Alexander Zhulin: “At the Europeans, I would have boldly put Stepanova and Bukin in second place behind Cizeron.” and “Cizeron – yes, he’s good. As for Chock and Bates, they’re a good pair, but for me, they’re not as good as Cizeron.”
Alexander Zhulin believes that Aleksandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin could have taken second place at the 2026 European Championships in Sheffield.
original source: Katok
Coach Alexander Zhulin believes that Russian ice dancers Stepanova and Bukin would have placed second behind Cizeron at the 2026 European Championships, expressing confidence in their level despite Russia’s absence from international competition. Here’s a translation of his comments.
The tournament was won by the French pair Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Russian ice dancers have not participated in international competitions since the 2022 Olympics.
“Q: How much do you think we’ve dropped in the world ice dance rankings during this time?
Alexander Zhulin: That’s a very difficult question. Russia doesn’t have a judge right now.
Q: In terms of level. Visually.
Alexander Zhulin: At the European Championships, I would have boldly put Sasha and Vanya in second place behind Cizeron. Definitely. The other pairs – Italians, British – are good, but I didn’t see anything surprising there. Cizeron – yes, he’s good. I told them honestly: “If you were competing, you would have lost to him.”
As for Chock and Bates, for example, they’re a good pair, but for me, they’re not as good as Cizeron. I’d put them in the same warm-up group as Sasha and Vanya; it would be interesting to watch.
Some commentators say, “Oh, the Montreal team is out of this world…” I don’t see anything like that.
It’s just that we’re not there. When you watch a tournament from abroad and see somewhere like Birmingham, you hear English, and here in Magnitogorsk, Sasha and Vanya are skating – it’s clear, it’s not the same level; there’s Birmingham, and here’s Magnitogorsk. But in reality, if you put them in the same warm-up group… — said Zhulin on the show “Katok.”
Related topics: Alexander Zhulin, Alexandra Stepanova Ivan Bukin, European Championships, Guillaume Cizeron, Madison Chock Evan Bates
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