Russian ice skater Elena Gouliakova was found living on the streets of Mexico, years after a successful career in the sport and performing with Holiday On Ice. The report came from a Facebook user who claims to be a former student of Gouliakova's.
The former figure skater arrived in the country in 2001 with her then-husband, Nikolay Suetov, to start their new life as trainers at prestigious skating clubs in Monterrey.
Image credits: W Deportes
The netizen shared a photo of a woman, believed to be Gouliakova, who appears to be homeless. When they approached the woman, she denied being the famous skater and claimed she worked at a clothing store.
"Walking through Morelos Passage, recognizing a face from my childhood, I decided to call out: Elena! Elena!… She looked me straight in the eyes and, resolutely, responded: 'I don't recognize you! I don't recognize you! I'm a businesswoman! I work at Promoda!'" the user wrote.
The exchange reportedly took place in Monterrey.
Image credits: Record Mx
"Improvising her escape route, that blue-eyed, golden-haired woman chose to evade any futile interview," the user added.
"If you happen to see her, please don't hesitate to offer her a little help and say hello. She is kind, empathetic, and loves being around people. She speaks both Spanish and English fluently, and if you know a bit of Russian, she'll gladly listen to you say Privet!"
The user emphasizes that Gouliakova does not want any help with housing or to return to the world of figure skating.
They claimed that Gouliakova was their skating coach 13 years ago.
The Russian skater, who moved to Mexico with her then-husband in 2001, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2010
Image credits: Monterrey Épico
Image credits: Monterrey Épico
In addition to working in San Pedro Garza García, the skating star was instrumental in bringing Eduardo Burguete Ayala, the founder of the first ice rinks and skating schools in Nuevo León, to Latin America.
In 2006, Gouliakova was arrested for alleged vandalism in the Colonia Valle del Mirador, an issue that led to her admission to the psychiatric ward of the Topo Chico Prison until she was released due to the lack of evidence against her, Fox News Mexico reported.
Four years later, the former skater was diagnosed with schizophrenia. This condition radically transformed her ability to maintain her role as a skating instructor, and the symptoms of the disease intensified after her marriage ended, as per the outlet.
After shining in the ice skating show Holiday On Ice, Gouliakova became a skating instructor in Latin America
Image credits: Record Mx
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel, and behave. It may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior, the Mayo Clinic notes.
Many people with this condition have a difficult time identifying their illness or need for treatment, Dr. Jacob S. Ballon, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, told Bored Panda via email.
“People with schizophrenia generally make reasonable decisions, but the information that they base these decisions on might be faulty based upon delusions or hallucinatory experiences,” explained the professor, who specializes in the treatment of people with psychotic disorders.
Image credits: Norte Digital
“I recommend that people follow the LEAP model when they encounter this issue. LEAP stands for Listening, Empathizing, Agreeing, and Partnering.
“The idea is that you cannot simply change someone’s mind by trying to confront them, but if you listen and understand what they are experiencing and worrying about, you might be able to partner on working towards an agreed upon goal."
Additionally, Dr. Ballon notes that it’s a common misconception to believe that the people that you see living with schizophrenia on the streets are representative of all people who experience this condition.
“People with schizophrenia can absolutely work. Not everyone, but many people are able to work in various capacities ranging from volunteering, to part-time jobs, to full time work in competitive employment.
“In fact, many people live with this illness and you would not be able to pick them out.
"There are many helpful treatments including medications and non-medication treatments that can help people manage their symptoms and move towards recovery."
The expert added: “Medications do not work perfectly for everybody but often can help reduce the burden of psychotic symptoms and help people feel more comfortable in the world."
Psychotherapy treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp), can complement medications by helping patients “further understand and contextualize their experiences and give them tools to work through their challenges.”
“We also focus on supported employment/education services to help people stay connected to work or school and encourage people to continue to maintain their social connections as best as they can.”
Local media previously reported sightings of Gouliakova walking the streets of Jalisco, Mexico
Last year, internet users and local media outlets reported sightings of Gouliakova walking throughout the streets of Tepatitlán, Jalisco, according to Infobae.
A recent video shared by El Norte shows the woman walking in the middle of the street in Monterrey, covered with a blanket and attempting to damage some of the cars.
"Elena Gouliakova, who was a renowned ice skating teacher in San Pedro sports clubs before becoming homeless, was seen again on the streets of Monterrey," the outlet wrote on November 28.
Gouliakova's career took off between 1998 and 2001 when she earned recognition as a prominent figure in the discipline.
She was known for her graceful elegance on the ice as well as her distinctive style, characterized by fluid and unique movements and an extraordinary interpretive ability, as per Fox Sports.
Thanks to her formidable technique, Gouliakova took part in the famous ice skating show Holiday On Ice.