Cherkasova and Shakhrai were 12 and 18 respectively when they were paired together. Initially, there was a 35 cm (1 ft 2 in) height difference between the pair, with Cherkasova only 138 cm (4 ft 6+1⁄2 in) tall.[1]
the bronze at their first European Championship in 1977. Their height difference facilitated innovation in twist and lift elements; they became the first pair to perform triple jump (toeloop) at "Moscow news" trophy 9 december 1977,[2] and the split quadruple twist in 1978. Later, the judging standards were changed to value physical harmony between the partners, which handicapped the pair.
With his 12-year-old partner, they won the bronze medal at their first European Championship in 1977; they also won the bronze at the Soviet Championships.[3][4] Their height difference facilitated innovation in twist and lift elements; they became the first pair to perform a triple jump (the toe loop) at the Prize of Moscow News on 9 December 1977[5] and the quadruple twist lift in 1977.[6] According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, their twist lift was possible due to their "enormous differences in their height and weight",[3] leading the International Skating Union to adopt a rule that penalized pairs teams with a "serious imbalance" in their physical appearances.[3] In 1978, they won the silver medal at the European Championships and again came in fourth place at Worlds.
In 1979, they won the European and Soviets titles, and came in second place at Worlds.[7] By 1980 Cherkasova had grown 20 cm (8 in). The change affected their technical elements, however, the pair managed to win silver at 1980 Europeans, silver at the 1980 Olympics, and gold at Worlds.[7][4] Cherkasova was only 15 years old when she competed at the Olympics while Shakhrai was 21.
Shakhrai's problems lifting his now 45 kg (99 lb) partner eventually resulted in them splitting up. By 1981, Cherkasova had grown so tall that Shakhrai could no longer effectively lift her. They missed the medal podium at the Worlds and finished in fourth place. They also came in third place at Europeans.[4]
Cherkasova and Shakhrai skated together for another year, but "were less successful than they had been",[4] and the Soviet federation eased them out of competition.[4] As of November 2016, Shakhrai was working as an ice skating coach in Australia.[8] He coached the pair of Olga Neizvestnaya & Sergei Hudyakov to a bronze medal at the 1984 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
