Ruslan Zhiganshin

Ruslan Zhiganshin

Ilinykh and Zhiganshin at the 2014–2015 Grand Prix Final
Personal information
Full name Ruslan Nailevich Zhiganshin
Country represented Russia
Born 25 September 1992
Moscow, Russia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Partner Elena Ilinykh
Former partner Victoria Sinitsina
Coach Elena Kustarova, Svetlana Alexeeva, Olga Riabinina
Choreographer Antonio Najarro, Ilia Averbukh
Former choreographer Elena Kustarova, Olga Riabinina
Skating club Sport School No. 2
Former skating club Blue Bird FSC
Training locations Moscow
Began skating 1996
Season's bests 13 (2013–14)[1]
18 (2012–13)[2]
9 (2011–12)[3]
21 (2010–11)[4]
56 (2009–10)[5]
61 (2008–09)[6]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 164.84
2015 Worlds
Short dance 69.94
2015 Europeans
Free dance 96.31
2014 Rostelecom Cup

Ruslan Nailevich Zhiganshin (Russian: Руслан Наильевич Жиганшин; born 25 September 1992) is a Russian ice dancer who currently skates with Elena Ilinykh. They are the 2015 Russian National champions.

With former partner Victoria Sinitsina, he is the 2012 World Junior champion and won bronze medals at the 2013 Winter Universiade, 2012 Rostelecom Cup, and 2014 Russian Championships. They placed seventh at the 2014 World Championships.

Personal life

Ruslan Zhiganshin is the brother of Nelli Zhiganshina, who competes for Germany.[7]

Early years on the ice

Zhiganshin became interested in skating after his mother took him along to his sister's practices.[8][9] Having taken up ice dancing at age nine, he had one partner before becoming partnerless for a year.[8]

Partnership with Sinitsina

Zhiganshin and Victoria Sinitsina met in a group led by Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh but soon joined Elena Kustarova and Svetlana Alexeeva.[8] They trained mostly in Moscow. From 2010 to 2012, they also went to summer training camps in Ventspils, Latvia.[10]

Junior

Sinitsina/Zhiganshin debuted on the Junior Grand Prix circuit at the 2008 Merano Cup where they finished sixth. The following JGP season, they placed fifth at both of their events.

They won a pair of silver medals during the 2010–11 JGP season and qualified for the JGP Final. At the Final, they won the short dance[11] and placed second in the free dance to take the silver behind Ksenia Monko / Kirill Khaliavin. They withdrew from the 2011 Russian Junior Championships due to Sinitsina's illness.[12]

In the 2011–12 season, Sinitsina/Zhiganshin won gold at the Junior Grand Prix event in Poland, their first JGP title. They won another title in Austria to qualify for their second JGP Final. At the Junior Grand Prix Final, they placed first in both segments and won the title. They then took gold at the 2012 Russian Junior Championships. Sinitsina/Zhiganshin won the 2012 World Junior title.[13] They were first in both the short and free dance and scored their season's best, 153.81 points.

Senior

In the 2012–13 season, Sinitsina/Zhiganshin debuted on the senior Grand Prix series. After finishing 6th at the 2012 Cup of China, they then won their first senior GP medal, bronze, at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. The duo finished 5th in their senior national debut at the 2013 Russian Championships.

In 2013–14, Sinitsina/Zhiganshin started their season at the Ice Star in Minsk, Belarus, winning the silver medal behind Bobrova/Soloviev. At their sole Grand Prix assignment, the 2013 NHK Trophy, they had a bad fall while practicing a lift.[9] They finished eighth at the event. After taking the bronze medal at the 2013 Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy, they stepped onto the senior national podium for the first time at the 2014 Russian Championships. Competing against Riazanova/Tkachenko for Russia's third Olympic spot, Sinitsina/Zhiganshin finished ahead at nationals and then at the 2014 European Championships in Budapest. They came in fourth at the latter event, their senior ISU Championship debut.

Along with Ilinykh/Katsalapov and Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Zhiganshin were selected to represent Russia at the Winter Olympics, held in February 2014 in Sochi. They finished 16th at the Olympics, behind a number of teams they had surpassed at Europeans, but rebounded the next month at the 2014 World Championships. They placed eighth in both segments and finished seventh overall in Saitama, Japan. In early April 2014, Sinitsina left to skate with Nikita Katsalapov.[14]

Partnership with Ilinykh

Soon after, in early April 2014, Zhiganshin's coaches invited Katsalapov's former partner, Elena Ilinykh, to try out with their student.[15][14] Coached by Elena Kustarova in Moscow, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin began training together in an unofficial partnership — the Russian federation having decided to give Ilinykh/Katsalapov time to reconcile — and received approval at the end of May.[16]

2014–15 season

For the 2014–15 Grand Prix season, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin were assigned to Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup.[17] Making their international debut, they placed fourth at Cup of China and then won the silver medal behind Americans Madison Chock / Evan Bates at Rostelecom Cup. They qualified for the Grand Prix Final in their first season as a team.[15] At the GPF in Barcelona, they placed sixth in the short dance, fourth in the free dance, and sixth overall. At the 2015 Russian Championships, Ilinykh and Ziganshin won their first national title.

