Ilia Averbukh: “If you look at all disciplines at the Olympics, everywhere except men’s singles the absence of Russian skaters has definitely had an impact. Stepanova and Bukin could have easily competed for at least silver.”
Choreographer Ilia Averbukh pointed out stagnation in world figure skating.
original source: Sport24
Choreographer Ilia Averbukh commented on stagnation in world figure skating without Russian athletes, noting diminished competition and lower performance levels at the 2026 Milan Olympics. Here’s a translation.
“If you look at all disciplines at the Olympics, everywhere except men’s singles – where Malinin tragically skated poorly in the free program and didn’t place [on the podium] at all – the absence of Russian skaters has definitely had an impact.
This applies fully to pairs skating and the dance competition – they have become poorer without Russians. I am confident that with fair judging, Sasha Stepanova and Ivan Bukin could have easily competed for at least silver. And our leading pairs, Mishina/Galliamov and Boikova/Kozlovskii, would certainly have fought for gold.
The overall level of performances in all disciplines is in a phase of stagnation. This also applies to women’s singles,” Averbukh said.
At the 2026 Milan Olympics, Russian athletes Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik competed, both finishing in sixth place.
Related topics: Ilia Averbukh, Olympic Games
odd statement; russia sent its best man and woman and neither of them medaled; stepanova and bukin have been on the scene for way to long to make any impact; russia needs fresh ice dance blood just as it needs fresh pairs blood; the top russian pairs have been too long on the scene and need to make way for younger pairs; u dont send the same pairs to 3 olympics; the days of rodnina are long gone; move on