Wikipedia

Ekaterina Kurakova

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Andreevna and the family name is Kurakova.

Ekaterina Andreevna Kurakova (Russian: Екатерина Андреевна Куракова, Polish: Jekatierina Andriejewna Kurakowa, born 24 June 2002),[1] nicknamed Katia,[2] is a Russian-Polish figure skater who currently competes for Poland. She is a three-time Warsaw Cup champion (2019, 2022, 2023), the 2019 Mentor Toruń Cup champion, a six-time Four Nationals champion (2019–2024), and a six-time Polish national champion (2019–2024).

Ekaterina Kurakova
Kurakova at the 2024 World Championships
Full nameEkaterina Andreevna Kurakova
Native nameЕкатерина Андреевна Куракова
Other namesKatia
Jekatierina Kurakowa
Born (2002-06-24) 24 June 2002 (age 21)
Moscow, Russia
HometownToruń, Poland
Height1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Figure skating career
Country Poland
CoachAngelina Turenko
Brian Orser
Skating clubMKS Axel Toruń

Personal life edit

Kurakova was born on 24 June 2002 in Moscow.[3] She has an older brother named Alexander.[4]

In October 2019, Kurakova became a Polish citizen.[5][6] She was in a relationship with Polish ice dancer Filip Bojanowski.[7]

Kurakova is able to speak Russian, Polish, and English fluently.[8]

Career edit

Early career edit

Kurakova began learning to skate in 2006 at the age of four.[3] She was coached first by Natalia Dubinskaya at the Moskvich Olympic Reserve School and later by Inna Goncharenko at CSKA Moscow.[1][4] Representing Russia, she competed internationally in the advanced novice category for two seasons beginning in 2013–14 and then as a junior for two seasons.[9]

According to Kurakova, due to the level of depth in Russian women's skating, Russian coaches tried encouraging her to quit figure skating. Ultimately, in the summer of 2017, Kurakova wrote a letter to Marek Kaliszek, the chairman of the Polish Figure Skating Association, requesting that she represent Poland and her request was eventually accepted.[9]

She soon began training in Toruń, coached by Sylwia Nowak-Trębacka. After receiving financial support from an unpublicized sponsor, she decided to move to Toronto to train under Brian Orser at the Toronto Cricket Club, beginning in December 2018.[10][11] Later that month, she won the Four National Championships in Budapest,[12] thus becoming the 2019 Polish national champion. However, due to the recent change of her country of representation, she could not compete in any ISU events until after June 2019.[12]

2019–2020 season edit

 
Kurakova at the 2020 European Championships

On 1 July 2019, Kurakova received her clearance certificate, allowing her to officially represent Poland in international figure skating competitions and ISU championships.[13][non-primary source needed]

In her international senior debut at the Minto Summer Skate in Ontario, Canada, she placed first, scoring 182.77 points overall.[14] She then competed at two ISU Junior Grand Prix events, placing fifth in Riga and seventh in Gdańsk. In November, she won gold at the 2019 CS Warsaw Cup, ahead of Bradie Tennell. In December, she defended her national title at the Four National Championships in Ostrava.

Kurakova competed at her first European Championships in January, placing tenth.[15] She finished the season at the 2020 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, where she placed seventh. Kurakova remarked afterward, "I'm so happy because we did hard work with Brian, and it was important for me to show what Brian made for me. I’m really grateful to my coaches and parents."[16] She was scheduled to make her senior World Championship debut in Montreal, but the event's cancellation prevented this due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

2020–2021 season edit

Due to the pandemic, Kurakova could not return to Canada to train in Toronto. She temporarily began training in Egna, Italy under Lorenzo Magri while receiving virtual coaching from Orser. Kurakova was assigned to compete at the 2020 Skate Canada International, but withdrew on 7 October.[18]

After winning the Four National Championships for the third consecutive year, Kurakova made her World Championship debut in March at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm. She placed thirty-second in the short program after falling on her triple Lutz in her planned opening triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination. She managed to tack on a double toe loop onto a triple loop later in the program, but her reduced technical content was not enough to advance her to the free skate.[19]

Following the season, Kurakova decided to permanently relocate to Egna rather than relocate back to Toronto due to high costs and not wanting to be far away from friends and family, who reside in Poland and Russia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Magri, Angelina Turenko became another coach of Kurakova.[20][21]