Programs

With Ilinykh

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2014–2015
[7][16]		 Carmen Suite
by Georges Bizet:

With Sinitsina

Sinitsina and Zhiganshin, gold medalists at the 2012 World Junior Championships
Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2013–2014
[18][19]
  • Quickstep: Let the Good Times Roll
  • Swing: Swing Baby
2012–2013
[20]
2011–2012
[21]
2010–2011
[22]
Original dance
2009–2010

    Competitive highlights

    GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

    With Ilinykh

    International[23]
    Event 2014–15
    Worlds 7th
    Europeans 4th
    Grand Prix Final 6th
    GP Rostelecom Cup 2nd
    GP Cup of China 4th
    National[24]
    Russian Champ. 1st
    Team events
    World Team
    Trophy         		2nd
    TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
    T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

    With Sinitsina

    International[25]
    Event 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14
    Olympics 16th
    Worlds 7th
    Europeans 4th
    GP Cup of China 6th
    GP NHK Trophy 8th
    GP Rostelecom Cup 3rd
    Winter Universiade 3rd
    Volvo Open Cup 1st
    Ice Star 2nd
    International: Junior[25]
    Junior Worlds 1st
    JGP Final 2nd 1st
    JGP Austria 2nd 1st
    JGP Croatia 5th
    JGP Italy 6th
    JGP Poland 1st
    JGP U.K. 2nd
    JGP U.S. 5th
    NRW Trophy 2nd J.
    National[24]
    Russian Champ. 5th 3rd
    Russian Junior 12th 7th 6th WD 1st
    J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

    Detailed results

    Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships—Worlds, Europeans and Junior Worlds.

    With Ilinykh

    Ilinykh/Zhiganshin at the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final
    2014–2015 season
    Date Event SD FD Total
    25–28 December 2014 2015 Russian Championships 1
    70.35    		 2
    101.06    		 1
    171.41
    11–14 December 2014 2014 Grand Prix Final 6
    60.25    		 4
    96.21     		6
    156.46
    14–16 November 2014 2014 Rostelecom Cup 2
    64.12    		 3
    96.31     		2
    160.43
    7–9 November 2014 2014 Cup of China 4
    60.48    		 4
    84.22    		 4
    144.70

    With Sinitsina

    Sinitsina/Zhiganshin at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup
    Sinitsina/Zhiganshin at the 2010–11 JGP Final
    Sinitsina/Zhiganshin at the 2009 JGP Lake Placid
    2013–2014 season
    Date Event Level SD FD Total
    24–30 March 2014 2014 World Championships Senior 8
    62.11    		 8
    93.24     		7
    155.35
    16–17 February 2014 2014 Winter Olympics Senior 16
    58.01    		 17
    82.65    		 16
    140.66
    15–19 January 2014 2014 European Championships Senior 4
    60.63    		 4
    93.10     		4
    153.73
    24–25 December 2013 2014 Russian Championships Senior 3
    67.08    		 3
    98.52     		3
    165.60
    13–14 December 2013 2013 Winter Universiade Senior 2
    57.05    		 5
    85.45     		3
    142.50
    8–10 November 2013 2013 NHK Trophy Senior 8
    44.34    		 7
    79.89     		8
    124.23
    18–20 October 2013 2013 Ice Star Senior 2
    63.05    		 2
    97.17     		2
    160.22
    2012–2013 season
    Date Event Level SD FD Total
    10–13 January 2013 2013 Volvo Open Cup Senior 1
    64.67    		 1
    97.77     		1
    162.44
    25–28 December 2012 2013 Russian Championships Senior 4
    60.03    		 4
    93.94     		5
    153.97
    9–10 November 2012 2012 Rostelecom Cup Senior 3
    60.85    		 4
    84.23     		3
    145.08
    2–3 November 2012 2012 Cup of China Senior 6
    55.09    		 5
    82.37     		6
    137.46
    2011–2012 season
    Date Event Level SD FD Total
    27 Feb. – 4 March 2012 2012 World Junior Championships Junior 1
    63.78    		 1
    90.03     		1
    153.81
    5–7 February 2012 2012 Russian Junior Championships Junior 1
    66.28    		 1
    91.95     		1
    158.23
    8–11 December 2011 2011–12 JGP Final Junior 1
    60.47    		 1
    87.06     		1
    147.53
    15–17 September 2011 2011 JGP Poland Junior 1
    56.83    		 1
    83.48     		1
    140.31
    8–10 September 2011 2011 JGP Austria Junior 1
    61.74    		 1
    89.36     		1
    151.10
    2010–2011 season
    Date Event Level SD FD Total
    9–12 December 2010 2010–11 JGP Final Junior 1
    55.58     		2
    79.04     		2
    134.62
    1–2 October 2010 2010 JGP Great Britain Junior 2
    53.52     		2
    80.34     		2
    133.86
    15–19 September 2010 2010 JGP Austria Junior 2
    50.46    		 2
    76.16    		 2
    126.62
    2009–2010 season
    Date Event Level CD OD FD Total
    3–6 February 2010 2010 Russian Junior Championships Junior 7
    31.25    		 5
    52.14     		5
    77.12    		 6
    160.51
    7–11 October 2009 2009 JGP Croatia Junior 4
    29.41    		 4
    45.38     		5
    68.00    		 5
    142.79
    2–6 September 2009 2009 JGP United States Junior 3
    29.87    		 7
    43.50     		5
    69.03    		 5
    142.40
    2008–2009 season
    Date Event Level CD OD FD Total
    28–31 January 2009 2009 Russian Junior Championships Junior 7
    –    		 7
    –     		7
    –    		 7
    147.35
    31 Oct. – 2 Nov. 2008 2008 NRW Trophy Junior 2
    –    		 2
    –     		1
    –    		 2
    146.93
    3–7 September 2008 2008 JGP Italy Junior 7
    25.39    		 5
    43.74     		6
    66.04    		 6
    135.17
    2007–2008 season
    Date Event Level CD OD FD Total
    30 Jan. – 2 Feb. 2008 2008 Russian Junior Championships Junior 12
    –    		 12
    –     		12
    –    		 12
    126.93

