Petr Gumennik faces copyright issues for his Olympic short program music, unable to use tracks from “Dune” or “Perfume: Story of a Murderer”

Russian figure skater Petr Gumennik faces copyright issues for his Olympic short program music.

original source: RIA / figurexing / Telegram

Russian figure skater Petr Gumennik faces copyright issues for his Olympic short program music, unable to use tracks from “Dune” or “Perfume: Story of a Murderer” but British pianist Martin James Bartlett has offered his arrangement as a solution. Here’s a translation.

First it was reported that Russian figure skater Petr Gumennik may change the music for his short program at the 2026 Olympics. According to “Sport-Express,” the athlete may perform with last year’s program set to the soundtrack from the film “Dune” instead of “”Perfume: Story of a Murderer.”

The reason is the situation with copyright, which has become stricter this season. According to “SE” sources, there are difficulties in clearing “Perfume” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A source from RIA Novosti, familiar with the situation, also reports that Gumennik’s team learned about the copyright issue a day or two before departing for Milan. Gumennik and his coach, Veronika Daineko, plan to leave for the Olympic host city on the night of February 8.

It is noted that the copyright issue could theoretically be resolved urgently, but this may be impossible due to tight deadlines.

However, later it became known that Gumennik cannot use the short program soundtrack from ‘Dune,’ as there is not enough time to verify the copyright for its use.

Elena Gumennik, mother of Russian figure skater Petr Gumennik, commented on the copyright problems ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan:

“It is known that the rights holders revoked permission specifically for the Russian athlete,” wrote Gumennik’s mother, as quoted by the Telegram channel figurexing.

British pianist Martin James Bartlett has offered Petr Gumennik the use of his arrangement for the short program music “”Perfume: Story of a Murderer.”

A fan reached out to Bartlett on social media, asking him to grant Gumennikk permission to use the music.

“Maybe he’ll use my recording? Help is already on the way,” wrote the pianist.

The men’s short programs will be performed at the Olympics in Milan on February 10.

Related topics: Olympic Games, Petr Gumennik