Veronica Pershina Figure skater

Veronica Pershina is a former Soviet pair skater. With partner Marat Akbarov, she was the 1985 European bronze medalist and 1979 World Junior champion. She was trained by Stanislav Zhuk and Irina Rodnina. From 1986 until 1990 she skated with "Russian All Stars" under Tatiana Tarasova management. She made a worldwide tour with Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean from 1988 until 1990. On January 24, 1990 she defected to the United States rather than return from New York to London with the Torvill & Dean / Russian All Stars tour group. Others who defected with her were her future husband Igor Shpilband, future US ice dancing champion Gorsha Sur and former Junior World ice dancing champion Elena Krikanova. She now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan and works as a coach. She was married to the ice dancing coach Igor Shpilband. Their daughter, Ekaterina Shpilband, placed 4th in the Juvenile ladies division of the 2009 U.S. Junior Championships. At the 2010 United States Junior Championships, Ekaterina won the intermediate ladies division.