“We realized no Olympics were realistically in sight for us in the near future. By 2030 who knows what my health would look like? I didn’t want to risk regretting, later in life, that I hadn’t prioritized family.” Alena Kostornaia on a decision to have a baby at 22
Alena Kostornaia on her life-changing decision to start a family at 22 and plans to continue her sports career.
original source: RT August 30th dd. by Elena Vaitsekhovskaya
Russian figure skater Alena Kostornaia discusses her life-changing decision to start a family at 22, her current career as a coach, and her plans to return to competitive figure skating in 2026, aiming for a fresh start in pairs skating. She also touches upon balancing family life, her entrepreneurial ventures, and her views on the evolving sport. Here’s a translation of her comments.
Alena Kostornaia decided to have a child at the age of 22 because she was uncertain whether that opportunity would still be available later in her life. According to the figure skater, her medical history is “a goldmine for any doctor, not just orthopedists.” Nonetheless, she plans to return to the ice in 2026 and make her mark in pairs skating. The European champion also explained why she has started coaching amateurs, whether she helped her husband, Georgi Kunitsa, find a temporary skating partner, and what kind of homemaker she considers herself to be.
“I’m very meticulous,” she confessed during a conversation after finishing an online coaching session, her tone resembling that of a lecturer addressing students. Kostornaia, now in her eighth month of pregnancy, shared her experiences as a coach and entrepreneur, reflecting on the amateur club she runs with her husband, Team Kostornaia & Kunitsa.
On coaching amateurs and the club’s origins
“Our club started as an experiment. Initially, Gosha (Georgi) and I were doing casual skating sessions, but once we started forming small groups of children, things expanded. We now have five or six groups, four of which I personally oversee. My pregnancy doesn’t interfere with coaching in the format you’ve just observed,” she mentioned, referencing her online lessons.
The club caters to amateurs of all ages, though Kostornaia avoids working with children under five: “Younger kids require much more time and investment to be taught properly. Plus, at that age, children with serious potential should ideally be in athletic groups where they can work toward a professional future in figure skating.”
What began as a side project evolved into a potential business venture for Kostornaia and Kunitsa. “At first, we just wanted to try it out and see if we could handle it,” she noted. “Now, it’s clear this could be an independent business project for us. I reinvest most of what we earn into the club—hiring choreographers, renting spaces, or organizing dance classes. Honestly, as an entrepreneur, I’m terrible; I spend nearly everything we make on improving the club,” she said with a laugh.
Balancing critique and kindness in coaching
Kostornaia shared her efforts to model her teaching style after her former coach, Elena Zhgun, whom she credits with shaping her foundational years in figure skating: “I strive for a similar communication style with my students, although not everyone responds the same way. Some need calm, clear explanations, while others require a stricter tone. When working with children especially, I try to channel my words carefully to ensure discipline without crossing any lines.”
On choosing to have a child at 22
Though Kostornaia and her husband, Georgi Kunitsa, carefully debated their decision, her medical concerns played a significant role. “We realized no Olympics were realistically in sight for us in the near future – pair skating is just too technically demanding. For two years, I fell from lifts, throws, and twists, suffering numerous injuries. But beyond injuries, there’s also the question of how many more years my body could withstand such intense training. By 2030, if we consider a future Olympic cycle, who knows what my health would look like? I didn’t want to risk regretting, later in life, that I hadn’t prioritized family,” she explained.
Her pregnancy, described as a “New Year’s gift,” has been relatively safe even as she continues coaching on the ice in skates. “Falling isn’t an issue – I’ve only slipped once, but that was in a hospital corridor, not on the ice. That said, I am careful, though constantly having to watch every step can be exhausting,” she admitted.
Returning to competitive skating
Kostornaia has no intention of saying goodbye to her skating career. She plans to resume training as early as the next year: “We’ve already decided to keep our previous free skate. If everything goes well, I’d love to perform in shows by November.” While she acknowledges the challenges of balancing motherhood and high-performance sports, she is confident she and her husband will find ways to manage: “Our moms are ready to help, so we’ll figure out how to make it all work.”
On Georgy Kunitsa’s skating partner
Kostornaia had some influence in her husband’s search for a temporary partner after his own needed replacement: “I only requested that she be lightweight to avoid back strain. Fortunately, Nastya (Nastya Korobeinikova) was a perfect match. The arrangement benefits both of them, giving them the chance to train and compete as a pair this season.”
Reflections on modern pair skating
Kostornaia shared her thoughts on the current state of pair skating, saying: “What’s always valued is when a pair looks like a seamless unit on the ice. However, lately, many rely on simpler techniques to create parallelism – basic steps, waltzing threes, and predictable lines. Achieving synchronization while maintaining complexity should be the goal for modern pairs skating.”
When asked if she’s concerned about the sport evolving too much during her time away, she replied confidently: “If it moves forward, we’ll catch up. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Related topics: Alena Kotornaia, Georgi Kunitsa
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