Elena Vaitsekhovskaya analyzes the season readiness of Russian skaters after the first day of test skating
Olympic diving champion and current sports journalist Elena Vaitsekhovskaya offered a detailed, critical assessment of how well Russian figure skaters were prepared for the new season, based on the results from the first day of test skating. Her takeaway was clear and pointed: only the pairs demonstrated a solid level of readiness. The rest of the field, including both dance teams and single skaters, appeared less prepared and notably inconsistent as they faced an early stage of training that is still months away from major competitions. In her view, this gap isn’t surprising given the calendar and the gradual progression typical of an intense season, yet it underscores an important truth: the international season will soon be underway, and teams must translate early confidence into consistent performances by the time events begin. Vaitsekhovskaya shared a series of in-depth analyses, highlighting the maturity and composure of the top athletic duos, who were already approaching full development rather than merely testing basic skills.
The test skating sessions are scheduled to take place in Moscow, with short programs on the opening day serving as a preliminary barometer for what lies ahead. The atmosphere around these events reflects a broader reality in the sport, where preparation cycles can vary widely between disciplines, and where the pace of progress can determine early momentum or early jitters as athletes adjust to the demands of a long, highly competitive season. Observers note that the first day was particularly revealing about the endurance and technical stability of pairs, whose routines often demand greater synchronization and risk management when compared to singles and ice dance. The emphasis on synchronization, consistency, and transition quality was evident in the performances, signaling that teams who already show mature execution will likely carry this advantage into the upcoming Grand Prix circuit.
Historically, the governance of Russian and Belarusian participation in international events underwent substantial changes in 2022, when a governing council made a move to suspend athletes from competition under certain conditions aligned with global sports governance norms. The decision, which followed broader recommendations related to Olympic contexts, shifted the competitive landscape and created a period of uncertainty that has continued to influence preparation strategies, selection decisions, and the pacing of athletes’ development. The suspension was reaffirmed in the context of ISU congress discussions, reinforcing a framework in which athletes from these regions have faced altered pathways to international events. This backdrop shapes how coaches, federations, and athletes organize training blocks and international exposure, as they balance national team goals with the realities of eligibility on the world stage. The broader consequences extend to coaching methodologies, resource allocation, and the psychological gearing required for top-level competition when opportunities to test progress against global peers are constrained or delayed.
Earlier remarks by Vaitsekhovskaya had already framed figure skating as undergoing rapid evolution, with some observers comparing the sport’s current climate to a dynamic, highly public social platform where public visibility, media attention, and performance narratives influence athlete development. In this evolving environment, the focus on discipline-specific preparedness—particularly for pairs who can leverage established chemistry—becomes a meaningful gauge of how teams approach the season’s early milestones. The insights drawn from the first day of skating indicate that while the path to excellence remains steep, the most cohesive teams appear to be constructing a solid foundation that could translate into immediate impact when competitive deadlines arrive. The overall message from the coverage is a reminder that season success hinges not only on raw talent but on the ability to sustain precise execution, adapt to evolving routines, and maintain mental and physical readiness through a demanding schedule. The documented observations encourage fans and pundits to monitor the progression of all skaters with attention to how swiftly dancers and singles translate potential into performance, while recognizing that the strongest momentum in this snapshot belongs to the adult, fully developed duos who demonstrated a higher level of readiness from the outset.