Natalya Zabiyako, a Russian figure skater who once represented Estonia and then Russia, has pursued a comeback in the sport with the aim of continuing her professional career and linking up with the Russian skating federation again. After discussions with the Canadian Figure Skating Federation, the federation indicated it would not endorse Zabiyako’s switch at this time, leaving her path to compete internationally in question. Alexander Kogan, the chief executive of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, spoke with RIA Novosti to clarify the situation and confirmed that Zabiyako remains a Russian skater for now.
“Earlier, the Canadian federation reached out about her eligibility, but the request was denied,” Kogan explained. “At this moment, Zabiyako is considered a Russian athlete.”
Two countries, five partners and seven coaches changed
Natalya Zabiyako was born in Estonia and early in her career represented Estonia in international events, often skating with partners Sergey Mukhin, Sergey Kulbach and Alexander Zaboev. In 2014, the Russian Figure Skating Federation invited the 19-year-old skater to join their ranks and she began training under the guidance of the honored coach Nina Moserov.
The first season under the new flag was affected by the transition process required when changing sports citizenship. By the season’s end, her partner Yuri Larionov announced his retirement from competition and pivoted to coaching due to a chronic injury.
For the 2015/16 season Zabiyako teamed up with Alexander Enbert. A solid start at the Russian Championships allowed the pair to qualify as substitutes for the European Championships. However, a serious injury during training when Zabiyako was practicing a triple axel prevented them from traveling to the tournament.
Her recollection of the accident is vivid. “I lost focus for a moment. I felt pain and the medical team moved in quickly. It was a tough moment, but I told myself to endure and keep going.”
She described a deep sense of guilt towards her coaches and to Enbert for the disruption caused by the injury in 2018. In that pre-Olympic season the duo secured third place at the Russian Championships, earning a debut at the European Championships in the Czech Republic where they finished fifth. 2018 marked a peak year as Zabiyako and Enbert climbed to bronze at the European Championships hosted in Moscow, followed by a silver medal in the team event at the Pyeongchang Olympics. The next season saw their results slip due to Enbert’s injury, and they later earned a bronze at the World Championships in Saitama as Enbert stepped away from competitive skating.
In February 2020, the pair announced their retirement from professional skating while appearing at the Road to Glory ice show. The decision left Zabiyako to contemplate the next chapter of her career.
In 2024, Zabiyako expressed a renewed interest in competition. She entered partnerships with Zachary Daleman, younger brother of 2017 World Championship bronze medalist Gabrielle Daleman, signaling a return to the ice with new coaching teams and training plans aimed at reclaiming international competitiveness.
“Nobody accepts Russians”
Lyudmila Velikova, a respected veteran coach from Russia, commented in an interview with socialbites.ca that Zabiyako, after a long break, faces a challenging road back to top form. Velikova noted the realities of international sport, where a long layoff can make it difficult for skaters to regain their peak performance level. She emphasized the need for a stable development path for younger skaters as part of strengthening the national program.
She urged the federation to focus on the next generation and invest in training programs for young athletes who can grow into senior competitors. Velikova added that while a comeback is possible, the athlete must balance personal resilience with the demands of high-level competition. The coach stressed the importance of a calm, measured approach to Zabiyako’s rehabilitation and preparation as she navigates this transitional period.
Though the discussion surrounding national representation continues to evolve, the broader message remains clear: sustained opportunities for the next generation are essential for continued success on the world stage. The skating community watches closely as Zabiyako experiments with a new partnership and a fresh training regime, hoping for a smooth transition back into elite competition while maintaining the integrity of the sport.