Russian figure skater Ilya Averbukh spoke at the forum Faces of Personal Branding about a recipe for family happiness that resonates with many hardworking people. He did not offer a universal blueprint. Instead, he shared a simple, practical rule he follows at home: he puts his phone away when he returns from work to be fully present with his family.
He acknowledges there is no one-size-fits-all method. Yet he emphasizes a core responsibility for parents: to help build a secure world for children in both financial terms and in attitude. He notes that a strong family culture begins with daily choices, steady routines, and the patience to model the behavior he hopes his children will adopt. The message is not flashy; it is about consistency, attention, and a calm approach during the after-work hours that shape kids sense of safety and possibility. These ideas sit at the heart of his view that parenting is active, ongoing work rather than a passive duty.
One concrete habit he described illustrates his philosophy in action. When he gets home, he steps away from screens. He says rest and a chance to unwind are tempting, yet the moment when the home settles into family life is the moment to be present. The rule is simple and delivered with quiet resolve: the phone gets set aside so conversations, laughter, and shared moments can take priority over scrolling feeds or notifications. In his view, these small, regular acts accumulate into a larger foundation for a secure, confident family life.
There was a recent milestone for the family as their three-year-old son took his first steps onto the ice, alongside his mother, actress Elizaveta Arzamasova. The couple also welcomed a daughter named Leah on August 8, 2024, making a growing family that already holds a place in the public imagination of skating circles. The ice show producer has spoken openly about a desire to see his daughter pursue figure skating, a dream that has become a guiding thread in his personal narrative. He talks about the discipline and joy of skating, and how the sport frames his hopes that his daughter will someday compete on the Olympic stage, bringing together athletic achievement and family pride.
Averbukh also has a 20-year-old son from a previous relationship with figure skater Irina Lobacheva. The young man lived with his father from the age of thirteen, but in 2022 he moved into his own apartment. The ice show creator stressed that this transition reflected Martin’s adult, deliberate choice and was not a sign of any family conflict. The arrangement underscores the evolving dynamics typical of families with high-profile careers, where childhood and adolescence give way to independent adulthood while still remaining part of a wider athletic dynasty.
In a related note, Maxim Marinin, another well-known figure in the skating world, has discussed his own adult daughter, illustrating how the children of celebrated athletes chart their own paths as they reach maturity. The shared thread across these stories is clear: fame hasn’t slowed the rhythm of everyday family life, nor has it stopped parents from guiding, encouraging, and learning alongside their children as they grow into adults with ambitions of their own.