Early pair skating at the 1908 Olympics

Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union (ISU) regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals, and throw jumps. The teams also perform the elements of single skating in unison. Pair skating is difficult because achieving this degree of unison requires similar technique and timing on all elements of the performance, as well as practice and trust between the partners. The aim is to create an impression of "two skating as one". Serious skating accidents are most common in the pair discipline.

In February 1908, pair skating first appeared at the World Championships, with three teams from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Russia competing in Saint Petersburg. Its Olympic debut was in October 1908, with three teams competing in London, one from Germany and two from the U.K. Pair skating has evolved significantly since its early beginnings. Some elements common in the modern-day sport were not introduced until decades later.

Technical elements[link]

A hand-to-hand-lift. Overhead rotational with release to one-hand hold

A twist lift

A throw jump in mid-air

Back inside death spiral

Pair spin

Pair skaters execute a variety of elements, some of which are unique to the discipline. Each element receives a score according to its base value and grade of execution (GOE), resulting in a combined technical elements score (TES). At competitions, a technical specialist identifies and assigns a level of difficulty to each element. Level 4 is the most difficult. A panel of judges determines GOE, ranging from +3 to -3, based on how well the pair executes the element. The GOE may be weighted according to the element's base value.^[1]

Note: Women are referred to as "ladies" in ISU regulations.

Lifts[link]

Pair lifts are generally overhead, rotational, and require ice coverage, i.e. to travel a distance across the ice. Scores are affected by the type of lift, type of entry, ice coverage and speed across the ice, changes of position, the quality of the lady's position, the man's stability and cleanness of turns (i.e. minimal snow flying), type of dismount, and unique features. Optional features to increase one's score include performing a difficult entry or dismount, a release to one hand, changes of position during the lift, stopping the rotation and/or rotating in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.

Lifts without rotation are termed carry lifts. Lifts below the man's shoulders are termed dance lifts and are counted toward the choreography mark, as are stationary lifts, lifts performed "on the spot", without ice coverage.

Lifts are categorized by the grip and position used to initially lift the lady over the man's head. For example, in a hip lift, the man lifts the lady with his hand on her hip, and a press lift uses a hand-to-hand grip. The most difficult type of lift is considered to be the Axel lasso lift, in which the lady rotates a full turn while she is lifted by the man in a hand-to-hand grip.

Twist lifts[link]

A twist lift, an element found only in pair skating, is a move that begins with the man assisting the lady in an Axel or toe-assisted jump where she rotates and is caught mid-air by the man, who then places her down back on the ice. In some twists, the lady performs a split before rotating. This raises the grade of execution if each leg is separated by at least a 45° angle from the body axis. A pair may also achieve a higher score with a difficult entrance, delayed rotation, or if the lady holds her arms over her head while rotating.

Double and triple twist lifts are commonly seen at the elite level; the first quad twist was performed by Marina Cherkasova and Sergei Shakrai at the 1977 European Championships.^{[citation needed]}

Throw jumps[link]

A throw jump, an element unique to pair skating, is a move in which the man assists the lady into the air and she lands on her own. Different pairs may use different techniques or holds.^[2] Throw jumps can be performed with any of the jump takeoffs, as doubles, triples, or quadruples for elite pair teams. The toe loop and salchow are considered the easiest jumps while the loop and flip are more difficult; the most difficult throw jump is the axel. The score is affected by the quality of execution, including the speed going into the element and distance and height of the throw. The man should continue skating in a smooth manner, without stopping or lunging forward too much from the exertion. Difficult entries, such as from a spiral, may increase the score.

The most difficult throw jump that has been completed in competition is the throw triple axel jump. It was first performed by Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr at the 2006 U.S. Championships. They were also the first to perform it in international competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics.^[3]

Death spirals[link]

A death spiral, an element unique to pair skating, is a move in which the man performs a pivot while swinging the lady around on a deep edge in a position almost horizontal to the ice. The outside edge death spirals are considered more difficult than the inside edge variants, with the forward outside death spiral the most difficult of all. An unusual entry such as a shoot-the-duck or catch-foot position, change of hand hold during the element and/or maintaining a catch-foot position may raise the score.