    References

    1. ↑ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2013/2014: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
    2. ↑ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2012/2013: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
    3. ↑ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2011/2012: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
    4. ↑ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2010/2011: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
    5. ↑ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2009/2010: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
    6. ↑ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2008/2009: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Elena ILINYKH / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014.
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Flade, Tatjana (18 December 2011). "Sinitsina and Zhiganshin look to Sochi and beyond". Golden Skate. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Vaytsekhovskaya, Elena (28 January 2014). Виктория Синицына и Руслан Жиганшин: "Наша задача – кататься чисто, не думая о результате" [Victoria Sinitsina and Ruslan Zhiganshin: "We have to skate clean, not thinking about the result"] (in Russian). Sport Express.
    10. ↑ Ermolina, Olga (18 April 2013). Руслан ЖИГАНШИН: "Летом будем готовиться в Латвии" [Ruslan Zhiganshin: "In the summer we will be preparing in Latvia"]. fsrussia.ru (in Russian) (Figure Skating Federation of Russia).
    11. ↑ Kondakova, Anna (9 December 2010). "Sinitsina and Zhiganshin lead dance in Beijing; teammates follow". GoldenSkate. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
    12. ↑ Кустарова: фигуристы Синицина/Жиганшин вышли на новый уровень [Kustarova: Skaters Sinitsina / Zhiganshin have reached a new level] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
    13. ↑ Simonenko, Andrei (14 March 2012). Синицина/ Жиганшин: отвлечься от танцев на льду не выходит даже во сне [Sinitsina/Zhiganshin interview]. rsport.ru (in Russian).
    14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sharafutdinov, Rustam (7 April 2014). Тренер: решение о совместном выступлении фигуристов Ильиных и Жиганшина пока не принято [Coach says decision on Ilinykh and Zhiganshin not yet made]. ITAR-TASS (in Russian).
    15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Flade, Tatjana (7 December 2014). "Ilinykh and Zhiganshin rise from the ashes". Golden Skate.
    16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ermolina, Olga (13 June 2014). Елена Кустарова: "С первой же тренировки ребята зарядили всех своей энергией" [Elena Kustarova: "They were full of energy from the first training session"] (in Russian). Russian Figure Skating Federation.
    17. ↑ "2014-15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Ice Dance" (PDF). 10 July 2014.
    18. ↑ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
    19. ↑ Vorobieva, Maria (6 September 2013). Виктория Синицына и Руслан Жиганшин: произвольный танец ставили с Ильёй Авербухом по ночам [Viktoria Sinitsina and Ruslan Zhiganshin: We had our free dance choreographed by Ilia Averbukh]. team-russia2014.ru (in Russian).
    20. ↑ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013.
    21. ↑ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012.
    22. ↑ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010.
    23. ↑ "Competition Results: Elena ILINYKH / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN". International Skating Union.
    24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Руслан Наильевич Жиганшин" [Ruslan Nailyevich Zhiganshin] (in Russian). fskate.ru.
    25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Competition Results: Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.

    External links

    Media related to Ruslan Zhiganshin at Wikimedia Commons