Russian skater reacts to ban on Rammstein music in short program
Russian figure skater Pyotr Gumennik faced an unexpected restriction on performing a short program set to music by the band Rammstein. He says he does not know who issued the ban or the reasons behind it, and adds that there has been no official notification stating that music from Rammstein is prohibited. The situation has created confusion for the skater and his team as they try to plan the season ahead.
The issue came to light during the season’s early preparations. Gumennik, who is 21 years old, had prepared a fresh program built around Rammstein’s music for the upcoming competitive year. However, during the test skates in Moscow, held on September 16 and 17 for the Russian national team, he performed the previous season’s short program instead. According to the team’s coach, Veronika Daineko, information about a restriction for this music appeared only a few days before the test skates, leaving little time to adapt by creating a new short program in time for the event.
Gumennik has achieved notable results in recent years, including winning the Russian Grand Prix Final in 2023 and earning a silver medal at the Russian Championship in 2023. These accomplishments underscore his status as a key figure in the national team as the season progresses and further competitions approach. The ongoing debate over music choices highlights the broader considerations skaters and coaches face when preparing competitive programs that must align with evolving rules and approvals from the governing bodies, all while aiming to deliver peak performances on the ice.
In related remarks, another Russian skater, Matvei Vetlugin, commented on the ban in a way that suggested a broader controversy around the same topic. Vetlugin’s remarks reflect the tension some athletes feel when music selections become entangled with regulatory decisions, impacting training plans and competitive readiness for the season ahead. These developing stories illustrate how music selection intersects with policy and performance in contemporary figure skating, an area closely watched by fans, analysts, and the national federation alike (Sports24).