Anastasia Skoptsova

Anastasia Skoptsova
Skoptsova/Aleshin at the 2018 World Junior Championships
Full nameAnastasia Ilinichna Skoptsova
Native nameАнастасия Ильинична Скопцова
Other namesSkoptcova
Born (2000-11-08) 8 November 2000 (age 24)
Moscow, Russia
Height1.67 m (5 ft 5+12 in)
Figure skating career
CountryRussia
Began skating2004
Retired2022
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Figure skating: Ice dancing
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Sofia Ice dancing
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2017–18 Nagoya Ice dancing
Winter Youth Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Lillehammer Ice dancing
Representing Mixed-NOCs
Winter Youth Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2016 Lillehammer Team

Anastasia Ilinichna Skoptsova (Russian: Анастасия Ильинична Скопцова; born 8 November 2000) is a Russian retired ice dancer. With her former skating partner, Kirill Aleshin, she was the 2020 Rostelecom Cup bronze medalist, 2018 CS Tallinn Trophy silver medalist, and 2021 Russian national bronze medalist.

Earlier in their career, they won gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships and 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final, as well as bronze at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics.

Personal life

Anastasia Ilinichna Skoptsova was born on 8 November 2000 in Moscow, Russia.[1][2]

Career

Early years

Skoptsova began learning to skate in 2004.[3] She made her international debut in autumn 2010, competing with Nikita Nazarov on the advanced novice level at the Tirnavia Ice Cup and NRW Trophy. The two placed thirteenth at the 2012 Russian Junior Championships.[4] They were coached by Denis Samokhin in Moscow.

Beginning of partnership with Aleshin

Skoptsova and Kirill Aleshin teamed up after she contacted him through a Russian partner search.[5] They began competing together in October 2013.[4] They qualified to the 2015 Russian Junior Championships and finished ninth, having ranked ninth in the short and seventh in the free dance.

2015–2016 season: Junior Grand Prix debut

Skoptsova/Aleshin's first Junior Grand Prix (JGP) assignments came in the 2015–2016 season. They won the bronze medal at the JGP in Toruń, Poland, after placing third in both segments behind Lorraine McNamara / Quinn Carpenter and Christina Carreira / Anthony Ponomarenko. At the JGP in Zagreb, Croatia, Skoptsova/Aleshin placed second in both segments and won the silver medal, scoring 12 points less than Rachel Parsons / Michael Parsons (gold) and almost five points more than Sofia Shevchenko / Igor Eremenko (bronze). Ranked 6th in the JGP standings, they took the final spot at the 2015–16 JGP Final in Barcelona,[6] where they finished sixth.

Fifth at the 2016 Russian Junior Championships (seventh in the short dance, fourth in the free), the two were named in Russia's team to the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Hamar. Ranked second in the short dance and third in the free, they were awarded the bronze medal in the ice dancing event in Norway.[7] They won gold in the mixed NOC team event.[8]

2016–2017 season

In late September, Skoptsova/Aleshin won bronze at a JGP event in Ljubljana, Slovenia; they finished third behind Lorraine McNamara / Quinn Carpenter and Sofia Polishchuk / Alexander Vakhnov. A week later, they received silver at a JPG assignment in Tallinn, Estonia, where they placed second to Alla Loboda / Pavel Drozd. They finished as the first alternates for the JGP Final.

In February, Skoptsova/Aleshin took bronze at the 2017 Russian Junior Championships, finishing behind Anastasia Shpilevaya / Grigory Smirnov and Loboda/Drozd. They were included in Russia's team to the 2017 World Junior Championships, held in March in Taipei, Taiwan, and finished fifth overall after placing third in the short dance and fifth in the free dance.

2017–2018 season: World Junior title

Skoptsova/Aleshin began their JGP season in September, in Minsk, Belarus; they were awarded the silver medal, having finished 6.41 points behind Christina Carreira / Anthony Ponomarenko of the United States. In October, they won gold at a JGP event in Gdańsk, Poland, defeating their closest rivals, Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva / Nikita Nazarov, by 16.93 points. Due to their results, they qualified to the 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final, held in December in Nagoya, Japan. They placed first in both segments in Japan, winning gold with a 1.85 point margin over silver medalists Carreira/Ponomarenko.

