Career
Cherkasova and Shakhrai trained in Moscow with Stanislav Zhuk. Cherkasova and Shakhrai were 12 and 18 respectively when they were paired together. Initially, there was a 35 cm height difference between the pair, with Cherkasova only 138 cm tall.
Cherkasova was 12 when the pair captured the bronze at their first European Championship in 1977.
Their height difference facilitated innovation in twist and lift elements. They became the first pair to perform the split quadruple twist in 1978.
Later, the judging standards were changed to value physical harmony between the partners, which handicapped Cherkasova and her partner. By 1980 Cherkasova had grown 20 cm.
Cherkasova was only 15 years old when she competed at the Olympics.
Shakhrai"s problems lifting his now 45 kg partner eventually resulted in them splitting up. By 1981, Cherkasova had grown so tall that Shakhrai could no longer effectively lift her. This caused them to miss the medal podium at the World Championship in Hartford, Connecticut, finishing in fourth place.
Cherkasova and Shakhrai continued to train into the 1982 season, however eventually broke up.
She briefly paired with Rashid Kadyrkaev, a World junior medalist in 1980 and 1981, but he left to skate with Elena Kvitchenko at the invitation of Igor Moskvin in Leningrad. In 1986, they had a son, Vitaly, and a few years later, a daughter named Daria.
Cherkasova is now a children"s coach in Moscow.