After returning from the 1994 Olympics I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was training on my own while going to graduate school at Kellogg in Chicago - a horrendous commute of 3 hours down 2 hours back 2 to 3 times per week. I had begun dating a Russian/Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist from the games, Oksana Grishuk, who, with her partner Evgeny Platov, had joined a USA-based touring figure skating show, “Stars On Ice,” along with Katarina Witt, Nancy Kerrigan, Oksana Baiul, Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano and others.

Kristi and I were old friends and when the show came to Milwaukee she had obtained rinkside tickets for me and a friend to watch the show. My friend Matt and I were running a little late when we checked into will-call for the tickets and were ushered down to the rink and then we entered the darkened arena with a spotlight on us as we walked across a red carpet across the ice to two chairs right at the edge of the ice just as the show was to start.

I remembered telling my married friend Matt, “we are now the most famous gay couple in Milwaukee” as we sat down to watch the show.

Kristi was still in the height of her fame, and during her opening act, came out did some fantastic passes and then brought out a single red rose from her handler, and in the blackness of the arena, under the spotlights, beckoned me to step out and accept it with my teeth. Embarrassed I did so. Later, Oksana, during her routine, stopped a few times to make eye contact as well and at one point, sat on my lap before finishing her routine.

After the show, Matt and I joined the crew at the afterparty at the hotel bar, and Kristi and I reminisced about previous travels and events. Oksana and Oksana eventually showed up and I chatted with them. Oksana G. and I were holding hands talking about their next stop in Indianapolis. Perhaps an hour later, Katarina made her appearance, working her way around the bar, taking photos with various patrons, and chatting with a few of the skaters. Eventually she made our way to our side of the bar and walking up, looked at me, stopped short and said, “You! No! no! no!” and she walked off and headed back to the elevators.

I regaled Scott, Oskana and Kristi with the story of my first meeting with Katarina and we all had a good laugh.

Why Am I Still Alive Pt. 16: The Second Time I Met Katarina Witt