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Nikita Volodin

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Nikita Volodin
Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin at the 2024 World Championships
Full nameNikita Andreyevich Volodin
Native nameНикита Андреевич Володин
Born (1999-06-29) 29 June 1999 (age 25)
Saint Petersburg, Russia
HometownBerlin, Germany
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Figure skating career
Country Germany (since 2023)
 Russia
DisciplinePair skating
PartnerMinerva Fabienne Hase (since 2022)
Taisiia Sobinina (2019–20)
Amina Atakhanova (2018–19)
Alina Ustimkina (2014–18)
CoachDmitri Savin
Knut Schubert
Rico Rex
Skating clubBerliner Sportverein 92
Began skating2003
Medal record
Representing  Germany
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Montreal Pairs
Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2023–24 Beijing Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2024–25 Grenoble Pairs
German Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Berlin Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2025 Oberstdorf Pairs
Representing  Russia
"" Winter Youth Olympics ""
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Lillehammer Pairs

Nikita Andreyevich Volodin is a current German professional figure skater in the Pair's discipline. In 2023, he partnered up with, Minerva Fabienne Hase. Hase and Volodin are the ISU 2024 World bronze medalists, the 2023–24 Grand Prix Final champions, a three-time ISU Grand Prix gold medalists and three-time ISU Challenger Series medalists.

When Volodin formerly represented Russia with partner, Alina Ustimkina, he was the 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy champion and 2016 Youth Olympic bronze medalist.

Personal life

[edit]

Nikita Andreyevich Volodin was born on 29 June 1999 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[1]

Career

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Volodin began skating in 2003.[1]

Partnership with Ustimkina

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Ustimkina and Volodin at the 2016-17 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final

Volodin and Alina Ustimkina debuted their partnership in September 2014.[2] They competed at events within Russia during their first season together and began appearing internationally in the 2015–16 season. In August 2015, they were sent to Riga, Latvia to compete at their first ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) assignment, placing fifth. In November, they won the junior gold medal at the NRW Trophy, outscoring silver medalists Anna Dušková / Martin Bidař by 19.22 points.[3]

In January 2016, Ustimkina/Volodin placed fifth at the Russian Junior Championships. In February, they represented Russia at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Hamar, Norway. Ranked third in both segments, they were awarded the bronze medal behind Ekaterina Borisova / Dmitry Sopot and Dušková/Bidař. Assigned to Team Determination for the mixed NOC team event, Ustimkina/Volodin placed third in their segment and their team finished eighth.[4]

Ustimkina and Volodin ended their partnership in late 2017.

Partnership with Atakhanova

[edit]

Volodin and Amina Atakhanova teamed up in early 2018, coached by Alexei Sokolov in Saint Petersburg.[2] In April 2018, they won gold at the Russian Youth Championships Elder Age.[5] Their partnership ended following that season. Following this, Volodin did approach Russian women's singles skater, Evgenia Medvedeva, asking if she was interested in trying to pair skating with him but she declined his offer.[6]

Partnership with Hase

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In June 2022, Volodin was introduced by coach, Dmitri Savin, to German pair skater, Minerva Fabienne Hase, whose long partnership with Nolan Seegert had ended following the 2022 Winter Olympics. Agreeing to skate together and represent her country, they trained through the 2022–23 season while waiting for Volodin to be released by the Figure Skating Federation of Russia.[7] Initially, the pair were unable to communicate due to Volodin being unable to speak German nor English at the time. Savin would thus act as the team's translator until Volodin learned to speak English well enough to interact with Hase.[8]

Volodin was released by the Russian federation in May 2022. It was subsequently announced that the pair would train in Berlin Germany with coaches, Rico Rex and Knut Schubert. In addition, Savin would continue working with the pair by acting as their coach at international competitions.[9][10][11]

2023–24 season

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Hase/Volodin debuted as a team at the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy, where they won the silver medal behind reigning Italian European champions Conti/Macii, and finishing ahead of domestic rivals Hocke/Kunkel. Hase said it felt "so good to be back and even be on the podium in our first competition."[12] They went on to win a Challenger gold medal on home soil at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, after coming back from placing third in the short program.[13]

