Andrei Bukin is a former iUSSR ce dancer who represented the Soviet Union in his competitive career with his partner Natalia Bestemianova….as they are the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Champion gold medalist….the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics silver medalist….the four-time World champion….the three-time World silver medalists….and the five-time European champion. Bukin began figure skating at age seven….when he entered the Children and Youth Sports School of CSKA in Moscow. The group trained at a small stadium in Chapayevsky Park near Pesochnaya Square…..when at age ten, he joined Spartak and began ice dancing. In his early career, he was coached by Nadezhda Shirokova….and his ice dancing partner was Olga Abankinka….whom he married. In 1977, he joined the group of the famous coach Tatiana Tarasova….who paired him with Natalia Bestemianova…..as the duo capped their lengthy career by winning the gold medal at that year’s World Championships. Bukin was the USSR Olympic Team Flag Bearer at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.
