Liubov Ilyushechkina

Liubov Ivanovna Ilyushechkina (Любовь Ивановна Илюшечкина, born 5 November 1991) is a Russian-born Canadian pair skater.

Ilyushechkina was born on November 5, 1991, in Moscow, Russia.

Her coach, Lubov Fedoshchenko, suggested she try pair skating and took her to Saint Petersburg to train under Natalia Pavlova in 2006.

Ilyushechkina began skating with Nodari Maisuradze in April 2006.

Though initially skeptical, coach Natalia Pavlova decided to work with them because she had no pairs at the time and grew impressed by their commitment.

In September of that year, Pavlova moved to Moscow and the pair followed her.

During the 2007–08 season, Ilyushechkina/Maisuradze took silver at the 2008 Junior Worlds and placed fourth at the senior Russian Nationals.

During the 2008–09 season, they won the World Junior title, along with gold at the Junior Grand Prix Final.

They also competed at the senior level, winning the bronze at Russian Nationals and placing fifth at their first European Championships.

They earned a berth to 2009 Worlds but were forced to withdraw due to an injury to Maisuradze.

He injured ligaments in his hand in a skiing accident.

They were replaced by Ksenia Ozerova / Alexander Enbert.

During the 2009–10 season, Ilyushechkina/Maisuradze placed third in the short program at 2009 Cup of China and achieved their personal best score of 62.54.

However, they struggled in the long program, finishing seventh in that segment, and fifth overall.

At Russian Nationals, they also struggled and finished in fourth.

After the difficult season, they made some adjustments in training.

Together, they won the 2010 Skate Canada International, 2011 Winter Universiade, and 2009 World Junior Championships.

Ilyushechkina/Maisuradze began the 2010–11 season by capturing the gold at 2010 Skate Canada, their first medal on the senior Grand Prix circuit.

Only a week later, they competed at the 2010 Cup of China and placed fourth.

Their results qualified them for their first Grand Prix Final at the senior level.

They finished fourth, setting new personal bests in the long program (117.38) and combined total (177.44).

At the 2011 Russian Nationals, they placed sixth in the short program and fourth in the long, to finish fifth overall.

They were named to the 2011 Winter Universiade team but missed the European and World teams.

Ilyushechkina/Maisuradze won the gold medal at the Winter Universiade.

In the 2011–12 season, Ilyushechkina/Maisuradze competed at 2011 Skate Canada, where they placed 5th, and 2011 NHK Trophy, where they finished sixth.

They were sixth at the 2012 Russian Championships.

In March 2012, their coach, Natalia Pavlova, confirmed that their partnership had ended.

Ilyushechkina contacted French pair skater Yannick Kocon after learning he was available.

In May 2012, it was reported that they hoped to skate for France but the Russian skating federation was unwilling to release her.

Their partnership ended without any international appearances.

Ilyushechkina began competing for Canada with Dylan Moscovitch in 2014, and they were the 2017 Four Continents bronze medalists, two-time bronze medalists on the Grand Prix series, and three-time Canadian national medalists (silver in 2015 and 2017, bronze in 2016).

After Canadian skater Dylan Moscovitch contacted Ilyushechkina via her Facebook page, the two arranged a tryout, which took place in Detroit in mid-May 2014.

On June 3, 2014, a news report stated that they had decided to form a partnership coached by Lee Barkell and Bryce Davison at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.

The pair continued training in Detroit until Ilyushechkina received a Canadian visa, in late June.

Moscovitch stated, "We have different lifts and different throw and twist techniques. [...] We are still ironing everything out to see what works best for both of us as a team."

She became a Canadian citizen on September 21, 2017.

Ilyushechkina began skating at the age of four or five in Moscow.

Their partnership ended with Moscovitch's retirement in 2018.

With former partner, Charlie Bilodeau, she is the 2020 Canadian Bronze medalist.

Ilyushechkina formerly represented Russia with Nodari Maisuradze.