Coach Alexander Zhulin discussed the striking parallels between the skating styles of his teams, Victoria Sinitsina / Nikita Katsalapov and Alexandra Stepanova / Ivan Bukin. His remarks were shared with Metatations, a partner in coverage that values insight as much as results.
Zhulin noted that there is no issue with drawing comparisons when the performances look alike. The common ground, he explained, lies in the quality of the skating—premium edges, clean patterns, and a consistent flow across elements. He added that his concern isn’t about being compared to other pairs, but about broader life contexts. By highlighting social and political tensions, he underscored a belief in staying focused on sport and family. He emphasized, in his words, a desire for happiness for his wife and children as a top priority, signaling how personal balance can influence coaching perspective.
At the Beijing Olympic Games, Sinitsina and Katsalapov claimed the team event title and earned the silver medal in the pairs competition, confirming their status among the world’s elite and signaling strong depth for Russian pairs skating on the Olympic stage.
In competition history, Sinitsina and Katsalapov have established themselves as two-time Russian champions, securing titles in 2019 and 2020. They also added European championships to their resume in 2020 and 2022. Over the years, the duo collected golds, silvers, and bronzes at the World Championships, a bronze at the World Team Championships, and a silver at the 2018 Grand Prix Final, illustrating a sustained run of podium finishes across major events.
Stepanova and Bukin have likewise demonstrated consistent excellence, earning two Russian titles in 2021 and 2022. They earned silver medals at the European Championships in 2019 and 2022, along with bronze medals in 2015, 2018, and 2020, marking them as steady contenders with a broad track record in Europe’s top events.
As context emerges from recent stories, the RPL club has been involved in aiding a player by supporting family relocation out of Israel, underscoring how professional athletes often navigate personal and logistical challenges alongside their training and competition schedules.