Julia Nikolayevna Obertas, married name: Horak (, ; born 19 June 1984) is a former pair skater who represented Ukraine until 2000 and then Russia until the end of her career. She is best known for her partnership with Sergei Slavnov, with whom she competed from 2003 to 2007. They are the 2005 European silver medalists. Earlier, she competed with Alexei Sokolov for Russia and Dmytro Palamarchuk for Ukraine. With Palamarchuk, she became a two-time (1998–1999) World Junior champion.
Career Early career Obertas began skating at age 5. She initially competed with Dmytro Palamarchuk representing Ukraine. They won the 1998 and 1999 World Junior Championships. They also won the 1997 and 1998 Junior Grand Prix Final. They then began competing on the senior level. At the 2000 World Championships, Obertas/Palamarchuk were 10th after the short program but during the free skate Palamarchuk caught an edge (right skate) while executing an overhead lift with Obertas – she was uninjured in the resulting fall but he hit his head on the ice. No medical attention was immediately offered at the event in Nice, France. Palamarchuk lay on the ice for several minutes before getting up and leaving the ice on his own but then lost consciousness and was taken to hospital – no damage was found but he was kept overnight for observation. The pair ended their partnership shortly afterward. Obertas moved to Russia as her mother had remarried and the family decided to settle in Saint Petersburg.
Partnership with Sokolov In the summer of 2000, Obertas teamed up with Alexei Sokolov and began to represent Russia, coached by Ludmila Velikova and Nikolai Velikov. They trained at the Yubileyny rink in Saint Petersburg. After two fourth-place finishes at Russian Nationals, they won bronze in 2003. They earned a berth in the 2003 European Championships, where they placed fifth, and to the 2003 World Championships, where they finished eighth.
Partnership with Slavnov
Obertas had begun dating another one of the Velikovs' students, Sergei Slavnov, and in August 2003, they decided to skate together, switching coaches to Tamara Moskvina who also worked at Yubileyny.
At the 2004 Skate America, shortly after Tatiana Totmianina's accident, Obertas fell out of an overhead lift, a hand-to-hand lasso lift, but Slavnov managed to catch her to prevent her head hitting the ice. The pair won silver at the 2005 European Championships and were fifth at the World Championships. During the 2005-06 season, they were fourth at Europeans, and then finished eighth at both the Olympics and Worlds.
At the start of the 2006-07 season, Obertas/Slavnov decided to return to Ludmila Velikova. The pair won bronze at 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard and finished 6th at 2006 NHK Trophy. At the 2007 Russian Championships, they won the silver medal and were sent to the 2007 European Championships where they finished 4th. They did not compete at Worlds.
The pair announced they would miss the 2007-08 season as the result of an injury to Obertas. In summer 2008, they said they would miss the start of the 2008-09 season, but might compete at Russian Nationals. In autumn 2008, Obertas participated in the Russia 1 ice show Star Ice (), skating with the Russian actor Alexander Peskov. Obertas/Slavnov did not compete at Russian nationals and ended their career.
Obertas/Slavnov performed some quadruple twists in competition.
Personal life Obertas and Slavnov dated from 2002 to 2008. In 2010, Obertas married Czech figure skater Radek Horák. After spending some time coaching in Italy, they continued their coaching careers in Stockholm, Sweden. Obertas and Horak has since then divorced, although they are still work together as coaches in Stockholms Konståkningsklubb (SKK).
Programs With Slavnov Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2006–2007 Libertango by Astor Piazzolla performed by Bond Dark Angel Virtuosi Carmina Burana performed by Edvin Marton 2005–2006 Concert for the Voice Andante from the Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra, opus 82 written by Reinhold Glière performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and Evgenia Miroshnichenko Brindisi Parigi o Cara La Donna E Mobile Anvil Chorus by Giuseppe Verdi 2004–2005 Les Rois du Tsigane by Joska Nemeth and Paul Toscano Katiusha Under Moscow Skies (Russian folk music)
The Truman Show by Burkhard Dallwitz Secret Garden by Rolf Løvland Man With The Hex by The Atomic Fireballs 2003–2004 Esperanza by Maxime Rodriguez The Truman Show by Burkhard Dallwitz Secret Garden by Rolf Løvland Not Gonna Get Us by t.A.T.u.
With Sokolov Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2002–2003 Summer of '42 by Michel Legrand Spirit Wind by David Arkenstone Pearl Harbor by Hans Zimmer So Many Things Sarah Brightman 2001–2002 Russian Dance from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky I Will Wait for You (from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) by Michel Legrand
Results With Slavnov for Russia
Results International Event 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Olympics 8th Worlds 7th 5th 8th Europeans 4th 2nd 4th 4th Grand Prix Final 4th 5th GP Bompard 3rd GP Cup of Russia 5th 2nd 2nd GP NHK Trophy 6th GP Skate America 2nd 3rd GP Skate Canada 6th Bofrost Cup 2nd National Russian Champ. 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd GP = Grand Prix
With Sokolov for Russia Results International Event 2000–2001 2001–2002 2002–2003 Worlds 8th Europeans 5th Grand Prix Final 4th GP Cup of Russia 5th 3rd GP NHK Trophy 4th GP Skate America 4th GP Sparkassen 2nd Nebelhorn 2nd National Russian Champ. 4th 4th 3rd GP = Grand Prix
With Palamarchuk for Ukraine Results International Event 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 Worlds 11th WD Europeans 7th 6th 6th GP Lalique 7th GP Skate Canada 5th Nebelhorn 3rd Skate Israel 1st International: Junior Junior Worlds 1st 1st 2nd JGP Final 1st 1st JGP France 1st JGP Germany 2nd JGP Ukraine 1st 1st National Ukrainian Champ. 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd Ukrainian Jr. Ch. 4th GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew
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