Skoptsova/Aleshin won gold at the 2018 Russian Junior Championships in January. They ranked first in both segments on their way to the gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Championships, held in March in Sofia, Bulgaria. They outscored the silver medalists (Carreira/Ponomarenko) by 7.47 points overall.[5]

2018–2019 season: Senior debut

Skoptsova suffered from a recurrence of an ankle injury over the summer that limited the duo's training time leading up to the new season.[9] In late October Skoptsova/Aleshin made their international senior and Grand Prix debut at the 2018 Skate Canada where they placed 10th. Two weeks later they finished 7th at the 2018 NHK Trophy.

In late November Skoptsova/Aleshin won their first international senior medal at the 2018 CS Tallinn Trophy. Ranked first in the rhythm dance and third in the free dance they won the silver medal with their personal best score of 179.78 points. At the 2019 Russian Championships, they placed fifth.[10]

2019–2020 season

Skoptcova (as she began identifying as in English transliteration) and Aleshin had to withdraw from the Russian test skates prior to skating their free dance due to Aleshin becoming ill, and withdrew from the Finlandia Trophy and the Ice Star.[11] Consequently, they started their competition season at the 2019 Cup of China on the Grand Prix, placing seventh.[12] At the 2019 Rostelecom Cup, they were ninth of ten teams.

Skoptcova/Aleshin placed fifth at the 2020 Russian Championships.[13]

2020–2021 season: Grand Prix and national bronze medals

Skoptcova/Aleshin debuted at the senior Russian test skates, repeating their programs from the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] They competed on the domestic Cup of Russia series, winning the gold medal at stage four in Kazan by almost 34 points.[15]

With the Grand Prix allotted based mainly on geographic location, Skoptcova/Aleshin competed at the 2020 Rostelecom Cup, placing third in the rhythm dance.[16] Third in the free dance as well, they won their first Grand Prix medal, a bronze.[17]

With reigning national champions Sinitsina/Katsalapov sitting out the 2021 Russian Championships due to COVID-19 illness, the bronze medal position on the national podium was widely perceived to be open to contest between several teams, Skoptcova/Aleshin among them. They placed third in the rhythm dance.[18] Due to a twizzle error from Skoptcova, they placed fourth in the free dance, but remained in third place overall to take bronze, standing on the senior national podium for the first time.[19]

Following the national championships, Skoptcova/Aleshin participated in the 2021 Channel One Trophy, a televised team competition held in lieu of the cancelled European Championships. They were selected for the Time of Firsts team captained by Evgenia Medvedeva.[20] They placed third in both their segments of the competition, while their team finished in second overall.[21][22] They did not participate in the Russian Cup Final.[23]

2021–2022 season

Skoptsova and Aleshin debuted their programs at the Russian senior test skates.[24] They won a gold medal at the 2021 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge, and then were sixth at the 2021 Rostelecom Cup.[25] They went on to win another gold at the Santa Claus Cup.[26]

At the 2022 Russian Championships, Skoptsova/Aleshin placed sixth. Speaking after the free dance, Skoptsova noted that Aleshin had had twizzle problems, but that otherwise she felt it "was emotional, soulful, beautiful, sublime, and tender and we are very proud of ourselves and the coaches."[27] This would prove to be their final competition, as they announced their retirement at the end of the season, with Skoptsova intending to become a journalist.[28]

Programs

(with Aleshin)

Season Rhythm dance Free dance
2021–2022
[29]
2019–2021
[30][31]
2018–2019
[32]
  • Tango: Viejos Aires
    performed by Ara Malikian
  • Tango: Yo Soy Maria
    performed by Maria Volonte
Short dance
2017–2018
[3]
2016–2017
[1][33]
2015–2016
[34]
  • Iko Iko
    by Club des Belugas
    feat. Brenda Boykin
  • Hasta Siempre Comandante
  • Straight to Memphis
2014–2015 Ukrainian folk dance:
  • Unharness your horses, boys!
    (Ukrainian: Розпрягайте, хлопці, коні)
  • Moon in the sky
    (Ukrainian: Місяць на небі)
2013–2014

Competitive highlights

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

With Aleshin

Skoptsova/Aleshin at the 2015–16 Junior Grand Prix Final
International[26]
Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
GP Cup of China 7th
GP NHK Trophy 7th
GP Rostelecom 9th 3rd 6th
GP Skate Canada 10th
CS Denis Ten Memorial 1st
CS Finlandia WD
CS Ice Star WD
CS Tallinn Trophy 2nd
Egna Trophy 2nd
Santa Claus Cup 1st 1st
Universiade WD
International: Junior[26]
Junior Worlds 5th 1st
Youth Olympics 3rd
JGP Final 6th 1st
JGP Belarus 2nd
JGP Croatia 2nd
JGP Estonia 2nd
JGP Poland 3rd 1st
JGP Slovenia 3rd
Tallinn Trophy 1st 1st
Volvo Open Cup 4th
National[4]
Russian Champ. 5th 5th 3rd 6th
Russian Junior 9th 5th 3rd 1st
Russian Youth
Elder Age
4th
Team events[8]
Youth Olympics 1st T
2nd P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