2021–2022 season edit

Kurakova began the season at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy, where she won the silver medal.[22] She next competed at the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, seeking to qualify a berth for Poland at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She placed sixth in the short program after a combination error, but a second-place free skate saw her rise to the silver medal position, securing the second of six available Olympic spots.[23]

Following the Challenger series, Kurakova made her Grand Prix debut at the 2021 Skate America, where she placed ninth. Returning to Poland to compete at the 2021 CS Warsaw Cup, she won the bronze medal, notably finishing first in the free skate.[24] At her second Grand Prix, the 2021 Rostelecom Cup, Kurakova finished in ninth place.[25]

Kurakova claimed her fourth consecutive Polish national title in December at the 2022 Four Nationals Championships and was therefore assigned to Poland's berth in the women's event at the 2022 European Championships. At Europeans, Kurakova debuted a new short program to Tchaikovsky's "Valse Sentimentale" and skated cleanly in that segment to set a new personal best. She executed another clean program in the free skate to earn personal bests in that segment, as well as overall and recorded a career-best placement at the event with a fifth-place finish. She cited breaking the 200-point mark as the most exciting result for her.[26] While Kurakova was initially believed to have finished fourth in the free skate and fifth overall, in February 2024 the Court of Arbitration for Sport disqualified erstwhile champion Kamila Valieva for using a banned substance.[27] As a result, Kurakova was moved up to fourth overall and third place in the free skate, and the Polish Figure Skating Association announced that she would receive a bronze small medal for the segment.[28]

Named to the Polish Olympic team, Kurakova placed twenty-fourth in the short program of the women's event, narrowly qualifying for the free skate.[29] Kurakova dramatically improved her position in the free skate, ranking twelfth in that segment and rising to twelfth overall.[30] Posting on Instagram afterward, she exulted: "Life is not always easy. We all have to go through difficult times at times. But if you don't give up, you will be rewarded. This is what I try to convey during my program. Life is Beautiful."[31] Kurakova finished the season with a thirteenth place at the 2022 World Championships.[24]

2022–2023 season edit

Kurakova began the season with a bronze medal at 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy.[32] Competing in the Grand Prix, she finished in fifth-place at both 2022 Skate America and 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy.[33][34] Kurakova then won the 2022 CS Warsaw Cup, her second event title.[24]

At the beginning of December, Kurakova was named to the Polish team for the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid.[35] She then finished first overall at the 2023 Four National Championships, earning her fifth consecutive Polish national gold medal.[36]

Kurakova finished fifth at the 2023 Winter Universiade.[24] Weeks later she competed at the 2023 European Championships, where she came fifth in the short program.[37] She rose to fourth place in the free skate. Speaking after, Kurakova admitted that she felt the post-Olympic season to be more difficult, contrary to her expectations.[38] She came sixteenth at the 2023 World Championships.[24]

2023–2024 season edit

In July 2023, it was announced by the Polish Figure Skating Association that Kurakova's coach, Angelina Turenko had moved from Egna to Assago to coach at the IceLab Skating Club and that Kurakova had moved there as well to continue training under Turenko. Additionally, it was announced that Kurakova would also receive support from former coach Brian Orser.[39] Over the summer, Kurakova trained at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club under the guidance of Orser and Tracy Wilson.[40]

 
Kurakova performing her free skate at the 2024 World Championships

Beginning her season on the Challenger circuit, Kurakova finished fourth at both the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy and the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial.[24] After the latter event, she said she was pleased by her performance and believed she had improved over her first event of the year. She planned to train more in Toronto in advance of her lone Grand Prix appearance.[41] She finished seventh at the 2023 Skate America.[42] Kurakova was subsequently invited to attend a second Grand Prix, replacing Bradie Tennell at the 2023 Cup of China, where she was seventh again.[43] Returning to Poland for the 2023 CS Warsaw Cup the following weekend, she won her third event title.[44]

Kurakova claimed her sixth Polish national title with a first-place finish at the 2024 Four National Championships.[24] At the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas, Kurakova struggled with her jumps in the short program and finished twenty-fifth in the segment, missing the cut for the free skate by one ordinal. She acknowledged that "it didn't work today, unfortunately," while thanking the crowd for their support.[45]

