Ekaterina Gordeeva and Ilia Kulik, both prominent figures in the world of figure skating, went through significant changes in their personal lives. The couple, who married on June 10, 2002, eventually divorced in 2016. They have a daughter together, Elizaveta Ilinichna Kulik, born on June 15, 2001. Kulik is also a stepfather to Daria Sergeyevna Gordeeva-Grinkova, Gordeeva’s daughter from her previous marriage to late figure skater Sergei Grinkov.

Ilia Kulik, known for his achievements in figure skating, including winning a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, continued to be involved in the sport after retiring from competitive skating. He and Gordeeva opened a skating rink in Lake Forest, California, in 2012. This endeavor was part of their ongoing commitment to the sport and its development.

The end of their marriage marked a new chapter for both Gordeeva and Kulik, as they navigated their lives post-divorce while remaining connected through their daughter and shared history in figure skating.