With Nazarov

International[4]
Event 2010–11 2011–12
NRW Trophy 13th N
Tirnavia Ice Cup 1st N
National[4]
Russian Junior Champ. 13th
N: Advanced novice level

Detailed results

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

With Aleshin

2021–22 season
Date Event RD FD Total
21–26 December 2021 2022 Russian Championships 7
75.36
6
110.36
6
185.72
6–12 December 2021 2021 Santa Claus Cup 1
81.17
1
118.24
1
199.41
26–28 November 2021 2021 Rostelecom Cup 6
71.95
6
108.98
6
180.93
28–31 October 2021 2021 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 1
78.39
1
116.67
1
195.06
2020–21 season
Date Event RD FD Total
5–7 February 2021 2021 Channel One Trophy 3
81.42
3
123.34
2T/3P
204.76
23–27 December 2020 2021 Russian Championships 3
80.19
4
116.78
3
196.97
5–8 December 2020 2020 Cup of Russia Series, 5th Stage, Moscow
domestic competition
1
81.81
1
123.17
1
204.98
20–22 November 2020 2020 Rostelecom Cup 3
79.75
3
119.50
3
199.25
8–12 November 2020 2020 Cup of Russia Series, 4th Stage, Kazan
domestic competition
1
79.36
1
120.20
1
199.56
2019–20 season
Date Event RD FD Total
7–9 February 2020 2020 Egna Trophy 1
74.04
2
108.53
2
182.57
24–29 December 2019 2020 Russian Championships 4
73.98
5
112.83
5
186.81
2–8 December 2019 2019 Santa Claus Cup 1
72.75
1
109.34
1
182.09
15–17 November 2019 2019 Rostelecom Cup 7
66.52
9
98.12
9
164.64
8–10 November 2019 2019 Cup of China 6
69.19
8
100.15
7
169.34
2018–19 season
Date Event RD FD Total
19–23 December 2018 2019 Russian Championships 6
69.00
5
106.10
5
175.10
26 November – 2 December 2018 2018 CS Tallinn Trophy 1
71.17
3
108.61
2
179.78
9–11 November 2018 2018 NHK Trophy 6
64.53
7
95.43
7
159.96
26–28 October 2018 2018 Skate Canada 7
62.68
10
85.31
10
147.99
2017–18 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
5–11 March 2018 2018 World Junior Championships Junior 1
66.44
1
88.71
1
155.15
23–26 January 2018 2018 Russian Junior Championships Junior 1
69.54
1
92.89
1
162.43
7–10 December 2017 2017–18 JGP Final Junior 1
65.87
1
87.74
1
153.61
21–26 November 2017 2017 Tallinn Trophy Junior 1
67.53
1
88.94
1
156.47
4–7 October 2017 2017 JGP Poland Junior 1
64.63
1
86.15
1
150.78
20–24 September 2017 2017 JGP Belarus Junior 2
61.71
3
81.93
2
143.64
2016–17 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
15–19 March 2017 2017 World Junior Championships Junior 3
63.38
5
89.15
5
152.53
1–5 February 2017 2017 Russian Junior Championships Junior 3
62.37
3
89.68
3
152.05
20–27 November 2016 2016 Tallinn Trophy Junior 1
62.74
1
86.66
1
149.40
28 September – 2 October 2016 2016 JGP Estonia Junior 2
62.53
2
85.92
2
148.45
21–25 September 2016 2016 JGP Slovenia Junior 2
56.80
2
86.98
3
143.78
2015–16 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
12–21 February 2016 2016 Winter Youth Olympics - Team event Junior
-
2
80.28
1
12–21 February 2016 2016 Winter Youth Olympics Junior 2
57.75
3
76.87
3
134.62
19–23 January 2016 2016 Russian Junior Championships Junior 7
59.41
4
84.81
5
144.22
10–13 December 2015 2015−16 JGP Final Junior 6
56.51
6
78.10
6
134.61
7–11 October 2015 2015 JGP Croatia Junior 2
60.80
2
87.95
2
148.75
23–27 September 2015 2015 JGP Poland Junior 3
57.98
3
83.63
3
141.61
2014–15 season
Date Event Level SD FD Total
4–7 February 2015 2015 Russian Junior Championships Junior 9
46.79
7
73.22
9
120.01
5–9 November 2014 2014 Volvo Open Cup Junior 3
48.05
4
73.21
4
121.26

