Elena Ilinykh

Elena Ilinykh

Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin at the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final
Personal information
Full name Elena Ruslanovna Ilinykh
Country represented Russia
Born (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994
Aktau, Kazakhstan
Home town Moscow, Russia
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 4 12 in)
Partner Ruslan Zhiganshin
Former partner Nikita Katsalapov, Ivan Bukin
Coach Elena Kustarova, Svetlana Alexeeva, Olga Riabinina
Former coach Nikolai Morozov, Maria Voitsekhovskaia, Denis Samokhin, Tatiana Tarasova, Alexander Zhulin, Oleg Volkov, Irina Lobacheva
Choreographer Antonio Najarro, Alexey Arapov
Former choreographer Ilia Averbukh, Nikolai Morozov, Liudmila Vlasova, Alexander Zhulin
Former skating club Vorobievye Gory
Moskvich
Training locations Moscow
Former training locations Ventspils, Canton
Began skating 1998
Season's bests 4 (2013–14)[1]
5 (2012–13)[2]
7 (2011–12)[3]
9 (2010–11)[4]
10 (2009–10)[5]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 176.70
2015 Mordovian Ornament
Short dance 70.12
2015 Mordovian Ornament
Free dance 106.58
2015 Mordovian Ornament

Elena Ruslanovna Ilinykh (Russian: Еле́на Русла́новна Ильины́х; born 25 April 1994) is a Russian ice dancer. With partner Ruslan Zhiganshin, she is the 2015 Russian national champion.

With former partner Nikita Katsalapov, she is a 2014 Olympic champion in the team event, a 2014 Olympic bronze medalist in ice dancing, a three-time European medalist (silver in 2013 and 2014; bronze in 2012), and the 2010 World Junior champion.

Personal life

Elena Ilinykh was born in Aktau (Shevchenko), Kazakhstan and raised in Moscow, Russia. Her parents divorced when she was two years old.[6] From around 2006 to 2008, Ilinykh lived in Michigan with her grandmother and became fluent in English.[6] Her mother adopted a two-year-old boy in around 2010.[6]

Early skating career

As a child, Ilinykh trained in single skating, under Natalia Dubinskaya, until her mother decided she should try ice dancing.[6] She was paired with Nikita Katsalapov, who had trained in the same singles group.[6] Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh were the team's first coaches.[7]

In 2005, Ilinykh/Katsalapov attended a training camp under Alexander Zhulin — who was preparing Tatiana Navka / Roman Kostomarov for their Olympic gold-medal winning season — but split soon after.[7] In 2010, Ilinykh said that they were too young at the time to understand partnership.[7] She left Russia and trained in Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband's group in Canton, Michigan for two years without a partner.[7]

At some point, she had a brief partnership with Ivan Bukin, the son of 1988 Olympic ice dancing champion Andrei Bukin.[8]

Renewed partnership with Katsalapov

Junior career

In spring 2008,[9] Ilinykh returned to Moscow after Katsalapov expressed interest in reuniting with her. He organized tryouts with her and other skaters at around the same time before making a final decision.[6]

Ilinykh/Katsalapov rejoined Zhulin and began competing together in the 2008–09 season, placing fourth at the Russian Junior Championships.[9] Their international debut came in the 2009–10 season. After winning gold medals at their Junior Grand Prix events in Budapest and Torun, they qualified to the JGP Final, where they took the silver medal behind Ksenia Monko / Kirill Khaliavin. Though second also at the Russian Junior Championships, Ilinykh/Katsalapov outscored Monko/Khaliavin for the gold at the 2010 World Junior Championships. They were named Discovery of the Year at the 2010 Crystal Ice Awards held in October 2010 in Moscow.[10][11]

2010–11 season

For the 2010–11 season, Ilinykh/Katsalapov chose a ballet-themed free dance to Don Quixote: "[Zhulin] wanted us to do something classical Russian, and only very few people have done a real ballet program in dance."[12] Ilinykh's tutu was made at the Bolshoi.[12] They made their senior debut at the 2010 NHK Trophy where they finished fourth. At their next event, 2010 Cup of Russia, they won the bronze medal, their first medal on the senior Grand Prix series. At the 2011 Russian Nationals, they were second after the short dance behind Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev but placed fourth in the free dance to finish third overall behind Ekaterina Riazanova / Ilia Tkachenko.[13] However, their bronze medal was enough to earn them their first berth to the European Championships.

