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Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
One thing we can rely on Netflix for is dropping bombshells in the form of new documentaries to obsess over.
Lately, it seems we’ve had something to suit every viewer - whether it has been the heart-wrenching true crime case that rocked France, or the horrifying story of Academy at Ivy Ridge, as told in The Program: Corruption, Cults and Kidnapping.
But sometimes brilliant documentaries slip through the cracks and don’t get the viral appreciation they deserve.
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Harley & Katya is a great example of one of those docs that slips through the net.
A promising duo
The doc details the devastating story of figure-skating duo Ekaterina 'Katya' Alexandrovskaya and Harley Windsor, who won gold at the Junior World Championships in 2017, leading them to train for and compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
If you didn’t catch the documentary during it’s 2022 release, now is your time.
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The duo competed for Australia between 2015 and 2020, with Katya - who was born in Russia - gaining Australian citizenship, moving her life over to a new country for the sake of her sporting career.
Tragedy strikes
While the beginnings of the journey together proved very successful, the move to Aus was very lonely for Katya, who was just 16 when she first paired up with Harley.
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In early 2020, Katya’s lifestyle had taken a darker turn and she was trying to navigate a life of depression and drinking heavily, as chronicled in the documentary.
She then was diagnosed with epilepsy before breaking off her partnership with Harley and bowing out of figure skating altogether.
Heartbreakingly, just five months after retiring, Katya died by suicide on 18 July, 2020. She was just 20 years old.
Katya left behind a note that read ‘Lyublyu’, which translates to ‘love’.
"The amount we had achieved during our partnership is something I can never forget"
The documentary does a brilliant job of immortalising the incredible relationship between Katya and Harley - their achievements, idiosyncrasies and enduring bond.
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After Katya’s passing, Harley wrote on Instagram: “The amount we had achieved during our partnership is something I can never forget and will always hold close to my heart.”
What are viewers saying?
After watching the 'heartbreaking' doc, one viewer wrote on X: “Watching Harley & Katya on Netflix. That poor girl, she was so young and had all this happen to her, and her career ending due to a medical diagnosis when it was all she'd ever known.”
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Another echoed: “Harley & Katya’s journey is emotional, tragic and an eye-opener on the levels of stress these young athletes get pushed into. Just couldn’t put myself to imagine her last days.”
A third chimed in: “Just finished watching Harley and Katya on netflix and I honestly can't stop thinking about that poor girl.”
Another summed up the importance of the documentary, writing: "How did I miss the story of Katya and Harley at the Olympics and afterward? This documentary on Netflix is heartbreaking."
Harley & Katya is streaming on Netflix now.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix / Christian Petersen / International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty ImagesTopics: Netflix, Documentaries, TV And Film