Following the disappointment at the European Championships, Kurakova took two weeks to contemplate whether she wanted to continue, but ultimately said that "I realized that I love skating very much, even if it is difficult sometimes. Difficult experiences sometimes give us more because over time you realize what went wrong." She attended the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, where she placed fourteenth in the short program despite performing only a triple-double jump combination instead of her planned triple-triple. She rose to eleventh after the free skate, a personal best and the highest placement for a Polish skater since Anna Rechnio's sixth in 1999.[46]

Programs edit

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–2024
[47][48][49]

Kill Bill Vol. 1:

2022–2023
[50][51] 		Up:
2021–2022
[52][53]
2020–2021
[21]
2019–2020
[3] 		Le Corsaire:
2018–2019
  • Poeta en el mar
  • Amor dulce muerte
  • Poeta en el viento
    by Vicente Amigo
2016–2017
2015–2016

Competitive highlights edit

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

For Poland edit

International[1]
Event 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
Olympics 11th
Worlds C 32nd 13th 16th 11th
Europeans 10th C 4th 4th 25th
GP Rostelecom Cup 9th
GP Skate America 9th 5th 7th
GP Skate Canada WD
GP Cup of China 7th
GP Wilson Trophy 5th
CS Golden Spin WD
CS Lombardia Trophy 2nd 3rd 4th
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd
CS Nepela Memorial 4th
CS Warsaw Cup 1st C 3rd 1st 1st
Istanbul Cup WD
Challenge Cup 4th
NRW Trophy WD
Tallink Hotels Cup WD
Toruń Cup 1st
University Games 5th
International: Junior[1]
Junior Worlds 7th
JGP Latvia 5th
JGP Poland 7th
National[1]
Polish Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
Polish Junior Champ. 1st 1st 1st
Four Nationals 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
Team events
Japan Open 3rd T
4th P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew;
T = Team result; P = Personal result; C = Event cancelled

For Russia edit

International: Junior[24]
Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17
Toruń Cup 1st 1st
International: Advanced novice[54]
Bavarian Open 1st 1st
Ice Star 1st
Tallinn Trophy 1st
National[1]
Russian Junior Champ. 15th 9th

Detailed results edit

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [55]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 204.73 2022 European Championships
Short program TSS 67.47 2022 European Championships
TES 37.04 2019 CS Warsaw Cup
PCS 31.69 2022 European Championships
Free skating TSS 137.26 2022 European Championships
TES 72.91 2019 CS Warsaw Cup
PCS 66.52 2022 European Championships

Senior edit

 
Kurakova at the 2020 European Championships
2023–24 season
Date Event SP FS Total
18–24 March 2024 2024 World Championships 14
62.34 		10
122.42 		11
184.76
22–25 February 2024 2024 Challenge Cup 4
56.19 		4
111.44 		4
167.63
10–14 January 2024 2024 European Championships 25
49.47 		— 25
49.47
14–16 December 2023 2024 Four National Championships 1
62.04 		1
109.06 		1
171.10
16–19 November 2023 2023 CS Warsaw Cup 6
57.45 		1
124.26 		1
181.71
10–12 November 2023 2023 Cup of China 9
57.37 		7
115.78 		7
173.15
20–22 October 2023 2023 Skate America 7
60.45 		7
113.30 		7
173.75
28–30 September 2023 2023 CS Nepela Memorial 5
57.87 		3
124.11 		4
181.98
8–10 September 2023 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy 4
62.00 		3
116.62 		4
178.62
2022–23 season
Date Event SP FS Total
22–26 March 2023 2023 World Championships 9
65.69 		17
115.74 		16
184.92
25–29 January 2023 2023 European Championships 5
61.81 		4
125.09 		4
186.90
13–15 January 2022 2023 Winter Universiade 5
63.22 		4
123.51 		5
186.73
15–17 December 2022 2023 Four National Championships 1
63.01 		1
122.13 		1
185.14
17–20 November 2022 2022 CS Warsaw Cup 1
64.66 		1
125.32 		1
189.98
11–13 November 2022 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy 4
63.46 		4
126.98 		5
190.44
21–23 October 2022 2022 Skate America 6
63.65 		4
115.03 		5
178.68
16–18 September 2022 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy 4
59.24 		3
129.17 		3
188.41
2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
21–27 March 2022 2022 World Championships 16
61.92 		9
124.51 		13
186.43
15–17 February 2022 2022 Winter Olympics 23
59.08 		11
126.76 		11
185.84
10–16 January 2022 2022 European Championships 4
67.47 		3
137.26 		4
204.73
17–18 December 2021 2022 Four National Championships 2
59.32 		1
130.74 		1
190.06
26–28 November 2021 2021 Rostelecom Cup 11
56.43 		9
119.21 		9
175.64
17–20 November 2021 2021 CS Warsaw Cup 6
61.20 		1
126.60 		3
187.80
22–24 October 2021 2021 Skate America 11
61.36 		9
127.24 		9
188.60
22–25 September 2021 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 6
61.04 		2
132.54 		2
193.58
10–12 September 2021 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy 3
61.51 		2
126.14 		2
187.65
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
22–28 March 2021 2021 World Championships 32
52.28
- 		32
52.28
10–12 December 2020 2021 Four National Championships 1
57.64 		1
120.90 		1
178.54
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
20–26 January 2020 2020 European Championships 13
58.49 		9
111.75 		10
170.24
13–14 December 2019 2020 Four National Championships 1
57.30 		1
120.66 		1
177.96
14–17 November 2019 2019 CS Warsaw Cup 2
66.08 		1
135.39 		1
201.47
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
14–15 December 2018 2019 Four National Championships 1
57.76 		1
121.04 		1
178.80