At the 2011 Europeans, Ilinykh/Katsalapov set new personal bests in the short dance (60.93), free dance (92.55) and combined total (153.48) to finish fourth in their debut at the event.[12] They were in a battle with Riazanova/Tkachenko for Russia's second of only two berths to the 2011 World Championships. By finishing ahead of them, Ilinykh/Katsalapov won the right to make their senior Worlds debut. They finished seventh at the event. Following the end of the season, they ended their collaboration with Alexander Zhulin and Oleg Volkov to begin working with new coach Nikolai Morozov in May 2011.[14][15][16] During the off-season, they spent some time in the U.S. preparing for the 2011–12 season.[17]

2011–12 season

For the 2011–12 Grand Prix season, Ilinykh/Katsalapov were assigned to 2011 NHK Trophy and 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard. At NHK Trophy, they placed first in the short dance[18] but in the warm-up before the free dance Ilinykh crashed into the boards and injured her knee.[19] The couple finished the competition, winning the bronze medal, but withdrew from the exhibitions.[19] Ilinykh/Katsalapov then finished fourth at the 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard. They won the silver medal at the 2012 Russian Championships. At the 2012 European Championships, Ilinykh/Katsalapov were seventh in the short dance but set a personal best in their free dance, resulting in an overall total of 153.12 points. They won the bronze medal at the event and then performed with Art on Ice.[20] Ilinykh/Katsalapov finished 5th—the highest of the three Russian teams—at the 2012 World Championships.[21] Their final event of the season was the 2012 World Team Trophy.

2012–13 season

Ilinykh/Katsalapov started their season with gold at the 2012 Crystal Skate of Romania. They won silver at their first 2012–13 Grand Prix event, the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. At the 2012 NHK Trophy, Ilinykh/Katsalapov were third after the short dance. Ilinykh fell ill before the free dance due to food poisoning but went on to compete. They placed second in the segment and won the silver medal. They qualified for the 2012 Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia, and finished sixth at the event. At the 2013 Russian Championships, Ilinykh/Katsalapov won the silver medal behind defending national champions Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev. At the 2013 European Championships, they placed second in the short dance and first in the free dance. They won the silver medal, just 0.11 of a point behind gold medalists Bobrova/Soloviev. Ilinykh/Katsalapov finished 9th at the 2013 World Championships.

2013–14 season

Ilinykh at the awarding ceremony for Russian athletes with President Vladimir Putin

Ilinykh/Katsalapov's first assignment of the 2013–14 Grand Prix season was the 2013 NHK Trophy where they placed fourth. At their next event, the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard, they scored personal bests in both segments, finishing with an overall score of 171.89 points and winning the silver medal ahead of French ice dancers Nathalie Pechalat / Fabian Bourzat.

Ilinykh/Katsalapov won their third national silver medal at the 2014 Russian Championships behind Bobrova/Soloviev and then won silver at the 2014 European Championships with an overall score 1.1 points less than gold medalists Cappellini/Lanotte. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Ilinykh/Katsalapov were assigned to the free dance in the inaugural team event. They placed third in their segment and Team Russia won the gold medal. Ilinykh/Katsalapov then won the bronze medal in the individual ice dancing event behind champions Meryl Davis / Charlie White and silver medalists Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir. They scored personal bests in both segments and an overall total of 183.48 points. At 19 years of age, Ilinykh is second youngest Olympic ice dance medalist in history after Marina Klimova.

The next month, Ilinykh/Katsalapov traveled to Saitama, Japan for the 2014 World Championships. On 26 March 2014, just before the short dance, ITAR-TASS reported that they would split after the competition.[22] Katsalapov had a serious error on the twizzles and they placed fifth in the short dance. Despite winning the next segment, they finished off the podium in the closely contested event. Their total score was just 1.05 less than the gold medalists. On 4 April 2014, Katsalapov confirmed to Ilinykh that he wanted to end their partnership.[23]

Partnership with Zhiganshin

Soon after, in early April 2014, Ilinykh accepted an invitation from Ruslan Zhiganshin's coaches to try out with their student.[24][25] Coached by Elena Kustarova in Moscow, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin began training together in an unofficial partnership — the Russian federation having decided to give Ilinykh/Katsalapov time to reconcile — and received approval at the end of May.[26]

2014–15 season

For the 2014–15 Grand Prix season, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin were assigned to Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup.[27] Making their international debut, they placed fourth at Cup of China and then won the silver medal behind Americans Madison Chock / Evan Bates at Rostelecom Cup. They qualified for the Grand Prix Final in their first season as a team.[24] At the GPF in Barcelona, they placed sixth in the short dance, fourth in the free dance, and sixth overall. At the 2015 Russian Championships, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin won the national title in their first season as a team.

