Tatyana Tarasova, a revered coach in the Soviet and post‑Soviet skating world, suggested that a skater couple’s family life should not derail their competitive momentum. Her comments were reported by Match TV and echoed a common belief that personal happiness can coexist with peak performance on the ice.
Tarasova emphasized that the newly formed partnership should be given time to develop. The two skaters have only recently begun their collaboration, and she expressed confidence in their potential. They are still early in their journey, she noted, young and actively training, with a single season ahead to demonstrate progress and growth.
The pair tied the knot on August 12, a personal milestone that aligns with their ongoing professional journey. Earlier in the year, Kostornaya revealed that Kunitsa had proposed during a balloon ride, a playful and memorable moment that marked a new chapter in their relationship.
Kostornaya, a standout in European ladies’ skating, captured the title at the 2020 European Championships as a solo skater. Her career path has included training under renowned coaches, first with Eteri Tutberidze through mid‑2020, and subsequently joining Evgeni Plushenko’s coaching group, where she continued to develop under the guidance of a two‑time Olympic champion.
In the spring of 2021, Kostornaya returned to Khrustalny and completed a short probationary period. She represented her country in two stages of the Grand Prix during the 2021/22 Olympic season, but an arm injury occurred before the Russian Championships, a key qualifier for the Olympic Games. The injury forced her to miss the national championship and thus to forgo a ticket to the Beijing Games that year.
After a period of transition, Kostornaya ended her collaboration with Tutberidze and began training with Elena Buyanova. The movement among coaches is not unusual in elite skating, and Kostornaya spent several months with Buyanova as part of refining her technique and competition readiness. By early 2023, public statements indicated that she had started a new pairing, a shift many athletes pursue to explore new dynamics and competitive opportunities.
The professional arc of Kostornaya has intersected with Kunitsa in multiple phases, including an earlier on‑ice pairing in late 2020 that laid the groundwork for their current partnership. Their combined skating, now rooted in a renewed professional alignment and a strong personal bond, has drawn attention as fans and analysts watch to see how their synergy translates into performances on the ice.
In recent highlights, Kostornaya and Kunitsa have been featured in publicity materials and video clips that showcase the evolution of their routine and their shared approach to technique, artistry, and competitive strategy. Observers note that their chemistry is developing in step with the technical polish they bring from their diverse training backgrounds, a combination that could yield compelling performances as they continue to compete and refine their program selections.
As their journey continues, industry observers anticipate that the pair will balance their personal milestones with the demands and opportunities of international competition. Their story mirrors the broader narrative in figure skating, where personal dynamics often intertwine with professional growth, creating narratives that resonate with fans while driving athletic progress on the ice.