Pair spins[link]

A pair spin is a spin in which the two spin around a common axis while holding each other. The additional balance obtained by holding onto a partner allows pair skaters to obtain spin positions that would be difficult or impossible for a singles skater to achieve. Rotational speed, centering, and quality and difficulty of positions affect the score. Pairs may employ atypical entries or rotate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.

Side-by-side elements[link]

A spiral sequence with the lady gliding in a catch-foot position and the male in arabesque

Pair skaters also perform single skating elements in unison such as side-by-side (SBS) jumps and spins. Keeping in line with "two skating as one", the quality of a SBS element is not evaluated by an average of each skater's completion. Instead, skaters should begin a side-by-side element together, maintain unison and close proximity to each other throughout, and finish together.

In side-by-side jumps, pairs must perform the same jump in unison and closely together. If one partner underrotates a jump, both jumps are marked as the lower of the two. For example, if one partner underrotates a double axel by more than a quarter, both jumps will be evaluated as a single axel attempt. Due to having to maintain identical timing and technique, skaters who are able to perform a jump separately may struggle when performing the jump with a partner.

Side-by-side spins are evaluated on unison and timing, difficulty and quality of positions, closeness, centering, and rotational speed. Pairs sometimes shout auditory cues to their partner in order to maintain and adjust their timing.

Other elements[link]

Pairs also perform step sequences, spiral sequences and other moves in the field. Part of the step sequence is usually performed in unison but pairs may also include a mirror portion, dance lifts, etc. They are evaluated on variety and difficulty of turns, edge quality, speed, ice coverage, timing, and unison.

Spiral sequences do not have to be performed in identical positions. Speed, ice coverage, depth of edge (lean) and quality of positions determine the score.

Moves in the field include spread eagles, spirals, ina bauers, cantilevers, dance lifts and others. Pairs may create variations and combinations of these moves.

Program components[link]

The program components score (PCS), also known as presentation, is composed of:^[4]

1) Skating skills (SS): Defined as "edge control and flow over the ice surface demonstrated by a command of the skating vocabulary (edges, steps, turns, etc), the clarity of technique, and the use of effortless power to accelerate and vary speed", it includes:

• Balance, rhythmic knee action, and precision of foot placement
• Flow and effortless glide
• Clean and controlled curves, deep edges, steps, and turns
• Varied use of power/energy, speed, and acceleration
• Multi directional skating: Forward and backward, clockwise and counterclockwise including rotation in both directions
• Mastery of one foot skating. No over use of skating on two feet.
• Equal mastery of technique by both partners shown in unison.

2) Transitions (TR): Defined as "varied and/or intricate footwork, positions, movements, and holds that link all elements", including the entrances and exits of technical elements. The criteria include:

• Variety
• Difficulty
• Intricacy
• Quality including unison
• Balance of workload between partners

3) Performance/execution (PE) includes:

• Physical, emotional, and intellectual involvement
• Carriage and alignment
• Style and individuality, i.e. "the distinctive use of line and movement as inspired by the music" and artistic choices
• Clarity of movement is "refined lines of the body and limbs, as well as the precise execution of any movement"
• Varied use of tempo, rhythm, force, size, level, movement shapes, angles, and body parts as well as the use of contrast
• Projection
• Unison and “oneness”
• Balance in performance between partners
• Spatial awareness between partners – management of the distance between partners and management of changes of hold
• The use of same techniques in edges, jumping, spinning, line, and style

4) Choreography (CH) includes the following criteria:

• Purpose, i.e. idea, concept, vision, mood
• Proportion (equal weight of all parts)
• Unity – purposeful threading of all movements
• Utilization of personal and public space
• Pattern and ice coverage, variety of patterns and directions of travel
• Phrasing and form (movement and parts are structured to match the phrasing of the music)
• Originality of purpose, movement, and design
• Shared responsibility of purpose (both partners have equal roles)

5) Interpretation (IN) includes:

• Effortless movements in time to the music
• Expression of the music's style, character, and rhythm
• Use of finesse to reflect the nuances of music
• Relationship between the partners reflecting the character of the music, equal understanding of the music

Eligibility[link]

Pair skaters may struggle to find a good match, in terms of skills, strength, style, height differential, and drive, in their native country. Some look abroad and agree to represent another country,^[5] e.g. Aliona Savchenko (Ukraine to Germany), Tatiana Volosozhar (Ukraine to Russia), Yuko Kavaguti (Japan to Russia), Mervin Tran (Canada to Japan), Ondřej Hotárek (Czech Republic to Italy). Skaters may represent a country of which they are not yet a citizen in most competitions, except the Olympics which require citizenship. If a skater has previously represented another country, International Skating Union rules bar the skater from 24 months of international competition from the date of his or her last major event for the previous country, or 12 months from a minor event. To ease the difficulty of finding a partner, the period may be 12 months from a major event for pair skaters (and ice dancers) but only if the skater is released by his or her previous skating federation.

In 1996, the International Skating Union imposed age requirements. In order to compete at Worlds, Europeans, Four Continents or the Olympics, skaters must be 15 before July 1 of the preceding year, or 14 for other senior international competitions. To be eligible for junior-level events, a pair skater must be 13 by July 1 but cannot have turned 19 (females) or 21 (males).^[6]

Skaters may lose their Olympic eligibility if they perform in an unsanctioned show or competition.

Accidents[link]

Side-by-side camel spins may result in serious injuries if the partners drift too close

Competitive pair skaters generally do not wear helmets or other protective gear while executing risky elements, and despite using blades that are only 4mm (3/16 inch) thick. There is a risk of head injuries, most commonly as a result of falls from lifts. Irina Rodnina competed at the 1972 World Championships, despite being hospitalized a day before the start of the competition with a concussion and an intracranial hematoma.^[7] Tatiana Totmianina had a scary fall at the 2004 Skate America and sustained a concussion but was not seriously injured.^[8] J. Paul Binnebose suffered a nearly fatal head injury when he fell while lifting his partner; he was partly paralysed and did not return to competition.^[9]

Partners may also slash each other if they drift too close particularly during side-by-side camel spins. Several female pair skaters have suffered head/face injuries during this element, including Elena Berezhnaya,^[10] Jessica Dubé,^[11][12] Mandy Wötzel,^[13] and Galina Efremenko (Maniachenko).^[14] Cuts may also occur on other elements, e.g. Caydee Denney accidentally sliced open Jeremy Barrett's calf while practicing side-by-side jumps, requiring 42 stitches.^[15] Meagan Duhamel sliced Craig Buntin's hand likewise on side-by-side jumps.^[16]

Twist lifts may also result in injury to both partners. Sometimes the female may elbow her partner on the descent from a twist; these accidents are not uncommon in practice and sometimes occur in competition, e.g. Duhamel breaking Eric Radford's nose at the 2011 Worlds.^[17][18] In some cases, this may prevent the man from catching his partner, e.g. Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison at the 2009 World Team Trophy.^[19] The height and force of throw jumps may also cause injuries to the lady, particularly during quad throws.

Practice collisions between different pairs may occur. A pair has right of way when their music is playing during practice. As changing course is more difficult for a couple, a pair skating as a unit has right of way over those practicing separately.

Although the ISU has banned certain dangerous moves, others continue to be allowed and rewarded.

Sandra Loosemore for CBS Sports in October 1999 —

"[The] ISU is sending mixed messages to skaters by rewarding other kinds of lifts with a high element of danger, such as one-handed lifts, lifts where the skaters continually change balance, grip and position, and lifts with acrobatic dismounts where the woman is flipped or swung as she is lowered. In addition, while the ISU might have banned an additional class of lifts where the woman is carried or swung in an upside-down position where she would be most vulnerable to head injury, this proposal from the ISU medical advisors was summarily rejected at the last ISU Congress."^[20]

Illegal elements[link]

A one-handed "detroiter"

Some pair skating maneuvers are banned from Olympic-eligible skating due to their high risk of serious injury to the skaters (although other dangerous moves are rewarded).^[20] Illegal elements warrant deductions in both the 6.0 and ISU Judging System. These moves are only performed in exhibitions or professional competition.