2015–16 season

Ilinykh/Zhiganshin began their season at the Mordovian Ornament, which they won with new personal bests in all segments. For the 2015–16 Grand Prix season, they were once again assigned to Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup. They won the bronze at Cup of China behind Italians Anna Cappellini / Luca Lanotte and Americans Madison Chock / Evan Bates. Their next competition they finished 5th at the 2015 Rostelecom Cup. On December 24-27, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin competed at the 2016 Russian Championships, where they finished 4th behind Alexandra Stepanova / Ivan Bukin after placing fourth in the short dance and second in the free dance.

Ilinykh/Zhiganshin decided to fly to Michigan on 27 February 2016 to work with Igor Shpilband.[28]

Programs

With Zhiganshin

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2015–2016
[29][30][31][32]
Waltz: Queen medley
2014–2015
[33][26]
Pasodoble: Carmen Suite

With Katsalapov

Ilinykh/Katsalapov won the 2010 World Junior Championships.
Ilinykh/Katsalapov at 2010 Cup of Russia
Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2013–2014
[8][34]


2012–2013
[35]
Uzbek dance:
  • Andijan Polka
    (specially composed arrangement)
  • Capricious Horses
    by Garik Sukachev

2011–2012
[36][37]
  • Ave Maria
    performed by Thomas Spencer-Wortley
2010–2011
[9]


Original dance
2009–2010
  • Petite Fleur
  • Rock Around The Clock
2008–2009
2004–2005
  • Swing combo

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Zhiganshin

International[38]
Event 2014–15 2015–16
Worlds 7th
Europeans 4th
GP Final 6th
GP Rostelecom Cup 2nd 5th
GP Cup of China 4th 3rd
CS Mordovian Ornament 1st
National[39]
Russian Champ. 1st 4th
Team events
World Team Trophy 2nd T
(4th P)
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result;
Medals awarded for team result only.

With Katsalapov

Ilinykh/Katsalapov during the short dance at 2011 Worlds
International[40]
Event 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14
Olympics 3rd
Worlds 7th 5th 9th 4th
Europeans 4th 3rd 2nd 2nd
GP Final 6th
GP Bompard 4th 2nd
GP NHK Trophy 4th 3rd 2nd 4th
GP Rostelecom 3rd 2nd
Crystal Skate 1st
International: Junior[40]
Junior Worlds 1st
JGP Final 2nd
JGP Hungary 1st
JGP Poland 1st
National[39]
Russian Champ. 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd
Russian Junior 4th 2nd
Team events
Olympics 1st
World Team
Trophy
5th T
(5th P)
T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.

With Zhiganshin

Ilinykh/Zhiganshin at the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final
2015–16 season
Date Event SD FD Total
23–27 December 2015 2016 Russian Championships 4
66.75
2
102.97
4
169.72
20–22 November 2015 2015 Rostelecom Cup 6
54.46
4
98.55
5
153.01
5–8 November 2015 2015 Cup of China 3
63.54
3
95.46
3
159.00
15–18 October 2015 2015 Mordovian Ornament 1
70.12
1
106.58
1
176.70
2014–15 season
Date Event SD FD Total
16-19 April 2015 2015 World Team Trophy 4
63.09
4
95.10
2T/4P
158.19
23-29 March 2015 2015 World Championships 5
69.46
9
95.38
7
164.84
26 Jan. - 1 Feb. 2015 2015 European Championships 2
69.94
8
89.89
4
159.83
25–28 December 2014 2015 Russian Championships 1
70.35
2
101.06
1
171.41
11–14 December 2014 2014 Grand Prix Final 6
60.25
4
96.21
6
156.46
14–16 November 2014 2014 Rostelecom Cup 2
64.12
3
96.31
2
160.43
7–9 November 2014 2014 Cup of China 4
60.48
4
84.22
4
144.70

