The Forgotten Internet War Over Sergei Grinkov: Skating's Darkest Fandom

Before TikTok fandoms and Twitter meltdowns, there was one of the strangest early internet fandoms: Sergei Grinkov’s Widows.

In this video, we dive deep into the bizarre true story behind Sergei Grinkov, the beloved Olympic figure skater, and the rise of an obsessive online movement that would stalk and harass his real-life wife, Ekaterina Gordeeva.

Learn how early internet fandoms, grief, and parasocial relationships collided to create a hidden chapter of figure skating history — one filled with conspiracy theories, morality policing, and real-world harassment.
From 1990s message boards to Yahoo Groups, we uncover how unmoderated forums became breeding grounds for obsession, spiritual delusion, and an attempted character assassination of one of figure skating’s most beloved athletes.

We'll explore:

Who Sergei Grinkov and Ekaterina Gordeeva were, and why their love story captivated the world

How Katia’s remarriage sparked outrage among obsessive fans

The twisted beliefs of Sergei’s Widows and the Anti-Katia movement

The psychological concepts of parasocial relationships, complicated grief, and identity fusion

Why the early internet allowed toxic fandoms to grow unchecked

How gender expectations and religious undertones fueled harassment

Whether you’re a longtime figure skating fan, fascinated by internet history, or interested in the psychology of fandom culture, this forgotten saga will pull you into one of the wildest corners of online history.

Subscribe for more deep dives into figure skating, early internet phenomena, and the psychology behind fandoms.

#SergeiGrinkov #FigureSkating #EkaterinaGordeeva #InternetHistory #ParasocialRelationships #TrueCrimeAdjacent #FigureSkatingHistory #90sInternet #FandomPsychology

-Happy figure skating, фигурное катание,フィギュアスケート,피겨 스케이팅, patinage artistique

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