• A headbanger or bounce spin is performed by the man swinging the lady around with both of her feet off the ice, supported only by the man's grip on her ankle. The lady is elevated and lowered during the spin in a periodic fashion, sometimes with her head coming dangerously close to skimming the ice.

• A Detroiter is performed by the man lifting the lady over his head, holding her parallel to the ice while he is in a two-foot spin. The hold is the most dangerous part of the spin because the man is supporting the lady only by her legs. This move is also performed in more dramatic and dangerous fashion with a one-handed hold.

Other illegal maneuvers include:

• somersault type jumps
• lifts with wrong holds
• lifts with more than 3 ½ revolutions of the man
• spinning movements in which the man swings the lady around in the air while holding her hand or foot
• twist-like or rotational movements during which the lady is turned over with her skating foot leaving the ice
• rotational movements with the grip of one of the partners on the leg, arm and neck of the other partner
• jumps of one of the partners towards the other partner
• lying and prolonged and/or stationary kneeling on both knees on the ice at any moment

Terminology[link]

• Mirror pairs are rare teams that perform side-by-side elements in opposite rotational directions. One such pair was Kristi Yamaguchi (counter-clockwise) and Rudy Galindo (clockwise). Jill Watson(counter-clockwise) and Peter Oppegard(clockwise) also jumped in opposite directions. More recently, Tiffany Vise (clockwise) and Derek Trent (counter-clockwise) also rotate in opposite directions.

• Mirror skating is a term similar to mirror pairs, but can apply to movements other than jumps and spins. The pair team of Andrée and Pierre Brunet are credited with first performing this kind of movement.^[21]

• Shadow skating occurs when the pair performs the same movements without touching one another.

• A similar pair is a pair team made up of two men or two women. The opposite of a mixed pair. Similar pairs do not compete in ISU events.

Notes[link]

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pair skating

• ISU Judging System
• Rossano, George. Mechanics of Lifts
• About Pair Skating
• Sport is about ‘trust’

Caydee Denney
Denney and Coughlin in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Caydee Denney
Country represented	United States
Born	(1993-06-22) June 22, 1993 (age 19) Ocala, Florida
Home town	Wesley Chapel, Florida
Height	5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)
Partner	John Coughlin
Former partner	Jeremy Barrett
Coach	Dalilah Sappenfield
Former coach	Jim Peterson Alison Smith Lyndon Johnston John Zimmerman Sylvia Fontana
Choreographer	David Wilson
Former choreographer	Jim Peterson
Former skating club	Southwest Florida FSC
Current training locations	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Began skating	2002
World standing	29 (As of 19 November 2011 (2011 -11-19)[update])[1]
Season's bests	9 (2011–2012)[2] 13 (2010–2011)[3] 10 (2009–2010)[4] 10 (2008–2009)[5]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	185.42 2012 Four Continents
Short program	63.35 2012 Four Continents
Free skate	122.07 2012 Four Continents

Caydee Denney (born June 22, 1993) is an American pair skater. She currently skates with John Coughlin, with whom she is the 2012 Four Continents silver medalist and 2012 U.S. national champion. With former partner Jeremy Barrett, Denney is the 2010 U.S. champion. She also competed as a single skater until 2009.

Career[link]

Partnership with Barrett[link]

Denney and Barrett first began skating together in 2006, but the partnership did not last. They teamed up again in 2008 and began competing in the 2008-2009 season.^[6] Based on their good performance during the summer non-qualifying competitions, Denney and Barrett were assigned to the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they placed 4th. They won the 2009 Eastern Sectionals to qualify for the national championships.

Denney and Barrett won the silver medal at the 2009 U.S. Nationals. They placed sixth at the 2009 Four Continents. The following season they won the U.S. national title and the right to compete at the Olympics, where they finished 13th. They placed 7th at the 2010 World Championships.