Hase/Volodin made their senior Grand Prix debut at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo. They placed third in the short program behind Shanghai Trophy champions Peng/Wang and Conti/Macii after an error on their throw triple loop, but won the free skate despite jump errors and rose to take the gold medal. Hase admitted that the result felt "very lucky," but that it was "a special moment for both of us."[14] They went on to win the 2023 NHK Trophy as well, improving on all their personal bests in the process and qualifying to the Grand Prix Final as the second seed.[15]

Volodin having become ill following the NHK Trophy, the team was uncertain of their ability to compete. Returning to China for the Final, held in Beijing, they performed their first full run-through since the NHK Trophy in training. Hase/Volodin set a new personal best score to win the short program narrowly over Canadians Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps and Italians Conti/Macii. They finished second in the free skate behind Conti/Macii, but won the gold medal by 0.55 points over the Italian team. Hase said they were "overwhelmed."[16]

Hase and Volodin during their free skate at the 2024 World Championships

Hase became ill following the German Championships, as a result of which the team had only ten days of training prior to the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas. They entered as perceived favourites, finishing second in the short program. They had an error-riddled free skate, culminating in an aborted lift, that saw them place sixth in the segment and drop to fifth place overall. This was the team's first time missing the podium in competition. Hase said that they "have to appreciate what we have already achieved this season," and vowed that they would get used to the pressure of being the favourites.[17]

Following the disappointment at the European Championships, Hase/Volodin performed in the Art on Ice skating show, which they would later credit with aiding them with performing in front of large audiences.[18] At the 2024 World Championships, they placed fourth in the short program, 0.78 points behind Conti/Macii in third place. Despite Hase making a Salchow error in the free skate, they came third in that segment, and rose to third overall to claim the bronze medal. This was the first World medal for both, and the first for a German skater since Savchenko/Massot's gold medal in 2018.[19] Volodin said that "I can't believe at the moment that I won a medal at the real world championships. Maybe after some time."[18]

2024–25 season

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Hase/Volodin started the season by winning gold at the 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, defeating reigning World Champions, Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps, and scoring personal bests in all competition segments.[20] They went on to compete at the 2024 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur, however after completing the short program segment, the senior pairs free skate event was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Hase/Volodin were awarded the gold medal based on their short program result.[21]

Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, the team won the gold medal at the 2024 Grand Prix de France. Following the event, Volodin shared, "We came here knowing it was possible to win. We are glad we could show a good performance again and proved that Nebelhorn Trophy was not a one-hit-wonder. We are glad we could show consistency and the win is of course very nice." Volodin added, "We try not to think too much about the fact that we won the bronze at Worlds last season, this is a new fresh season."[20][22] Three weeks later, prior to the pairs short program at the 2024 Cup of China, Hase would suffer with food poisoning. Despite this, the pair would go on to complete their short program, finishing second in that segment behind Conti/Macii due to Volodin taking an unexpected fall during the step sequence. The following day, Hase/Volodin would put forth a strong free skate performance, winning that segment of the competition. Hase/Volodin would finish second overall to Conti/Macii.[20][23] Following the event, Hase said, "We are relieved, really just relieved. This was a hard work, like this program was hard work from beginning to the end. So, I’m really happy with what we did today. I’m just dead. I’m happy it’s done now, that I can like chill now a little bit."[24]

Programs

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With Hase

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2024–2025
[25]

2023–2024
[10]
  • The Path of Silence
  • The Power of Mind
    by Anne-Sophie Versnaeyen, Gabriel Saban & Phillipe Briand
    choreo. by Paul Boll & Mark Pillay

With Atakhanova

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Season Short program Free skating
2018–2019
[26]
2017–2018 unknown

With Ustimkina

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Season Short program Free skating
2017–2018
[27]
  • Vertigogo
    by Combustible Edison
2016–2017
[28]
2015–2016
[1]

Competitive highlights

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Pair skating with Minerva Fabienne Hase (for Germany)

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Competition placements at senior level [20]
Season 2023–24 2024–25
World Championships 3rd
European Championships 5th TBD
Grand Prix Final 1st 1st
German Championships 1st 1st
GP Cup of China 2nd
GP Finland 1st
GP France 1st
GP NHK Trophy 1st
CS Lombardia Trophy 2nd
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 1st 1st
Budapest Trophy 1st
Trophée Métropole Nice 1st

Pair skating with Taisiia Sobinina (for Russia)

