Russian Stars on Ice skater has friend in Reading

Anjelika Krylova and Inna Svetacheva-Knorr, who grew up skating together half a world away, will have a reunion when Krylova comes to the Sovereign Center on Monday with the Target Stars on Ice.

A friendship that's been on ice for more than 20 years will find a warm reception in Reading on Monday.

That's when Target Stars on Ice world champion ice dancer Anjelika Krylova comes to town for an exhibition at the Sovereign Center and meets up with childhood friend and former pairs champ Inna Svetacheva-Knorr, who lives in the Reading area with husband Hayes-Alan Knorr.

Krylova and Svetacheva-Knorr became friends in Moscow in their pre-teen years, both taking to the ice for the first time when they were about 3 years old.

"We trained together in Russia," said Svetacheva-Knorr, who turned professional when she was 15. "We were in the same skating club."

In Russia that meant both girls skated together, went to school together and spent their summers together.

"I don't remember her when I was a very little girl," Krylova said. "But we became friends around 10 or 11 years old."

The paths of the two girls diverged in the early '90s when Svetacheva-Knorr toured as a professional and eventually got married, and became mom to 2-year-old Sophia Victoria, and Krylova went on to win two World Championships (1998 and 1999) in ice dancing, as well as a silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Yet they always stayed in touch, each keeping an eye on what the other was doing, even though they skated in different events.

"You train so much together that you are like family," Svetacheva-Knorr said. "They would have the ice before us or after us, and I'd see her in the changing room at competitions. This is your life and you have no doubt that it will be your life and you will be a champion."

Svetacheva-Knorr gave up that lifestyle shortly after she came in fourth in the World Junior Championships.

Krylova persevered until a back injury sidelined her and almost forced her to give up skating entirely.

Even now she skates in pain.

"Doctors told me that I couldn't skate," she said. "I was afraid they were right, but I was also afraid to try."

But she did try, after less than a year off the ice.

Krylova started slowly with partner Oleg Ovsiannikov, her partner since 1994. After missing the 1999/2000 amateur season, the dancers decided to become professionals.

"I practiced alone then," she said. "I pushed myself when I had to, but I didn't want the Russian coaches pushing me. They can be mean. I still have pain, but it is not like it used to be."

And she is extremely happy with the Stars on Ice Tour, which also stars Todd Eldredge, Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi and Katarina Witt.

In addition to participating in several group numbers, Krylova and Oleg also perform a solo dance entitled Last of the Mohicans.

"I love Stars on Ice," Krylova said. "It's such a different experience from competition."

The solo was choreographed by Krylova's boyfriend, Guiseppe Arena.

"I am really enjoying myself with it," she said. "It's very creative."

Although the tour takes time and energy, Krylova said that professional competitions are still a possibility. In 2000 she and Oleg came in second at the World Professional Championships.

"I just love to dance," Krylova said.

And when her skating days are through, she will continue to dance.

"I think I would like ballroom dancing, too," she said. "That would be fun."

She's also considered modeling and acting.

"And I sing, too, but so far only for family, not professionally," she said. "There is so much to do."

Right now though, she's also looking forward to spending some time with her friend Svetacheva-Knorr.

"We will spend time together when I am in Reading," she said. "And I would like her to go back to Moscow with me after the tour is over, but she has a baby and probably can't."

Although Krylova now lives and trains in Delaware, her family and friends are still in Moscow.

Svetacheva-Knorr said that the visit will most likely include a lot of talking, off the ice.