The Ministry of Sports of Russia has officially announced the main roster for the national figure skating team for the 2023/24 season. While the list is public, the question of whether Russian skaters will be cleared to compete under the International Skating Union (ISU) banner remains unresolved. A decision on participation could come as early as June 9–11, but officials warn that it may be postponed until autumn if necessary.
Women: Sofia Akatieva, Kamila Valieva, Anastasia Zinina, Sofia Muravieva, Adelia Petrosyan, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva.
Men: Dmitry Aliev, Petr Gumennik, Artem Kovalev, Andrey Mozalev, Alexander Samarin, Evgeny Semenenko.
Sports pairs: Alexandra Boykova / Dmitry Kozlovsky, Anastasia Mishina / Alexander Gallyamov, Evgenia Tarasova / Vladimir Morozov, Yasmina Kadyrova / Valery Kolesov, Natalya Khabibullina / Ilya Knyazhuk, Ekaterina Chikmareva / Matvey Yanchenkov.
Dance: Sofia Tyutyunina / Andrei Bagin, Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva / Yegor Bazin, Elizaveta Shanaeva / Pavel Drozd, Vasilisa Kaganovskaya / Valery Angelopol, Ekaterina Mironova / Evgeny Ustenko, Elizaveta Pasechnik / Maxim Nekrasov.
Among the highlighted names, Mark Kondartyuk, the European and Russian champion of the 2021/22 season, holds a reserve position on the squad. The absence of the dance duo Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin from the main charts was noted; on June 5, it was reported that the executive committee of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKSR) permits athletes to change their sports citizenship and join the Georgian national team. Notably missing from the published lists are Olympic singles champion Anna Shcherbakova, silver medalist Alexander Trusov, two-time Russian ice dance champions Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin, and 2018 Olympic medalist Mikhail Kolyada.
The composition of the national team draws from last season’s results, prioritizing skaters who competed at major events. This approach was confirmed by Alexander Kogan, Managing Director of FFKSR.
The FFKSR Executive Board approved the national team lists on April 17 and forwarded them to the Ministry of Sports. The official criteria emphasize prioritizing last season’s results, with additional flexibility allowing for inclusion of athletes who are unable to participate in the main events for various reasons, upon the coaching council’s decision. Trusova and Shcherbakova were listed in this supplementary category, a status that awaits final Ministry approval, as reported by one source.
Head coach Elena Chaikovskaya confirmed that by a decision of the coaching council, both Trusova and Shcherbakova have been placed on the national team’s additional roster for the 2023/24 season. She noted that several skaters are sidelined due to injuries or other factors, and not all are listed as active competitors. The remarks came during an interview with a sports outlet.
Ilya Averbukh, a Olympic medalist in figure skating and a prominent producer and choreographer, commented that not belonging to the main national team does not imply retirement. Skaters can still return to competitive ice if they choose to resume official starts.
No retirement signals are implied by these arrangements. The inclusion of Shcherbakova and Trusova on the lists depends on performance history and recent championships, and their eventual status will be clarified as the season progresses. These decisions are framed by the financial structure tied to national team membership, which helps cover expenses such as fees, scholarships, equipment, ice time, and medical support. Being part of the national team also aligns skaters with potential ISU opportunities should the sanctions on Russian athletes be lifted.
At the same time, it remains unclear whether the skaters themselves are prepared to commence the season. Stepanova and Bukin, for example, missed the Russian season for personal reasons related to pregnancy, with Stepanova returning to training and later participating in a televised show. Their readiness for competitive starts is still under assessment. Kolyada, who dealt with chronic sinusitis, did not display consistent form throughout the season.
The careers of Shcherbakova and Trusova continue to attract significant attention from figure skating fans. Shcherbakova, who won Olympic gold and later underwent a leg operation, spent part of the year as a host on a television program before resuming on-ice activity. After rehabilitation, she competed in show formats and Russian exhibitions, but has not publicly committed to the forthcoming season.
Trusova has not issued a public statement about the upcoming season. In contrast, she returned to competition settings, switching from coaching to CSKA under the guidance of Svetlana Sokolovskaya, who previously worked with Kondratyuk, Samarin, and Samodelkina. The post-Olympic period has posed challenges, including ongoing injuries, and Trusova withdrew from the Russian Championship due to illness. She subsequently limited competitive appearances and actively participated in exhibition programs.
As things stand, no formal declaration has been made by the skaters regarding their participation in competitive events next season, leaving the question open for supporters and analysts alike.
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