“The transition was very difficult, especially mentally. It’s hard to accept when you want to achieve something big, but your body holds you back.” Nikolaj Majorov on switching to ice dance
Nikolaj Majorov on Switching to Ice Dance, Training, and Olympic Hopes
original source: Sport-Express dd. September 20th by Dmitri Kuznetsov
Swedish figure skater Nikolaj Majorov reflects on his journey from singles skating to ice dance, his experiences training in Sweden and Europe, challenges related to his Russian heritage, and his Olympic aspirations during the Beijing Qualification Tournament. Here’s a translation of his comments.
“Q: Your brother became a physiotherapist after his career. Given how sports operate in Sweden, do you still need to work alongside skating?
Nikolaj Majorov: Of course, I work a lot – I’m a photographer and video editor. I shoot for the skating federation and beyond: figure skating, weddings, and even video projects. This profession helps support me and my family. My brother studied to be a physiotherapist, and my parents also help so I can train and skate.
Q: What’s a Swedish wedding like?
Nikolaj Majorov: Pretty straightforward. It starts in a church where the couple meets, and you take photos. Then comes the ceremony, followed by a party late into the night until everyone falls asleep – or sometimes just gets drunk! (laughs)
Q: What’s your goal for this tournament (Oylmpic qualifier)?
Nikolaj Majorov: It’s simply to skate our best and show what we’re capable of. It’s impossible to predict scores or placements – that’s up to the judges. Our job is to show ourselves and progress in our careers.
Q: But isn’t making it to the Olympics critical for your career?
Nikolaj Majorov: If we don’t qualify, that’s okay – we’ll keep skating for at least four more years. We have a long-term perspective and want to keep improving. When I was in singles, I didn’t reach my full potential; I was aiming for it, but my back gave out – they say that, right? So, I switched to ice dance. Milla and I have only been skating together for two years, and this is the start of our third season. If we don’t qualify this time, it’s not the end.
We’ll work even harder in four years so we can secure our spot directly at the World Championships instead of needing to qualify. Ice dance is tough; you have to perform perfectly – there’s no room for error. It’s not like singles where you can jump around and coast through the rest of the program. In ice dance, everything must be done in rhythm, with smiles and the right character, keeping the correct distance. It’s a challenge, but we’ll keep pushing forward.
Q: How difficult was it to transition to ice dance? Did you consider leaving skating altogether?
Nikolaj Majorov: The transition was very difficult, especially mentally. It’s hard to accept when you want to achieve something big, but your body holds you back. When I started landing more quads in singles, my back simply couldn’t handle it. The pain affected my nerves, and that spread to my legs – I was completely drained. Mentally, though, my head kept telling me, ‘You can do it. Keep going!’
I decided to skate through my Grand Prix events before taking a break to recover and think things over. I finished my Grand Prix and competed in the Swedish Championships a week later. After that, I realized I couldn’t keep going – my back got worse. I had an X-ray, and the doctor told me I’d need surgery to insert a disc in my spine, but with no guarantee of success.
That’s when I thought, ‘What now? Is it over?’ Then I remembered how I’d always been curious about ice dance. When my condition improved, I started skating for fun with some friends to see how it felt. I rediscovered the joy of progress taking one step and then another, all without pain since the jumps weren’t involved. That’s how this path began.”
Q: Are doctors in Sweden expensive?
Nikolaj Majorov: For Swedish citizens, healthcare costs nothing – it’s covered through taxes. Plus, as athletes, we have insurance, so I got help quickly.
Q: What’s the biggest difference between coaching styles in Russia and Europe?
Nikolaj Majorov: In Europe, things are more relaxed. Coaches here have to be more careful not to offend anyone, but from what I know, elite skaters understand why they’re training and don’t complain much.
Our coaches, Rostislav Sinicyn and Natalia Karamysheva, are strict but fair. They won’t sugarcoat things if we make mistakes, but that’s what makes it so good. I like their honesty – it helps us know exactly what to improve. This approach leads to results – you won’t succeed at Europe, Worlds, or anywhere else without hard work.
Q: Do you identify more as Swedish or Russian?
Nikolaj Majorov: Honestly, I don’t know – probably more Russian, since my family is from St. Petersburg and my dad coached my entire life. But I don’t overthink it. I’ve lived my whole life in Sweden, went to school there, and pay taxes there. I only visited Russia for training or family. So, it’s simple for me – I’m Swedish.”
Q: Have you faced discrimination because of your Russian origins since 2022?
Nikolaj Majorov: Yes, I have, and I won’t lie about it. Sometimes journalists assumed I was purely Russian. I’d respond, ‘Sorry, I was born here in Sweden and grew up here.’ Over time, it quieted down. I’ve tried to avoid politics because I’m an athlete, and my main focus is my skating.
Q: Do you still live in your hometown of Luleå?
Nikolaj Majorov: No, we moved to Norrköping – it’s twice the size of Luleå!” (laughs) “It’s close to Stockholm and Gothenburg, which is convenient. Plus, we train a lot in Oberstdorf with Rostislav Sinicyn.”
Related topics: iMilla Ruud Reitan, Nikolaj Majorov
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