Volosozhar & Trankov Welcome New Daughter

Reigning Olympic champions became parents on Thursday to a baby girl.

It was a busy week in Russia. A number of currently competitive skaters were in Saransk, skating at the Russian Cup Final. The rest were anxiously awaiting the announcement of the World team. But the ice in Saransk was not the location of the most important event this week in Russian pairs skating. That was instead a hospital in Moscow, where the reigning Olympic champions became parents.

On Thursday, Tatiana Volosozhar gave birth to baby girl. Both mother and daughter are doing well. Husband and skating partner Maxim Trankov also spoke to the media long enough to tell them this made him happier than winning Olympic gold had. The two of them have been married since 2015. Saturday Volosozhar posted a message to Instagram:

(Google translate translates her words as: “Dear friends, subscribers, friends !!! Everyone who wrote and congratulated us on the birth of little daughter !!! Thank you boundless, for all the congratulations, wishes and those kind words that you have written and talked! With ❤ !!! Thank you Sergey @bermeniev of my favorite photos! #vlszhrtrnkv #sergeybermeniev #vlszhrtrnkvbaby # moyabebichka #mylove #family #happy # love # happiness # good # # angel novayazhizn“)

Since winning Olympic gold, Volosozhar & Trankov haven’t has the easiest time competitively. They took the 2015 season off, then came back in the 2016 season. There they dealt with injury, and a disappointing end at Worlds. Most thought they would retire. They’ve taken this season off because of the pregnancy, of course. But when they announced the pregnancy to the world last fall, they said that while they might have retired otherwise, the prospect of parenthood has inspired them to go to a second Olympics. They wouldn’t be the first. Pairs legends Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov expressed similar sentiments about doing their own second Olympics following the birth of their daughter.

The final decision on that, however, is one they probably won’t make just yet. It probably isn’t what they’re thinking about right now. We may have to wait until the summer.

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Hopefully we won’t have to wait that long, however, to at least learn the girl’s name. We’ll whether that or the Russian world team will be announced first. Both are now awaited with great anticipation.