At the 2011 U.S. Nationals, they won the bronze medal and were assigned to compete at Four Continents, however they were forced to withdraw; Denney accidentally sliced Barrett's calf on his right leg while practicing side-by-side jumps.^[7]

Denney and Barrett ended their partnership in February 2011.^[8]

Partnership with Coughlin[link]

On May 17, 2011, Denney announced that she had teamed up with John Coughlin.^[9][10] They train under coach Dalilah Sappenfield at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Denney having relocated from Wesley Chapel, Florida after splitting from her previous partner.^[9] Denney and Coughlin have a height difference of 14 inches (36 cm).^[11] They made their competitive debut at the Liberty Summer competition in July 2011, winning the short program.^[12]

Personal life[link]

Caydee Denney was born in Ocala, Florida. Her younger sister, Haven Denney, is also a pair skater – winning the 2012 U.S. Junior title with Brandon Frazier. Both their parents were competitive artistic roller skaters.

Programs[link]

With Coughlin[link]

With Barrett[link]

Competitive highlights[link]

Pairs career with Coughlin[link]

Pairs career with Barrett[link]

Denney and Barrett in 2009

Singles career[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Caydee Denney

• Caydee Denney & John Coughlin at the International Skating Union
• Caydee Denney & John Coughlin at Icenetwork
• Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett
• Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett at the International Skating Union
• Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett at the United States Figure Skating Association
• Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett at Tracings.net

Yu Xiaoyu
Personal information
Country represented	China
Born	(1996-01-02) January 2, 1996 (age 16)[1] or (1998-01-02) January 2, 1998 (age 14)[2] (see also Age controversy below) Beijing
Home town	Beijing
Height	1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)
Partner	Jin Yang
Coach	Luan Bo
Former coach	Yang Ding
Choreographer	Helen Zhang Wei
Skating club	Beijing Century Star FSC
World standing	29 (As of 16 June 2011 (2011 -06-16)[update])[3]
Season's bests	25 (2010–2011)[4]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	167.48 2012 Jr. Worlds
Short program	54.72 2012 Jr. Worlds
Free skate	112.76 2012 Jr. Worlds
Medal record Competitor for  China Pairs' Figure skating Winter Youth Olympics Gold 2012 Innsbruck Pairs World Junior Championships Silver 2012 Minsk Pairs

Yu Xiaoyu (Chinese: 于小雨; pinyin: Yú Xiǎoyǔ; (born in Beijing) is a Chinese ladies pair skater. With partner Jin Yang, she is the 2012 Junior World silver medalist , 2010–2011 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, 2010 JGP Cup of Austria champion and 2010 Chinese national silver medalist.

Career[link]

Yu and Jin were paired together by their coaches in 2009.^[5] They do on- an off-ice training from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon with a break in the middle.^[5]

Yu and Jin won the silver medal at the 2010 Chinese Nationals. They made their international debut during the 2010–11 season. They won bronze at JGP Cup of Austria and then won gold at Czech Skate. At the Junior Grand Prix Final, they won the bronze medal.

The pair performed a quad twist at a national competition in 2011, when Yu was 15 and Jin was 17 years old (or 13 and 22).^[5] They finished 7th at the 2011 Skate Canada and 6th at the 2011 Cup of China. They then won the bronze medal at their national championships. Yu and Jin competed at the 2012 World Junior Championships and won the silver medal.

Age controversy[link]

In February 2011, Yu and Jin's ages became the subject of controversy. Although her ISU bio lists Yu as born on January 2, 1996, a Chinese website suggested she was born on that day in 1998, meaning she was too young to compete in Junior Grand Prix events during the 2010–11 season.^[2] Her partner's age also came under scrutiny. His ISU bio states that he was born on May 16, 1994 but the Chinese website suggested he was born on that day in 1989, meaning he was too old to compete in junior events.^[2]

Programs[link]

Competitive highlights[link]

(with Jin)

• *Their placement was removed as China was inadvertently given one too many entries at the competition.

