Daniil Gleikhengauz: “Our athletes are prepared not to rely on anything and know that no one will forgive even a small mistake. We don’t forgive them in training, so they don’t expect it from the judges either.”
Gleikhengauz on Judging: Our Skaters Are Prepared Not to Rely on Anything
original source: Forbes Russia
Choreographer and coach Daniil Gleikhengauz discussed the challenges Russian figure skaters face with judging ahead of the 2026 Olympics, emphasizing the need for flawless performances and realistic expectations. Here’s a translation of his comments.
“Q: How important is it in figure skating to always be visible to the judges?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Ranking and the judges’ respect are factors that will influence their scores. We understand this before the competition even begins, so we have to do our job to the fullest. There will be no concessions; no one will overlook small slips or mistakes.
The only way to get good marks and hope for high placements is to perform your program perfectly from start to finish. This applies not only to jumps, but also to spins, step sequences, and everything else. Points can be lost everywhere.
Q: In other subjective sports – like rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming – Russian coaches have complained after returning to international tournaments that they faced completely new conditions, with even the rules having changed noticeably. Is this also happening in figure skating?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: I can say that during this time, we definitely haven’t forgotten or missed any rule changes – regarding levels, elements, and so on. The main thing that will affect us is the lack of ranking, which will result in a loss of points.
This was always clear, because that’s how our sport works. It has always been the case that an athlete starting out on the international stage doesn’t get high scores because they are still unknown.
Both Alina Zagitova and Anna Shcherbakova earned much lower scores at their first competitions than they did later in the season or by the time they became Olympic or world champions. Adelia and Petr Gumennik have no opportunity to build up a ranking.
Q: Adelia Petrosyan is under particular pressure – everyone considers her our main hope for a medal in Milan. Yet, until the summer of 2025, she had never competed at senior international events. How do you prepare a skater for the Olympics without the chance to gain experience at major competitions?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: In any case, it will be a little easier for us than for others, because our team – especially Eteri Tutberidze – has always been the strictest judge of our athletes. At competitions, skaters could receive a level for an element and a score from a judge that was higher than what we would give them in training.
The athletes are prepared not to rely on anything and know that no one will forgive even a small mistake. We don’t forgive them in training, so they don’t expect it from the judges either.”
Related topics: Daniil Gleichengauz
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