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Competition placements at junior level [29]
Season 2019–20
Russian Championships (Senior) 11th S
Russian Championships (Junior) 6th
Volvo Open Cup 4th

Pair skating with Alina Ustimkina (for Russia)

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Competition placements at senior level [30]
Season 2016–17 2017–18
Russian Championships WD
CS Ice Star 5th
CS Tallinn Trophy 1st
Competition placements at junior level [30]
Season 2015–16 2016–17
Winter Youth Olympics 3rd
Winter Youth Olympics (Team event) 8th
World Junior Championships 6th
Junior Grand Prix Final 4th
Russian Championships 5th 3rd
JGP Estonia 2nd
JGP Germany 3rd
JGP Latvia 5th
NRW Trophy 1st

Detailed results

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Pair skating with Minerva Fabienne Hase (for Germany)

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ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [20]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 218.44 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
Short program TSS 73.94 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
TES 40.03 2023–24 Grand Prix Final
PCS 34.06 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
Free skating TSS 144.50 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
TES 75.22 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
PCS 69.28 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
  • Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
Results in the 2023–24 season[20]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 8–10, 2023 Italy 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy 3 66.22 2 128.30 2 194.52
Sep 20–23, 2023 Germany 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 3 62.85 1 132.11 1 194.96
Oct 13–15, 2023 Hungary 2023 Budapest Trophy 2 62.51 1 133.73 1 196.24
Nov 17–19, 2023 Finland 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo 3 63.59 1 129.13 1 192.72
Nov 24–26, 2023 Japan 2023 NHK Trophy 1 67.23 1 135.28 1 202.51
Dec 7–10, 2023 China 2023–24 Grand Prix Final 1 72.56 2 133.87 1 206.43
Dec 14–16, 2023 Germany 2024 German Championships 1 77.38 1 141.39 1 218.77
Jan 8–14, 2024 Lithuania 2024 European Championships 2 69.63 6 121.06 5 190.69
Mar 18–24, 2024 Canada 2024 World Championships 4 72.10 3 138.30 3 210.40
Results in the 2024–25 season[20]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 19–21, 2024 Germany 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 1 73.94 1 144.50 1 218.44
Oct 16–20, 2024 France 2024 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur 1 71.66 1 71.66
Nov 1–3, 2024 France 2024 Grand Prix de France 1 73.72 1 137.97 1 211.69
Nov 22–24, 2024 China 2024 Cup of China 2 68.44 1 140.92 2 209.36
Dec 5–8, 2024 France 2024–25 Grand Prix Final 1 76.72 1 141.38 1 218.10
Dec 16-21, 2024 Germany 2025 German Championships 1 70.35 1 129.18 1 199.53

Note: The senior pairs free skate at the 2024 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur was cancelled on account of inclement weather. It was later announced that the short program results would be considered as the final results for the competition.[31]

Pair skating with Alina Ustimkina

[edit]
ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE System [32]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 167.78 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
Short program TSS 65.64 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
TES 37.64 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
PCS 28.00 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
Free skating TSS 102.14 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
TES 52.04 2016 JGP Estonia
PCS 53.92 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
2017–18 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
26–29 October 2017 2017 CS Minsk-Arena Ice Star Senior 5
50.26
5
86.70
5
136.96
2016–17 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
15–19 March 2017 2017 World Junior Championships Junior 4
54.63
6
91.06
6
145.69
1–5 February 2017 2017 Russian Junior Championships Junior 5
61.73
2
110.83
3
172.56
20–26 December 2016 2017 Russian Championships Senior 10
55.35
WD WD
8–11 December 2016 2016−17 JGP Final Junior 3
59.05
4
99.09
4
158.14
20–27 November 2016 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy Senior 1
65.64
2
102.14
1
167.78
5–9 October 2016 2016 JGP Germany Junior 2
59.34
4
95.92
3
155.26
28 September – 2 October 2016 2016 JGP Estonia Junior 2
57.31
2
99.64
2
156.95
2015–16 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
12–21 February 2016 2016 Winter Youth Olympics - Team Event Junior
-
3
100.98
8
12–21 February 2016 2016 Winter Youth Olympics Junior 3
56.38
3
96.39
3
152.77
19–23 January 2016 2016 Russian Junior Championships Junior 9
51.24
4
104.27
5
155.51
24–29 November 2015 2015 NRW Trophy Junior 2
49.64
1
93.10
1
142.74
26–30 August 2015 2015 JGP Latvia Junior 4
46.78
6
75.33
5
122.11

