Alexander Enbert, the Russian figure skater who earned a silver medal in the team event at the 2018 Olympic Games, praised the performances of Alena Kostornaya and Georgy Kunitsa in the pairs segment at the Moscow stage of the Russian Grand Prix, held on November 25 and 26. In a discussion with socialbites.ca, he spoke about the duo’s trajectory and acknowledged the work of the coaches guiding the athletes.
“The pair is showing clear improvement, and the progress is noticeable. In the early stages of their pairing, the eye could detect rapid development, but with time the gains became subtler. What stands out now is the speed at which they are advancing, the increasing technical complexity, and the overall refinement of their skating. I have nothing but praise for the team behind them: Betina Popova, Sergei Roslyakov, and the skaters Alena and Gosha.”
Enbert noted that Kostornaya and Kunitsa appear motivated not by the position at the top but by the drive to improve. They are diligently working, evolving, and proving they can achieve more as their partnership matures. He enjoyed watching their performances and was particularly pleased to see Kostornaya shine in her new role on the ice, bringing a fresh dynamism to her programs.
During the weekend, the observer reflected, audiences witnessed a competition where European champions, who have a long history of skating together, faced a newer pairing formed in spring 2023. He added that when younger teams enter tournaments, there are many aspects that require refinement, with on-ice synergy being one of the primary factors. The path forward, he asserted, is to continue collaborative work in the pair, fine-tuning all connections, entrance and exit elements, and every component of the program. For now, the groundwork is in place, but there remains substantial work ahead for full realization of their potential.”
Kostornaya and Kunitsa ultimately finished fifth at the Moscow stage. Alexandra Boykova and Dmitry Kozlovsky topped the event with a total of 235.78 points. Natalya Khabibullina and Ilya Knyazhuk earned 220.32 points, while Yulia Artemyeva and Alexey Bryukhanov placed third with 212.58 points. The results added another layer to a Grand Prix that highlighted both established teams and rising talents, underscoring the ongoing development of Russian pairs skating on the international circuit.
In a separate note, a respected coach offered remarks on Kondratyuk’s second-place finish at the Grand Prix, providing context on the competitive landscape and the ongoing efforts behind each result. (Source attribution: Russian Grand Prix coverage and contemporary coaching commentary.)