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Yu Xiaoyu

This article about a People's Republic of China figure skater is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Jin Yang
Personal information
Country represented	China
Born	(1994-05-16) May 16, 1994 (age 18)[1] or (1989-05-16) May 16, 1989 (age 23)[2] (see also Age controversy below) Harbin
Home town	Beijing
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Partner	Yu Xiaoyu
Coach	Luan Bo
Former coach	Yang Ding
Choreographer	Helen Zhang Wei
Skating club	Beijing Century Star FSC
World standing	29 (As of 16 June 2011 (2011 -06-16)[update])[3]
Season's bests	25 (2010–2011)[4]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	167.48 2012 Jr. Worlds
Short program	54.72 2012 Jr. Worlds
Free skate	112.76 2012 Jr. Worlds
Medal record Competitor for  China Pairs' Figure skating World Junior Championships Silver 2012 Minsk Pairs

Jin Yang (simplified Chinese: 金扬; traditional Chinese: 金揚; pinyin: Jīn Yáng;(born in Harbin) is a Chinese male pair skater. With partner Yu Xiaoyu, he is the 2012 Junior World silver medalist , 2010–2011 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, 2010 JGP Cup of Austria champion and 2010 Chinese national silver medalist.

Career[link]

Yu and Jin were paired together by their coaches in 2009.^[5] They do on- an off-ice training from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon with a break in the middle.^[5]

Yu and Jin won the silver medal at the 2010 Chinese Nationals. They made their international debut during the 2010–11 season. They won bronze at JGP Cup of Austria and then won gold at Czech Skate. At the Junior Grand Prix Final, they won the bronze medal.

The pair performed a quad twist at a national competition in 2011, when Yu was 15 and Jin was 17 years old (or 13 and 22).^[5] They finished 7th at the 2011 Skate Canada and 6th at the 2011 Cup of China. They then won the bronze medal at their national championships. Yu and Jin competed at the 2012 World Junior Championships and won the silver medal.

Age controversy[link]

In February 2011, Jin and his partner's ages became the subject of controversy. Although his ISU bio lists Jin as born on May 16, 1994, a Chinese website suggested he was born on that day in 1989, meaning he was too old to compete in Junior Grand Prix events during the 2010–11 season.^[2] His partner's age also came under scrutiny. Her ISU bio states that she was born on January 2, 1996 but the Chinese website suggested she was born on that day in 1998, meaning she was too young to compete in junior events.^[2]

Programs[link]

Competitive highlights[link]

(with Yu)

• *Their placement was removed as China was inadvertently given one too many entries at the competition.

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jin Yang

This article about a People's Republic of China figure skater is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Tatiana Volosozhar
Volosozhar and Trankov at the 2011 Worlds.
Personal information
Full name	Tatiana Andreеvna Volosozhar
Country represented	Russia
Former country(ies) represented	Ukraine
Born	(1986-05-22) 22 May 1986 (age 26) Dnipropetrovsk
Residence	Moscow
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Partner	Maxim Trankov
Former partner	Stanislav Morozov Petr Kharchenko
Coach	Nina Mozer Stanislav Morozov
Former coach	Ingo Steuer Galina Kukhar Nikolai Morozov
Choreographer	Nikolai Morozov
Skating club	Vorobyovy Gory
Current training locations	Moscow
Former training locations	Chemnitz, Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk
Began skating	1991
World standing	2 (As of 30 March 2012 (2012 -03-30)[update])[1]
Season's bests	2 (2011–2012)[2] 2 (2010–2011)[3] 7 (2009–2010)[4] 7 (2008–2009)[5]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	212.08 2011–2012 Grand Prix Final
Short program	72.80 2012 Europeans
Free skate	140.90 2012 Worlds
Medal record Competitor for  Russia Pairs' Figure skating World Championships Silver 2012 Nice Pairs Silver 2011 Moscow Pairs European Championships Gold 2012 Sheffield Pairs Grand Prix Final Silver 2011–2012 Quebec Pairs Russian Championships Gold 2011 Saransk Pairs

Tatiana Andreеvna Volosozhar (Ukrainian: Тетяна Андріївна Волосожар, Russian: Татьяна Андреевна Волосожар; born 22 May 1986 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Russian pair skater. With current partner Maxim Trankov, she is the 2012 European Champion, a two-time (2011 and 2012) World silver medalist, the 2011 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, and the 2011 Russian national champion. They are also gold medalists at 2011 Skate Canada and 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard.