Junior edit

2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
2–8 March 2020 2020 World Junior Championships 9
63.20 		7
121.31 		7
184.51
18–21 September 2019 2019 JGP Poland 7
60.54 		6
112.05 		7
172.59
4–6 September 2019 2019 JGP Latvia 6
58.65 		5
117.32 		5
175.97

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Екатерина Андреевна Куракова" [Ekaterina Andreyevna Kurakova]. fskate.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.
  2. ^ Krzysztof Sobczak (19 January 2022), Katia Kurakowa: kim jest polska olimpijka?, Radio Zet
  3. ^ a b c "Ekaterina KURAKOVA: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b ЗАГРЕБСКАЯ, НИНЕЛЬ. "Екатерина Куракова". 24CMN. 24CMN. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Iwańska o łyżwiarstwie figurowym: Przed nami sezon pełen atrakcji" (in Polish). Polsat Sport. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. ...kibicujemy także mistrzyni Polski, która w październiku uzyskała polskie obywatelstwo...
  6. ^ "KATIA Z POLSKIM OBYWATELSTWEM I W PROGRAMIE TEAM100". kurakova.pl (in Polish). 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Jekaterina Kurakowa krzyknęła w kierunku kamer. Reprezentantka Polski zdradziła, co miała na myśli". Wprost (in Polish). 17 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Ekaterina Kurakova: "Russian girls at competitions think "If not me, then the other will do it." That's why they're so afraid of it. And when I go to competitions, I understand that I'm just happy to be there."". FS Gossips. FS Gossips. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b Marešová, Alžběta (27 December 2023). "Ruska v polských službách: Nelituju. Může bez obav psát, jak se jí příčí válka" [Russian in Polish service: "I have no regrets." She can write without fear that she is against the war.]. iDnes (in Czech). Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Брайан Орсер, Екатерина Куракова, Евгения Медведева. Фигуристка меняет гражданство" (in Russian). Sport Express. 4 December 2018.
  11. ^ Василина, Панарина. "Фигуристка Екатерина Куракова стала гражданкой Польши из-за сильной конкуренции в России". CTNEWS. CTNEWS. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Фигурное катание. Интервью Екатерины Кураковой о Юдзуру Ханю, Брайане Орсере". Sport24.ru (in Russian). 18 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  13. ^ Fundacja Mentor Official Profile
  14. ^ Skate Ontario 2019 results
  15. ^ Slater, Paula (25 January 2020). "Kostornaia takes gold in Russian sweep at Europeans". Golden Skate.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (7 March 2020). "Kamila Valieva captures Junior World gold in season debut". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ Kurakova, Ekaterina (13 March 2020). "Thank you all for the emotions that you gave us during this season,for all your support and faith in us!Unfortunately the season ended earlier than we thought but health the most important!" (Instagram). Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  18. ^ Brodie, Robert (25 January 2021). "BRIAN ORSER – COACHING IN A VIRTUAL WORLD". International Figure Skating. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  19. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 Results – Ladies". International Skating Union.
  20. ^ Golinsky, Reut. "Lorenzo Magri: "I'm living my dream"". Absolute Skating. Absolute Skating. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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  22. ^ "Lombardia Trophy 2021". Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio.
  23. ^ Flade, Tatjana (25 September 2021). "Liu pockets Nebelhorn gold; seals third spot for U.S. women". Golden Skate.
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  25. ^ Slater, Paula (28 November 2021). "Valieva takes Rostelecom Cup gold with record score". Golden Skate.
  26. ^ Slater, Paula (15 January 2022). "Valieva leads Russian sweep in European debut". Golden Skate.
