Biryukova began the 2011–12 season by winning gold at the 2011 Finlandia Trophy. She placed 4th at the 2011 Cup of Russia, setting personal bests in both programs. Toward the end of the season, she sustained four fractures.[2]
Biryukova won the gold medal at the 2013 Winter Universiade.[3] Since Butsaeva was unable to attend, Svetlana Sokolovskaya stepped in to work with her at the event.[4]
Pair Skating career
In spring 2014, Biryukova decided to try pair skating.[5] After telling her coach, Butsaeva, Butsaeva contacted pairs coach, Nina Mozer, and Mozer invited Biryukova to watch the pair skating at the Vorobyovy Gory where she coaches. After deciding she wanted to switch to pair skating, Mozer agreed to let her train at the rink and paired her up with Aleksandr Stepanov in the fall of 2014, who was also a singles skater that wanted to switch to pair skating. Pavel Alexandrovich Kitashev became the pair team's coach.[6] On January 13, 2015, however, Biryukova stated she was unsure if she would continue pair skating or start coaching, feeling as though she hadn't made a lot of progress as a pair skater.[7]
Deciding to end her pair skating career, Biryukova ended her partnership with Stepanov. Four months later, however, Biryukova was contacted by Nina Mozer, who convinced her to tryout with pair skater Andrei Filonov, who was looking for a partner. After a successful tryout, the pair decided to skate together and are coached by Dmitri Savin.[8]
