Journalist Dmitry Guberniev weighed in on the ban affecting figure skater Pyotr Gumennik for the 2023/24 season, noting the incident occurred as Gumennik prepared to perform the program Sonne by the German metal band Rammstein at events organized by Match TV. Guberniev argued that restricting artists based on language or origin is not a sound standard for judging creativity. He pointed out that many artists hold varying views about a country, yet that should not automatically determine their artistic output or the music they choose to skate to. The journalist also highlighted a parallel with Elton John, the British singer who lives openly with a man, suggesting that personal life should not determine whether music is heard or celebrated.
During mid September, Moscow hosted the test skates for the Russian national team, a key preparation phase ahead of the season. Gumennik, who is 21, had crafted a new program for the season featuring Sonne by Rammstein. However, during the test events he performed last year’s short program instead. Veronika Daineko, the skater’s coach, explained that information about new music choices being discouraged came a few days before the tests, leaving little time to finalize a fresh short program. This sequence underscored the tight timing and evolving decisions that often accompany top level skating programs across seasons, especially when program themes involve contemporary or provocative music selections. — attribution: Russian sports press
Gumennik has established himself as a prominent competitor on the Russian circuit. He secured the top position at the 2023 Russian Grand Prix Final and earned a silver medal at the 2023 Russian Championships, signaling a rising trajectory in national figure skating. The choice of music and the subsequent responses raised questions about the balance between artistic expression and governing body guidelines in the sport, prompting commentators to discuss how music selections influence program reception, audience engagement, and competitive scoring. The discussion also revisited prior explanations from Daineko regarding the skater’s decision to refrain from performing under the management of the group connected to Rammstein. These events illustrate how coaching decisions, artist agreements, and media narratives converge in shaping a young skater’s season and the broader dialogue around music freedom in competitive figure skating.