Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Kristina’s guilt over tragic pal Caroline
Pal Kristina one year after Flack tragedy
KRISTINA Rihanoff has told of her continuing agony as the anniversary of her friend Caroline Flack’s death approaches, saying: “I should have reached out...i feel such guilt.”
The former Strictly Come Dancing pro became close to Caroline when she was in the 2014 series, eventually winning with partner Pasha Kovalev.
The pair even met up in Los Angeles where Kristina took a photo of them together, which she cherishes to this day.
Kristina, 43, says: “During Strictly she had a lot of difficulties, coming out of a relationship and so on. She had a few wobbles on the tour and didn’t want to perform, so we knew there were a lot of things going on with her emotional state.
“But she said then, ‘I’m in a better place, I’m focusing on new things’ and I was saying to her, ‘I really am happy for you.’”
But despite appearances in the pic, Kristina now fears Caroline was battling inner demons.
She says: “I still have that picture and she seems all right then. But we’re all very good at covering our sorrows.”
On Caroline’s death, Kristina felt guilty that she had not done more to help her friend. She said: “Maybe it wouldn’t make a difference, but looking back I think maybe I should have
reached out and I felt really sad about it. It didn’t leave my head for a long time.” Flack, 40, took her own life while facing trial accused of assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton.
She was found dead at home in Stoke Newington, North London, on February 15.
Kristina, who has daughter Milena, four, with rugby ace Ben Cohen who she met on Strictly, now teaches yoga. She and Ben have had to shut Soo Yoga in Northampton due to lockdown and she has moved online.
■ Follow @krihanoff for virtual yoga and bespoke dance classes. Join classes at sooyoga.com.