Author: europeonice

Marina Zoueva: “If You See Daisuke Skate Once, You Will Never Forget It”

By Hiro Yoshida

Marina Zoueva needs no introduction. Choreographer and coach to Olympic champions and medallists, this is the third season which will see her guide one of Japan’s most iconic singles skaters on a new path in ice dance.

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As New Figure Skating Season Begins, We Must Not Forget About Ukraine

By Hiro Yoshida

The announcement by Ukrainian ice dancers Oleksandra Nazarova and Makysm Nikitin earlier this month brought me right back to February and March this year as the horror of what was unfolding in twenty-first century Europe became clear. As we approach the six-month anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I have been reflecting on how, from the perspective of someone who writes about figure skating, these events have left a deep impression on me.

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2022 World Junior Championships: Everything You Need To Know

After a postponement and a change of host, the World Junior Championships kick off tomorrow in Tallinn, Estonia. The Estonian capital also held the last edition of the championships which took place back in March 2020 days prior to the Covid-19 pandemic officially being declared.

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Nazarova and Nikitin: Ukrainian Display of Courage and Defiance on World Stage

By Hiro Yoshida with Seán Gillis

This interview will be translated into Japanese and published in the upcoming issue of Figure Skate Life magazine. With the permission of the magazine publisher, we have been authorised to release an English version online prior to the magazine’s release. Therefore, we prohibit any unauthorised copying or translation of this article. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

On 24 February, life changed completely for Oleksandra Nazarova and Makysm Nikitin when Russia invaded their home country. After escaping the heavily bombarded city of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian ice dancers delivered a powerful message through their performance at the World Championships in Montpellier, France.

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2022 Winter Olympics: Beijing Games Conclude

And just like that, another Olympics comes to an end. Beijing was not just any ordinary Olympics though. Until the moment it began there were many who doubted it would go ahead. The pandemic still managed to encroach into the skating bubble with a number of skaters sidelined by the strict protocols in place. A doping scandal shone a light on an aspect of the sport that needed to be addressed. There were moments of joy, sadness, excitement and frustration. And now it will be four years ago until we do it all again.

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