Volosozhar competed for Ukraine with Petr Kharchenko from 2000–2004 and with Stanislav Morozov from 2004–2010. She and Morozov were four-time (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010) Ukrainian national champions and finished as high as 4th at the World Championships.

Early years[link]

Volosozhar began skating at the age of four.^[6] The instructors at her skating class were initially dismissive, saying she was overweight, but gave her three months and eventually agreed to keep her.^[6] She took up pair skating at age 14.^[6]

As a junior, Volosozhar skated for four years with Petr Kharchenko.^[6] They trained in Dnipropetrovsk in very poor conditions until they were able to move to Kiev in 2003; Volosozhar was accompanied by her mother.^[7] Their coach in Kiev was Galina Kukhar. The pair won several medals on the Junior Grand Prix circuit and were the Ukrainian national champions in 2004. That same season, they finished 5th at Junior Worlds and 14th at senior Worlds. They split at the end of the 2003-04 season.

Partnership with Morozov[link]

Volosozhar with Morozov at the 2007 European Championships

Volosozhar teamed up with Stanislav Morozov prior to the 2004–05 season, coached by Galina Kukhar.^[8] In their first season together, they were silver medalists at the Winter Universiade and finished 5th at the European Championships. They began the 2005–06 season with a win at the 2005 Karl Schäfer Memorial and placed 12th at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Volosozhar and Morozov had a good season in 2006–07, finishing 5th again at the European Championships and fourth at the World Championships.

During the 2007–08 season, they came close to winning their first European medal but dropped to ninth at Worlds. At the end of the season, Volosozhar and Morozov changed coaches and began working with Ingo Steuer in Chemnitz, Germany. Conditions in Ukraine had steadily deteriorated until there was only one normal rink, although Morozov said reaching it was not simple, "You can't get to the entrance; you need to jump over holes, it's like a precipice."^[9] After moving to train in Chemnitz, they won their first Grand Prix medals, a silver at the 2008 Cup of China and a bronze at the 2008 Cup of Russia, and qualified for the 2008-09 Grand Prix Final, where they placed fourth. They also placed fourth at the 2009 European Championships and were 6th at the 2009 World Championships.

In the 2009-2010 season, Volosozhar and Morozov won a bronze medal at the 2009 Cup of China and a silver at the 2009 Skate America. They again placed fourth at the European Championships and came in 8th at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The pair skipped the 2010 World Championships because Morozov decided to retire from competitive skating. ^[10] They performed in shows together in the spring of 2010.^[9]

Partnership with Trankov[link]

Volosozhar and Trankov at the 2011 Trophée Bompard

Teaming up[link]

Volosozhar decided to continue her competitive career.^[10] In March 2010, rumors emerged that she might team up with Maxim Trankov.^[11] Trankov later said that he had wanted to skate with Volosozhar since 2006.^[10]

The head of the Ukrainian trainers' council admitted there were no partners for her in the country who could compete at a high level,^[12] and on 14 May 2010, it was reported that Ukraine would not interfere with her decision to compete for Russia.^[13] Russian coach Ludmila Velikova confirmed that Russia had attempted years earlier to persuade Volosozhar to skate under its colors, however, the Ukrainian skating federation believed she would be successful with Stanislav Morozov.^[13]

Volosozhar left her previous training base in Germany to train in Moscow,^[14] beginning training with Trankov the week of 17 May.^[13] They are coached by Nina Mozer.^[15][16] Stanislav Morozov is their assistant coach, helping them with their elements.^[17] Igor Tchinaev was their short program choreographer, with Nikolai Morozov choreographing the long program.^[10][14] Nikolai Morozov also worked with them on their stroking to reduce energy loss.^[7] The pair had some differences in technique; Volosozhar had to change pace on the entry to the twist as well as adapt to a different hold during throw jumps, while Trankov had to adjust his jumps to match his new partner.^[18]

2010–2011 season[link]

Volosozhar and Trankov initially performed in domestic Russian cup events and other tests.^[15] In late December 2010, they competed at the 2011 Russian nationals, where they won the title,^[19][20] defeating Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov, the reigning national champions and World bronze medalists.

