Gordeeva Delivers Stirring Tribute to Grinkov

With two magnificent performances and an emotional concluding speech, Ekaterina Gordeeva paid final tribute to her late husband and skating partner Sergei Grinkov Tuesday night.

“I don’t have enough words,” Gordeeva said at the end of a 2 1/2-hour show in Hartford, Conn. “But I also want to wish to every one of you, try to find happiness and at least once a day, smile to each other.”

There were smiles and tears everywhere, as the Stars On Ice troupe paid tribute to Grinkov, who died of heart failure while practicing with Gordeeva in November.

The highlight was Gordeeva’s solo performance. As it concluded, Gordeeva’s eyes awash in tears, she skated to the end of the arena and took her 3-year-old daughter Daria in her arms.