

Two weeks after Grinkov’s death, cardiologist Dr. Pascal Goldschmidt analyzed the figure skater’s blood samples and found that Grinkov carried a variant of the P1A2 gene, which can be present in up to 20 percent of people, according to CNN.

This gene, now commonly referred to as the Grinkov risk factor, is normally involved in platelet formation, but people with this particular mutation may have a tendency for their platelets to clump together, increasing their risk of early-onset heart disease.

What were Sergei Grinkov’s last words?

According to Time, Grinkov’s last words were to his wife. He complained of dizziness and then lay unconscious on the ice.

“I touched his skates to say a prayer for him, but his legs were limp,” American figure skater Paul Wylie, who was present at Grinkov’s death, recalled to Time magazine in December 1995.

What achievements did Sergei Grinkov make?

Grinkov left a tremendous legacy in the world of figure skating and is remembered not only for his athletic brilliance, but also for the inspiration he provided to generations of skaters.

Together with his wife and partner Gordeeva, he won two Olympic gold medals (1988 and 1994), four World Championships, and earned worldwide acclaim for his unparalleled artistry, technical mastery, and undeniable emotional connection on the ice.

Beyond his accomplishments on the ice, Grinkov was also a father. He and Gordeeva had a daughter, Daria, in 1992.

Gordeeva published her memoir My Sergei: A Love Story in 1996, an intimate account of her life with Grinkov on and off the ice. Co-authored with EM Swift, the book follows their journey from young Soviet skaters to Olympic champions.

“He was my hero,” Gordeeva told the Los Angeles Times that same year. “From the first time I met him and the first time I started skating with him, I always looked up to him.”

Based on this memoir, the 1998 TV movie My Sergei dramatizes their story using a combination of actual skating footage, interviews, and re-enactments to depict their bond.

Today, Gordeeva is still active in the world of figure skating, appearing in shows and working as a coach and choreographer. She was married to fellow Olympic champion Ilya Kulik from 2001 to 2016, and during their marriage their daughter Elizaveta was born, the biography says.

She later married Olympic skater David Pelletier in 2020, according to PopSugar.