  27. ^ "Decision of CAS – Kamila Valieva". International Skating Union. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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  29. ^ Penny, Brandon (15 February 2022). "As it happened: ROC, U.S. skaters star in women's short program". NBC Sports.
  30. ^ Penny, Brandon (17 February 2022). "Re-live every moment of the historic Olympic women's free skate". NBC Sports.
  31. ^ Kurakova, Ekaterina (18 February 2022). "Life is not always easy. We all have to go through difficult times at times. But if you don't give up, you will be rewarded. This is what I try to convey during my program. Life is Beautiful🤍💜" (Instagram).
  32. ^ Tone, Florentina (7 October 2022). "On dreams, goals and confidence. Notes on the women's event at Lombardia Trophy". Inside Skating.
  33. ^ Slater, Paula (23 October 2022). "Sakamoto captures elusive gold in fifth trip to Skate America". Golden Skate.
  34. ^ Slater, Paula (13 November 2022). "Mihara takes first Grand Prix gold in Sheffield". Golden Skate.
  35. ^ Skraba, Paweł (14 December 2022). "Znamy Akademicką Reprezentację Polski na zimową uniwersjadę w Lake Placid!". Pasja AZS (in Polish).
  36. ^ Kurakova, Ekaterina (19 December 2022). "My 5th gold at the Senior Polish Championships + Four Nationals Senior Championships🥇✨" (Instagram).
  37. ^ Slater, Paula (26 January 2023). "Anastasiia Gubanova leads women at Europeans". Golden Skate.
  38. ^ Slater, Paula (28 January 2023). "Anastasiia Gubanova wins historic gold at 2023 Europeans". Golden Skate.
  39. ^ "Coach Change". Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  40. ^ Kurakova, Ekaterina. "Thank You". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  41. ^ Golden Skate [@goldenskate] (29 September 2023). "Ekaterina Kurakova 🇵🇱 57.87: "I am happy about my performance today, I really feel like I improved from Lombardia Trophy. Of course there was a little mistake in the combination but I am pleased to have my stepsequence level 4 as I really gave everything there!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ Slater, Paula (23 October 2023). "Belgium's Hendrickx clear winner at Skate America". Golden Skate. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  43. ^ Slater, Paula (11 November 2023). "Hana Yoshida captures first Grand Prix gold at Cup of China". Golden Skate. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  44. ^ McCarvel, Nick (18 November 2023). "Jason Brown makes return to international competition, finishes with bronze at Warsaw Cup as Lukas Britschgi claims title". Olympic Channel. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  45. ^ Slater, Paula (13 January 2024). "Hendrickx finally clinches gold at Europeans". Golden Skate. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  46. ^ Sokolik, Emilia (24 March 2024). "Łyżwiarstwo figurowe – MŚ: fenomenalny powrót Polki i rekord świata" [Figure skating – World Championships: phenomenal comeback of the Pole and a world record]. Poinformowani (in Polish). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  47. ^ "Ekaterina KURAKOVA: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024.
  48. ^ Kurakova, Ekaterina. "2023/24 Short Program". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  49. ^ Ekaterina, Kurakova. "2023/24 Free Program". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  50. ^ "Ekaterina KURAKOVA: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  51. ^ Kurakova, Ekaterina. "2022/23 Exhibition". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  52. ^ "Ekaterina KURAKOVA: 2021/2022 (1st SP)". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021.
  53. ^ "Ekaterina KURAKOVA: 2021/2022 (2nd SP)". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022.
  54. ^ "Ekaterina KURAKOVA". rinkresults.com.
  55. ^ "POL-Ekaterina KURAKOVA". SkatingScores.

External links edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ekaterina_Kurakova&oldid=1218105019"