Hello !

I read on FSW, that Maria`s boyfriend would have been found murdered in Moscow 2
weeks ago. There was an article in a swedish newpaper on January 2nd.
Does anybody know, if it`s true ?

Here`s the translation of the article and the link:
http://pub36.ezboard.com/ftheaywffmessageboardfrm3.showMessage?topicID=23.topic


The Olympic star's tragedy- boyfriend murdered
Still she managed to qualify for Salt Lake City

First her boyfriend was found shot to death last week, and a few days afterwards
another fellow-competitor was found murdered. Still the world champion from
1999, Maria Butyrskaya, managed to keep concentrated during the qualifications
for the Olympics this weekend, and qualify for SLC. Two years ago she was forced
to get a bodyguard when her car was bown up outside her home.

Two years ago the mafia blew up her car, now her boyfriend has been murdered.
The Russian figure skater Maria Butyrskaya, 29, has other things on her mind
than the Olympics.

In October, her boyfriend Sergei disappeared, a businessman who left his family
for Butyrskaya and bought a luxury flat for himself and the figure skating star
in Moscow. Last week Sergeis body was found in the forest outside the city. He
was shot to death. Almost at the same time another figure skater was found
killed with several stabs in her back in her apartment in Moscow: Kira Iwanova
the last Russian woman to take a medal at the Olympics (bronze -84 in Sarajevo.)

Forced to get bodyguards
Under the circumstances Maria Butyrskaya has competed in the Russian olympic
trial (don't know the word I mean the qualifying) and the Russian nationals
which took place in Moscow. Despite everything she managed to get second place
behind rival and Olympic favourite Irina Slytskaya. Blond Maria Butyrskaya has
always been surrouded with amour and glamour (that depends on how you look at
it, imo). She's been posing for playboy. She was world champion in 1999 but
since then only a popular favourite. Two years ago she was forced to get a
bodyguard after her BMW valued to 350 000 SKr was blown into pieces outside her
home in Moscow. The mafia was considered guilty of it.

-For the first time I'm afraid to stay in Moscow
-I don't understand how I've gotten such enemies. I'm not into politics and I
don't owe anyone money, she said back then. She got the same piece of advice as
Oksana Baiul, to move to the US. But:
-I can't. My parents and grandparents can't manage without my economical
support, Maria explained.

Close to bronze in Nagano
At the Olympics in Nagano -98 she just missed out on the bronze. Last year she
flopped in both the Europeans and Worlds. The question is now how Maria, after
all that has happened, will manage to keep her nerves in Salt Lake City?







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