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Alina USTIMKINA / Nikita VOLODIN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b "Никита Андреевич Володин" [Nikita Andreyevich Volodin]. fskate.ru (in Russian).
  3. ^ "NRW Trophy for Single & Pair Skating: Junior Pairs". LEV NRW. 29 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Lillehammer 2016 Athletes: VOLODIN Nikita". wyog2016.sportresult.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Russian Nationals Elder age: Results".
  6. ^ "Evgenia Medvedeva: "I remember how Nikita Volodin suggested that we skate as a pair. I was so offended. When a singles skater is offered to switch to pairs, we inherently take it as if you're not doing too well in singles."". FS Gossips. FS Gossips. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  7. ^ Lechner, Pamela (September 7, 2023). "Neues Paarlauf-Paar: Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin starten mit Vorfreude in erste gemeinsame Saison" [New pair skating couple: Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin are looking forward to their first season together] (in German). German Figure Skating Union.
  8. ^ Hase, Minerva Fabienne. "Is he fluent in German?". X. Instagram. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  9. ^ Lechner, Pamela (May 31, 2023). "DEU erhält Startfreigabe für neues Top-Paar Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin" [DEU receives start clearance for new top couple Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin] (in German). German Figure Skating Union.
  10. ^ a b "Minerva Fabienne HASE / Nikita VOLODIN: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin: Nov 2023 Interview". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  12. ^ Petzold, Rainer (September 14, 2023). "DEU-Paare Hase/Volodin und Hocke/Kunkel glänzen mit zwei Medaillen in Bergamo" [DEU pairs Hase/Volodin and Hocke/Kunkel shine with two medals in Bergamo] (in German). Bundeswehr Sports Magazine.
  13. ^ Lechner, Pamela (September 25, 2023). "Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin krönen Nebelhorn Trophy 2023 mit Paarlauf-Sieg" [Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin crown Nebelhorn Trophy 2023 with pair skating victory] (in German). German Figure Skating Union. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Slater, Paula (November 18, 2023). "Hase and Volodin golden in Grand Prix debut". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Slater, Paula (November 25, 2023). "Hase and Volodin dominate pairs at NHK Trophy in debut season". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (December 8, 2023). "Hase and Volodin seize Grand Prix Final gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Slater, Paula (January 11, 2024). "Beccari and Guarise clinch unexpected gold at 2024 Europeans". Golden Skate. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Lechner, Pamela (March 24, 2024). "Hase/Volodin über die WM-Medaille: "Wir können es kaum glauben"" [Hase/Volodin about the World Cup medal: “We can hardly believe it”] (in German). German Figure Skating Union. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Slater, Paula (March 22, 2024). "Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps golden in Montreal". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g "GER–Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin". SkatingScores.com.
  21. ^ "The Junior Women's Free, Junior Ice Dance Free, and Senior Pairs Free events at Trophy Metropole Nice Côte d'Azur had to be cancelled due to poor weather. The final results of these categories are the Short/Rhythm results". X. Anything GOEs. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Minerva Fabienne Hase / Nikita Volodin 🇩🇪 137.97 / 211.69". Instagram. Golden Skate. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Minerva Fabienne Hase - Nikita Volodin 🇩🇪 68,44". Instagram. Golden Skate. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Minerva Fabienne Hase - Nikita Volodin 🇩🇪 140, 92 / 209,36 and🥈medal". Instagram. Golden Skate. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Minerva Fabienne HASE / Nikita VOLODIN: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Amina ATAKHANOVA / Nikita VOLODIN: 2018/2019". International Skating Union.
  27. ^ "Alina USTIMKINA / Nikita VOLODIN: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Alina USTIMKINA / Nikita VOLODIN: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "RUS–Taisiia Sobinina/Nikita Volodin". SkatingScores.com.
  30. ^ a b "RUS–Alina Ustimkina/Nikita Volodin". SkatingScores.com.
  31. ^ @AnythingGOE (October 17, 2024). "The Junior Women's Free, Junior Ice Dance Free, and Senior Pairs Free events at Trophy Metropole Nice Côte d'Azur had to be cancelled due to poor weather" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ "Personal Bests Alina Ustimkina / Nikita Volodin". International Skating Union.
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