1. What is the correct spelling and pronunciation of his name?
   
   He spells it "I-l-i-a."   It is pronounced:
   eel-YA.  His last name is pronounced:
   Coo-LEEK.
   
   
2. Where does Ilia live and train?
   
   Ilia packed up his belongings in Marlborough, Massachusetts and moved to the Los Angeles area in sunny Southern California. He trains
   near his home in Los Angeles. 
   
   
3. What about his family?  Does he have brothers and sisters; where do they live? 
   
   Ilia's mother Nadyezhda is a translator, his father Alexander is an engineer and his younger sister Svetlana is a college student.  Currently they are all in Los Angeles.
   
   
4. What kind of car does Ilia drive?
   
   Ilia is most often seen zipping about town in his silver Porsche Carrera.   He says he has only gotten one speeding ticket in his Porsche and adds, "it's already been paid!"   He also drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee and two motorcycles - a Ducati and a BMW.
   

5. What does Ilia do in his spare time?
   
   "What spare time?"  Ilia joked when asked this question. But, his off-ice activities have included skydiving, skiing, rollerblading, mountain biking, motorcycling and even horseback riding.  The new horseman said he was "cantering" at his first lesson, but also confessed "it was pretty painful after the first lesson... .it's fun."
   
   
6. What is his favorite vacation spot?
   
   Maui! 
   
   
7. Has Ilia turned professional?
   
   Ilia officially turned professional when he competed at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in December 1999.
   
   
8. And finally, what question does Ilia think he is asked most frequently?
   
   "about The Leo Thing." 
   
   And what does he REALLY think of "The Leo Thing" ? 
   
   "It's a compliment."
   

Updated  7/22/2002