Background
Natalia Mishkutionok was born on July 14, 1970 to a Polish mother and a Belarusian father in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Natalia Mishkutionok was born on July 14, 1970 to a Polish mother and a Belarusian father in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Mishkutionok began skating in 1976. She teamed up with Artur Dmitriev around 1986. They were coached by Tamara Moskvina in Saint St. Petersburg and their choreographers were Alexander Matveev with Moskvina.
They performed to Franz Liszt"s Liebesträume (Dream of Love), which became one of the most noted programs of their career and earned them four perfect 6.0 marks at the 1992 World Championships in Oakland, California.
They turned professional shortly after that championship. Mishkutionok/Dmitriev chose to reinstate as amateurs after the ban against such actions was lifted.
Their free skate to Rachmaninov"s 2nd Piano Concerto earned a standing ovation and is considered one of their finest performances. Mishkutionok decided to retire from competition in 1994.
One hallmark of Mishkutionok/Dmitriev"s style was their creative spins, especially one in which Mishkutionok would do a split and point her head down, with an arm around Dmitriev"s calf so that they were both vertical and aligned.
This signature move, called "Natasha"s spin" was incorporated into most of their programs. Another signature move was a backwards inside death spiral in which Mishkutionok bent backwards, holding her foot behind and above her head while Dmitriev also held her raised skate blade and her free hand. Mishkutionok/Dmitriev competed before, during, and after the breakup of the Soviet Union, thus, they competed for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia, all within a four-year period.
Mishkutionok is currently coaching pairs and singles skaters in Grapevine, Texas.
One of her students is the United States. men"s 2009 novice silver medalist Stevan Evans.
They attempted to defend their Olympic title in the 1994 Winter Olympics, where they delivered two strong programs.