Career
Klimova trained at Spartak in Moscow. Early in her career, she skated with Oleg Gennadyevich Volkov. Klimova and Ponomarenko were fourth in their European Championships debut in 1983.
They were four-time consecutive World silver medalists from 1985 to 1988.
At the 1991 World Championships, they had a setback when they placed second to Isabelle Duchesnay & Paul Duchesnay. Four months before the Olympics, they decided to leave coach Natalia Dubova.
They re-established themselves as the top ice dancers in the world by winning another 1992 European title and then capturing the 1992 Olympic title. They ended their season with their third World title.
They retired from eligible skating after the World Championships and turned to professional and show skating.
Klimova and Ponomarenko were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. They coach young figure skaters at Sharks Ice in San Jose, California. (With Ponomarenko)
(ice dance with Sergei Ponomarenko)
Professional career.