References

  1. ^ a b "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  2. ^ СПИСОК кандидатов в спортивные сборные команды Российской Федерации по фигурному катанию на коньках на 2015-2016 гг. [List of candidates for 2015-2016 Russian national team] (PDF) (in Russian). Figure Skating Federation of Russia. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  3. ^ a b "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e Скопцова Анастасия Ильинична [Anastasia Ilinichna Skoptsova] (in Russian). fskate.ru. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b Flade, Tatjana (10 May 2018). "Russian ice dancers Skoptcova and Aleshin look forward to new challenges". goldenskate.com.
  6. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015 / 2016: Junior Ice Dance". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015.
  7. ^ Lupano, Emma; Bayci, Emily (16 February 2016). "All smiles for Russian ice dancers Shpilevaya and Smirnov". lillehammer2016.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Lillehammer 2016 Athletes: SKOPTCOVA Anastasia". wyog2016.sportresult.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Анастасия Скопцова -- Кирилл Алешин пропустят контрольные прокаты сборной России" [Anastasia Skoptsova - Kirill Aleshin will miss the test skate event of the Russian national team]. Figure Skating Federation of Russia (in Russian). 9 September 2018.
  10. ^ Flade, Tatjana (21 December 2018). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov dance to first gold at Russian Nationals". Golden Skate.
  11. ^ Flade, Tatjana (17 September 2019). "2019 RUSSIAN TEST SKATES REVIEW". International Figure Skating. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  12. ^ Slater, Paula (November 9, 2019). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov take first Grand Prix gold at Cup of China". Golden Skate.
  13. ^ Flade, Tatjana (December 27, 2019). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov clinch second national title". Golden Skate.
  14. ^ "KOLYADA, TRUSOVA SHINE AT 2020 TEST SKATES". International Figure Skating. September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  15. ^ "2020 CUP OF RUSSIA SERIES". Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (November 19, 2020). "Strong start for Sinitsina and Katsalapov at Rostelecom Cup". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ Slater, Paula (November 21, 2020). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov defend Rostelecom Cup title in Moscow". Golden Skate.
  18. ^ Flade, Tatjana (December 24, 2020). "Stepanova and Bukin start comeback with Rhythm Dance win at Russian Nationals". Golden Skate.
  19. ^ Flade, Tatjana (December 25, 2020). "Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin claim first National title". Golden Skate.
  20. ^ Goh, ZK (5 February 2021). "Russian ladies secure team win over men in domestic figure skating jump contest". Olympic Channel.
  21. ^ Goh, ZK (6 February 2021). "Valieva leads the way as Team Zagitova's "Red Machine" lead at Channel One Cup". Olympic Channel.
  22. ^ Goh, ZK (7 February 2021). "Alina Zagitova's "Red Machine" win Channel One Cup". Olympic Channel.
  23. ^ McCarvel, Nick (26 February 2021). "5 things to know ahead of final Russian Cup, where Alena Kostornaia is set for return, and how to watch". Olympic Channel.
  24. ^ "КОНТРОЛЬНЫЕ ПРОКАТЫ. ЧЕЛЯБИНСК. 2021" [CONTROL RENTALS. CHELYABINSK. 2021] (in Russian). fsrussa.ru. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  25. ^ Slater, Paula (November 27, 2021). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov dance to fifth Grand Prix gold at Rostelecom Cup". Golden Skate.
  26. ^ a b c "Competition Results: Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN". International Skating Union.
  27. ^ Flade, Tatjana (December 24, 2021). "Stepanova and Bukin win second national title after Sinitsina and Katsalapov drop out". Golden Skate.
  28. ^ "Танцевальный дуэт Скопцова — Алешин завершает профессиональную карьеру" [The dance duo Skoptsova / Aleshin ends professional career]. Sport Express (in Russian). June 2, 2022.
  29. ^ "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  31. ^ "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. ^ "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. ^ Ermolina, Olga (2 August 2016). "Елена Кустарова: «Настя и Кирилл много пропустили, поэтому при подготовке к сезону были очень мобилизованы»" [Elena Kustarova: "Nastya and Kirill missed a lot, so they mobilized in preparation for the season"]. Figure Skating Federation of Russia (in Russian).
  34. ^ "Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

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