It's so comforting to know that American sports stars aren't
the only ones who go wiggy with fame. Russians PASHA GRISHUK and EVGENY PLATOV,
right, the only ice dancers ever to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals, have
always been as odd a match off the ice as they were perfect on it.
Pasha is, well, flamboyant. She models herself after Marilyn Monroe, went
through the torturous process of changing her name from Oksana to Pasha--Russian
for passion--and has made no secret of her Hollywood dreams. Now, apparently,
Evgeny has decided her virtuosity on the ice is not enough compensation for her
tempestuousness off it. On July 19, at the end of an America-wide tour, he told
Pasha that he had decided to skate with a rival, MAIA USOVA, left. At least he
tried to. Pasha disappeared. He has tried calling since, and she has hung up on
him. She claims he hasn't called. Maybe it hurts most because Pasha had a very
public affair with Maia's husband and broke up her rival's marriage. "There is
sadness because we are great skaters together," says Evgeny. "But there is
relief because I will have another life that I deserve. I'm expecting a new,
happy life with no stress." Sounds like Pasha may have found her screenplay.
--Reported by Alice Park
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988836,00.html