Magnetic storms: how Petrosyan and Kondratyuk won the first stage of the Russian Grand Prix

The first stage of the Russian Grand Prix series 2025/2026 was held in Magnitogorsk under the slogan "Stars of Magnitogorsk". In two days of competition, almost 13,000 spectators visited the Metallurg Arena, which is an absolute record by Ural standards. The fans saw fours, axels, and the battle of the Titans, where the fate of victories was decided by hundredths. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

The fall from the quadruple

Adelia Petrosyan, a two-time champion of Russia and a student of Eteri Tutberidze, after confidently leading in the short program, could not keep up the unmistakable pace in the free skate. During the warm—up, the quadruple sheepskin coat did not work, and it ended in a fall at the box office. The rest of the jumps were in a struggle, none of them were easy. But the components and charisma saved the situation: 147.11 points for the free skate, 223.00 in the end — and the first place.

"Adelia is getting in shape, she skated the short program perfectly," Honored coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova noted in an interview with Izvestia. — The arbitrary one turned out to be not without mistakes, but I tried to put a quadruple sheepskin coat. She fell, but there's nothing wrong with that. This is the path that every outstanding athlete goes through when he inserts new elements. She did the rest. She looks very good for the first competition. Adelia works for professional coaches, they will fit into the Olympic cycle.

Anna Frolova took the second place (206.58). After her injury in the spring, she is just getting back into shape, but she managed to stay in the top three thanks to an excellent short program.

— It's good that there is an opportunity to ride at all. In May, I couldn't stand on my feet. While I'm not happy with the performance, I would like to be five times better," explained Anna.

The third place was won by 17-year-old Dina Khusnutdinova (204.76), who made her debut in the Tutberidze group. Two triple axels is confident, but there are still rough spots on the triple flips and spins.

— When Eteri Georgievna is overboard, it plays a big role, — the figure skater admitted. — I was a little surprised when I saw her, but her gaze set me up for a ride. I was stressed out in the short program, I failed the axel, but then I pulled myself together.

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The fourth was Maria Zakharova, who performed a quadruple sheepskin coat, an age record for Russian singles. Half-turns and an obscure rib on the flip did not allow the 18—year-old athlete to make it to the podium, but 136.91 for the free skate is a serious bid for the future.

— Maria Zakharova jumped in a quadruple, although she had not skated for several years, — Tatiana Tarasova emphasized. — She came out and left a good impression. That was a great jump. It's a pleasure to look at the girls. They're just wonderful. There are programs, music, and good choreography. It's nice to watch how they roll — they make jumps absolutely easy. But only two girls have fours. It turned out to be a rich and beautiful competition.

Fighting for hundredths

If the outcome was decided for the girls even before the warm-up, then for the men everything was determined literally by the last element. Mark Kondratyuk beat Grigory Fedorov by a margin of only 0.14 points — 260.42 against 260.28. Nikolay Ugozhaev was third (255.00).

Kondratyuk's free program on Schindler's List began with a quadruple lutz, but the second quadruple sheepskin coat fell off — the butterfly. Mark got ready next: two trixels, a double cascade with a salchow and clean rotations of the third level. The result is 173.06 points for the free skate and gold.

— A lot of spectators, warm support. I'm not particularly happy with the rental — there was a stupid and shameful mistake on the quadruple sheepskin coat. It's not a shame to fall, but to make a butterfly is. I thought I wouldn't even get to the top three, but in the end I won," Mark summed up.

Grigory Fedorov literally breathed down the winner's back. His Tarantino program included three clean quads and bright fourth-level spins. The judges lowered the level on the step track, and that was enough to concede the gold.

— At first, there was annoyance — 15 hundredths to victory. Then I realized that everything was deserved. I am glad that Sokolovskaya team has two first places. It's more interesting when the competition is so serious," Grigory admitted.

Nikolay Ugozhaev, the leader of the short program, broke the first flip, but recovered and rolled the ending cleanly. The result is a bronze medal and a funny comment in the mixed zone.

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— The first jump was unsettling. After that, I only had obscene words in my head, and I got ready for the second one. Everything is fine, better than last year. Maybe I'll go to the sauna now," the athlete joked.

The main character of the women's part of the tournament is Eteri Tutberidze. Despite the problems with the flight (the plane landed in Chelyabinsk due to fog), she made it to the Petrosyan and Khusnutdinova rentals. Magnitogorsk proved it again: Russian figure skating is lively, beautiful and insanely competitive. Women have record elements and struggle with themselves. For men, the fight is on the tenth. And this is just the beginning of the season. The next stage is Krasnoyarsk.

The stage of the Russian Grand Prix in Magnitogorsk

Women

1. Adelia Petrosyan — 223.00

2. Anna Frolova — 206.58

3. Dina Khusnutdinova — 204.76

Men

1. Mark Kondratyuk — 260.42

2. Grigory Fedorov — 260.28

3. Nikolay Ugozhaev — 255.00