With Katsalapov

Ilinykh and Katsalapov performing their gala at the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard
Ilinykh and Katsalapov Free dance at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup
Ilinykh and Katsalapov at the 2012 World Championships
The original dance at 2010 Junior Worlds
2013–14 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
28–29 March 2014 2014 World Championships Senior 5
65.67
1
108.71
4
174.38
16–17 February 2014 2014 Winter Olympics Senior 3
73.04
3
110.44
3
183.48
6–9 February 2014 2014 Winter Olympics (Team Event) Senior
3
103.48
1
15–19 January 2014 2014 European Championships Senior 2
69.54
2
100.97
2
170.51
24–27 December 2013 2014 Russian Championships Senior 2
68.67
2
99.34
2
168.01
15–17 November 2013 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard Senior 3
69.07
2
102.82
2
171.89
8–10 November 2013 2013 NHK Trophy Senior 4
61.35
4
94.02
4
155.37
2012–13 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
10–17 March 2013 2013 World Championships Senior 9
66.07
10
91.45
9
157.52
23–27 January 2013 2013 European Championships Senior 2
68.98
1
100.16
2
169.14
25–28 December 2012 2013 Russian Championships Senior 2
66.14
2
105.53
2
171.67
6–9 December 2012 2012–13 Grand Prix Final Senior 6
63.56
5
92.80
6
156.36
22–25 November 2012 2012 NHK Trophy Senior 3
59.96
2
96.66
2
156.62
8–11 November 2012 2012 Rostelecom Cup Senior 2
65.70
2
92.76
2
158.46
30 Oct. – 4 Nov. 2012 2012 Crystal Skate Senior 1
70.95
1
103.61
1
174.56
2011–12 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
26–29 March 2012 2012 World Championships Senior 5
65.34
5
95.66
5
161.00
23–29 January 2012 2012 European Championships Senior 7
59.49
3
93.63
3
153.12
25–29 December 2011 2012 Russian Championships Senior 2
66.94
2
95.00
2
161.94
18–20 November 2011 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard Senior 4
58.17
4
82.15
4
140.32
11–13 November 2011 2011 NHK Trophy Senior 1
61.83
3
87.65
3
149.48
2010–11 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
24 April – 1 May 2011 2011 World Championships Senior 6
65.51
10
88.99
7
154.50
24–30 January 2011 2011 European Championships Senior 4
60.93
4
92.55
4
153.48
26–29 December 2010 2011 Russian Championships Senior 2
62.30
4
87.42
3
149.72
19–21 November 2010 2010 Cup of Russia Senior 6
49.14
2
85.65
3
134.79
22–24 October 2010 2010 NHK Trophy Senior 3
56.89
4
78.16
4
135.05
2009–10 season
Date Event Level OD FD Total
8–14 March 2010 2010 World Junior Championships Junior 1
59.94
1
90.82
1
188.28
3–6 February 2010 2010 Russian Junior Championships Junior 2
2
2
184.51
3–6 December 2009 2009 JGP Final Junior 3
54.35
2
85.01
2
139.36
9–13 September 2009 2009 JGP Poland Junior 1
54.03
1
82.56
1
171.61
26 Aug. – 30 Sept. 2009 2009 JGP Hungary Junior 1
50.46
1
81.50
1
166.06

References

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  2. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2012/2013: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2011/2012: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  4. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2010/2011: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  5. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2009/2010: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vaytsekhovskaya, Elena (7 May 2014). Елена Ильиных: "Семь лет назад Кацалапов уже уходил от меня" [Elena Ilinykh: "Katsalapov already left me seven years ago"]. Sport Express (in Russian).
  7. 1 2 3 4 Flade, Tatjana (30 May 2010). "The goal is Sotchi". Goldenskate. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
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  14. Simonenko, Andrei (17 May 2011). Фигуристы Ильиных/Кацалапов уверены в правильности перехода к Морозову [Skaters Ilinykh / Katsalapov are sure they made the right move to Morozov]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  15. Rasskazova, Inessa (17 May 2011). Ильиных и Кацалапов ушли от Александра Жулина. Почему? [Ilinykh and Katsalapov left Alexander Zhulin. Why?]. Sovsport.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 18 May 2011.
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  22. "Sochi Olympics bronze winning ice dancers perform together last time". ITAR-TASS. 26 March 2014.
  23. Simonenko, Andrei (7 April 2014). Фигуристка Ильиных: инициатором распада пары с Кацалаповым был партнер [Figure skater Ilinykh: It was Katsalapov's decision to split]. R-Sport (in Russian).
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  25. Sharafutdinov, Rustam (7 April 2014). Тренер: решение о совместном выступлении фигуристов Ильиных и Жиганшина пока не принято [Coach says decision on Ilinykh and Zhiganshin not yet made]. ITAR-TASS (in Russian).
  26. 1 2 Ermolina, Olga (13 June 2014). Елена Кустарова: "С первой же тренировки ребята зарядили всех своей энергией" [Elena Kustarova: "They were full of energy from the first training session"] (in Russian). Russian Figure Skating Federation.
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  28. Vaytsekhovskaya, Elena (22 February 2016). "Ильиных и Жиганшин начинают работу со Шпильбандом" [Ilinykh and Zhiganshin to begin working with Sphilband]. Sport Express (in Russian).
  29. Илья Авербух не расстроен окончанием сотрудничества с фигуристкой Юлией Липницкой (in Russian). TACC. 7 May 2015.
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  35. "Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013.
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  37. Jangbro, Eva Maria (13 February 2012). "Art On Ice: A show that tickles the senses! Act 2". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
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  40. 1 2 "Competition Results: Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.

External links

Media related to Elena Ilinykh at Wikimedia Commons

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