Ice Spring: the main intrigues of the Grand Prix in Moscow

After a tour of the regions, figure skating finally arrives in Moscow, which is spoiled by numerous ice shows, but not competitions. Even this weekend, in parallel with the Grand Prix stage, the performance "The Nutcracker with the Symphony Orchestra" will be held in the city, in which Alexey Yagudin and Evgenia Medvedeva announced their participation. But Moscow is the only city in the Grand Prix series that will see two Russian Olympic participants together, Adelia Petrosyan and Peter Gumennik (Chelyabinsk is likely to see both at the finals in March 2026). The main intrigues of the stage are described in the Izvestia article.

Assessments of Olympiacists

After the Olympic selection, Humennik took a break to rest and finalize programs — only a week later he participated in the control rentals of the Russian national team, but did not enter the competition. At the regional start in St. Petersburg in early September, Peter received a generous 304 points, but they hardly reflect the real level of skating and technique. In Beijing, two weeks later, it was 262.82. In Moscow, I would like at least something in the middle, but it all depends on the purity of the jumps and their number. Of course, Peter needs to roll five fours in a free skate, and it is advisable to do this with full stands and solid competitors. They are there, but more on that below.

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Adelia has her own struggle — with the elements of the ultra-xi. Since last season, the leader of the Russian national team has not successfully jumped the quadruple or triple axel, and they are critically needed at the Olympics. The last check of the watch was in mid—October in Magnitogorsk, when the national champion did not finish the quadruple flip and fell. At the CSKA Arena, there will be a new round of this fight with the shadow of previous seasons, when everything was easier. And the points in this case are not so important — but I hardly want to lose the first place to Adelia.

Competition

And there is someone to take it away. The women's Olympic reserve Alina Gorbacheva, who was considered at some point as a real replacement, will compete against Petrosyan. Sofya Akatieva also needs to return the number one spot in Eteri Tutberidze's group for the future if she wants to continue her career — but due to injury, she withdrew again at the last moment.

Among the other participants who claim high places are Vazhnova, Guschina, Sinitsyna, but they need perfect rentals and mistakes from competitors. Yesterday's junior Plushenko, Maria Mazur, is capable of making a stir.

It will be even more difficult for Humennik among men. Evgeny Semenenko, a participant in the 2022 Olympics, is returning from injuries and illnesses. He probably wanted to go to the second Games for himself. Mark Kondratyuk is traditionally strong and incendiary. There are also several dark horses: Ignatov, Savosin, Polyansky, Sarnovsky — all of them, if they collect their jumps, can at least polidate after the short program. Such sensations have already happened this season. In short, a glorious hunt is expected for Peter.

Where there's more competition, it's in dancing. There are indisputable leaders Stepanova/Bukin, and everyone else should be given the title of the best among the rest. Leontieva/Gorelkin is the main nominees, but Zhdanova/Babaev-Smirnov with their dance-mockery of the 90s and Russian junior champions Rybakov/Makhnonosov is already ready for a breakthrough.

Well, another intrigue is how many Muscovites and guests of the capital will come to this event. The tournament is being held at the CSKA Grand Arena, which holds 12,000 spectators. It is a good test of the federation's marketing work and the capabilities of the current figure skating.