Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511270063
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
Grinkov was buried at Moscow's Vagankovskoye cemetery after a candlelight service at the ice rink where he used to skate.
At the graveside, his coffin was opened for a second time so mourners could pay final respects to the sportsman. A Russian Orthodox priest chanted prayers and a Russian army honor guard fired a salute.
Earlier, at the Central Army skating rink where he started his career, Grinkov's medals and heaps of flowers lay on the ice before the open coffin.
Yekaterina Gordeeva, Grinkov's wife and skating partner, led the mourners, many of them in tears.
Olympic champions Scott Hamilton, Oksana Baiul, Viktor Petrenko and many Russian skaters were among the approximately 500 mourners.
``Sergei was one of my best friends. Today is a very horrible day,'' Hamilton said as a dirge played. ``We all miss him very much. He was like family. He was a great man.'
Grinkov collapsed and died Monday in Lake Placid, N.Y., while he and Gordeeva were practicing for an ice show.
Their partnership, which began when they were children in Moscow, culminated in two Olympic gold medals and four world championships.
The routines of the muscular, 5-foot-11-inch Grinkov and the ponytailed, 5-foot-1-inch Gordeeva were known for powerful lifts and spectacular throws. The quadruple twist was their signature.
They won Olympic gold in Calgary, Canada, in 1988 and, after a stint as professionals, returned six years later to take gold again at Lillehammer, Norway.
by CNB