Niina Petrokina: “Many didn’t prepare as hard for the Europeans this time, since the Olympics are coming up. I didn’t have that option, because I had to show that I’m the best.”
Niina Petrokina on winning second European title.
original source: sport.err.ee dd. 17th January 2026 by Anu Saartis
Estonian figure skater Niina Petrokina won her second consecutive European title in Sheffield, setting new national records and reflecting on her journey, challenges, and goals ahead of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on ERR.
Niina Petrokina became European champion for the second year in a row last week, setting a new Estonian record at the European Championships in Sheffield. On Monday, she returned home, where she was greeted with a grand reception.
“I was prepared for this, I knew people would come. But I didn’t expect so many! I thought there would be five cameras, not twenty!” laughed Petrokina, who had earned her second consecutive European title just three days earlier.
The 21-year-old skater received 70.61 points for her short program, marking a new personal best. In the free skate, she added 145.53 points, also a new Estonian record, and her total score of 216.14 points set another national record. Her closest competitor, Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx (191.26 points), finished nearly 25 points behind Petrokina.
“It was a surprise. But I understand that many didn’t prepare as hard for the European Championships this time, since the Olympics are coming up,” said Petrokina. “I didn’t have that option, because I had to show that I’m the best.”
“The short program is usually harder for me than the free skate. This time, I went into the short program very calmly and did everything as I do in training. There weren’t really any emotions – this competition didn’t have as many emotions as last year. On the rest day, I was very tired, but I got to rest, which I needed to enjoy the previous day and gather myself for the free skate.”
“There were some nerves in the free skate, and the pressure was high. Somehow, I managed to shake it off and just went out to compete,” Petrokina added. “After the last spin, when I started spinning on my knees, you can see I started laughing. At that moment, I knew I had won!”
The Estonian Skating Union has not yet officially confirmed which Estonian skaters will go to the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. “Let’s hope I go!” joked the newly crowned European champion.
“I know what I still need to work on. I kept my emotions inside during the free skate, but everything in the short program was done perfectly. I’m very happy that I skated both programs cleanly and that all elements were performed at level four, with no negative marks,” Petrokina said.
Last year was not easy for her, as she struggled with a serious leg injury. She underwent surgery on her right Achilles tendon only at the beginning of October, so her recovery was very quick. How did she manage to get back into such good shape?
“I don’t know!” Petrokina laughed. “My coaches helped me pull myself together! I just have a very strong desire, and that desire helps me move forward. When life keeps taking away my chance to skate, I want to skate even more.”
“This time, my leg started to feel better a week before the European Championships, when the workload was high. In that week, I managed to get into such good shape that the competition went well. Muscles remember everything – muscle memory works well. I was mentally ready, and when you have that combination, good results follow,” she added. “My leg started to hurt a bit at the end, but that was on the rest day. Right now, it hurts. As I said, it’s an interesting injury – if I rest, it hurts more.”
The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics will be on February 6, and the women’s singles event will take place on February 17. What does the next month look like for the European champion, and what can still be improved? “The main thing my coaches and I need to do is take care of my leg. Not to rush and make it worse. For me, that’s always the hardest part,” said Petrokina. “I’m focusing on wanting to show more emotion at the Olympics. This time, I still kept it inside.”
“Right now, we need to lower the intensity a bit, so we can raise it again later. If you keep it at a high level all the time, it’s very hard. We need to discuss with my coach and make a plan – we don’t know yet. We’re all so tired, there was an afterparty, and now my legs hurt too.”
Related topics: European Championships, Niina Petrokina
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