As per ISU regulations, Volosozhar was obliged to sit out one year from her last event representing Ukraine, the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[14][21] As a result, they missed much of the 2010–2011 season, including the Grand Prix series and the European Championships. She became eligible for international competition on 16 February 2011, in time for the Mont Blanc Trophy, where the pair competed in order to meet the ISU minimum technical score requirements for the World Championships.^[22] They did so easily and won the event by a sizable margin.^[23] The pair decided to fly in early for the World Championships and landed in Tokyo three hours before the earthquake.^[24] The event was rescheduled and moved to Moscow.

At the 2011 Worlds, Volosozhar and Trankov finished third in the short program.^[25] They were second in the free skate to win the silver medal, behind 2008-2009 champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy and ahead of the defending champions, Qing Pang and Jian Tong.^[26] It was the first Worlds medal for both skaters. They were one of few modern teams to make the World podium in their first season together and in their first appearance at a major international event; media coverage of the event noted their fast development and their potential for the future.^[27][28] Volosozhar said, "We didn't even think about the silver medal (before Worlds). We thought, maybe we can get the bronze. The result was completely unexpected for us. The most impressive moment of the championships was how enthusiastic the spectators were even before our short program, and I'll never forget how they gave us a standing ovation after the free program."^[14]

2011–2012 season[link]

During the off-season, Volosozhar and Trankov performed in shows and prepared for the new season in Novogorsk, as well as a few weeks in New Jersey.^[14][29] In the summer, Trankov sustained a shoulder injury while skating without sharpened blades since no one with the expertise was available at the time; As a result, they stopped working on lifts for a while.^[30]

Volosozhar and Trankov began the 2011–2012 season with wins at their two September competitions, the 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy and the 2011 Ondrej Nepela Memorial. Trankov partly tore a groin tendon at the Nepela Memorial.^[30] On the Grand Prix series, they won Skate Canada with a combined score of 201.38. They then won the 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard to qualify for the Grand Prix Final.^[31] Trankov's inguinal rings (groin) injury caused them to change a pair spin at the Grand Prix Final.^[32] Volosozhar and Trankov were the leaders after the short program but were second to Savchenko and Szolkowy in the free skating to finish with the silver medal, with only 0.18 points separating the couples at the end of the competition. At the post-event press conference, they stated that they were both dealing with injuries and would therefore miss Russian Nationals.^[33][30]

At the 2012 European Championships, Volosozhar and Trankov placed first in both programs and won their first European title.^[34] At the 2012 World Championships in Nice, France, they placed eighth in the short program after both fell on a death spiral.^[35] Trankov expressed concerns about the ice quality, saying "It is soft in some places, brittle in others. I guess it is ok if you skate right after ice resurfacing, but if you are the last one to skate in the second group, it is quite another story."^[36] Volosozhar and Trankov rebounded to place first in the free skate with a new personal best score of 140.90 in the segment.^[37] They won their second World silver medal, 0.11 points below Savchenko / Szolkowy, and picked up a small gold medal for the free skate.

Personal life[link]

Volosozhar was born in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, to parents of Russian origin – her mother born in Kaliningrad and her father in Nizhny Tagil.^[38] Her father is in the army and she also has a sister.^[7] Her first language is Russian and she also understands Ukrainian very well, although she does not speak it perfectly.^[38] Volosozhar was eligible for expedited Russian citizenship,^[39] which she received in December 2010.^[38] Volosozhar also communicates in English.

Programs[link]

With Trankov[link]