Alexei Bychenko (Hebrew: אלכסיי ביצ'נקו; Ukrainian: Олексій Юрійович Биченко; born 5 February 1988) is a retired Ukrainian-born Israeli figure skater. He represented Ukraine through 2009 and Israel after that. He is the 2016 European Figure Skating Championships silver medalist and 2016 Rostelecom Cup bronze medalist. He is the first Israeli skater to medal at the European Championships. He placed fourth at 2018 Worlds. Bychenko competed for Israel at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Winter Olympics.

Alexei Bychenko
Other namesOleksii[1][2]/Alexey[3] Bychenko
Born (1988-02-05) 5 February 1988 (age 36)
Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Figure skating career
CountryIsrael Israel
CoachGalit Chait Moracci, Roman Serov, Nikolai Morozov
Skating clubKohavim al ha Kerah
Began skating1993
Retired2022
Medal record
Representing  Israel
Figure skating: Men's singles
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Bratislava Men's singles

Early and personal life

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Bychenko was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and is Jewish.[4][5] He studied at National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, in Kyiv.[4] His mother is of Jewish descent, and he became an Israeli citizen and in 2010 began representing Israel in competitions.[4]

Career

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Bychenko began skating in 1993.[4]

For Ukraine

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Representing Ukraine, Bychenko debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series in the 2003–04 season. His senior international debut took place in late September 2005 at Skate Israel, but he continued occasionally appearing on the junior level. He achieved his best JGP result, 8th, in October 2006 in Taipei, at his final junior event.

Bychenko became a two-time (2007, 2008) Ukrainian national silver medalist on the senior level. His final international appearance for Ukraine came in late November 2009 at the Crystal Skate of Romania.

For Israel

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His coaches are Roman Serov, Nikolai Morozov, and Galit Chait Moracci, and his choreographer is Galit Chait Moracci.[4] He trains in Hackensack, New Jersey.[4]

 
Bychenko at the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

Bychenko first appeared internationally for Israel at the Golden Spin of Zagreb in December 2011. He qualified for the final segment at the 2012 European Championships in Sheffield and went on to finish 22nd overall. At the 2012 World Championships in Nice, he did not advance past the short program.

 
Bychenko at the 2018 European Championships

At the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy, Bychenko qualified a spot for Israel in the men's event at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

He finished 21st competing for Israel at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.[6]

Bychenko received his first Grand Prix invitations in the 2014–15 season. He finished fourth at the 2015 European Championships in Stockholm after placing seventh in the short program and fourth in the free skate.

 
Bychenko at the 2016 European Figure Skating Championships podium.

At the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, Bychenko placed fourth in both segments and edged out Russia's Maxim Kovtun for a silver medal by a margin of 0.35. It was Israel's first European figure skating medal.[7][8]

In the 2016–17 season, Bychenko won bronze at a Grand Prix assignment, the 2016 Rostelecom Cup, and gold at a Challenger Series event, the Golden Spin of Zagreb. He ranked third in the short program, 9th in the free skate, and 5th overall at the 2017 European Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In March, he placed 11th in the short, 12th in the free, and 10th overall at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.[4] Due to his result, Israel qualified two spots in the men's event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Bychenko competed for Israel at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Men's Single Figure Skating in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and served as Israel's flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.[4] Bychenko finished the men’s figure skating competition in 11th place overall, Israel's best result at the Games, bettering Israeli figure skater Michael Shmerkin’s 16th-place finish 24 years prior.[9][10] He also came in second in the Men's Single Short Program, as part of the team event, as the Israeli team came in 8th.[11][4]

Bychenko was named to Israeli team for the 2022 Winter Olympics, and finished twenty-sixth in the men's event.[12]

It was announced that Bychenko had decided to retire from competition on May 24, 2022.[13]

Programs

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2020–2021
[14]
2019–2020
[15]
2018–2019
[16]
2017–2018
[17][18]

2016–2017
[20]
  • Soul Power
  • Happy
    by Derek Martin
2015–2016
[21]
  • Soul Power[22]
  • Happy
    by Derek Martin

2014–2015
[23]
  • Soul Power
  • Happy
    by Derek Martin
2013–2014
[24][25]
  • Nostradamus
    by Maksim Mrvica

  • Flamenco Farruca
2012–2013
[26][27]
  • Party Sailor
    by Wilson Picket
  • John Rango
    by James Brown
  • Flamenco

2011–2012
[28]
2008–2009
[29]
2004–2006
[30][31]
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
    by Klaus Badelt

Results

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

For Israel

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International[32]
Event 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
Olympics 21st 11th 26th
Worlds 29th 31st 15th 17th 13th 10th 4th 22nd C 24th
Europeans 22nd 14th 10th 4th 2nd 5th 5th 9th 12th
GP Cup of China 7th
GP Finland 9th
GP France 5th
GP NHK Trophy 4th 3rd 11th
GP Rostelecom 10th 3rd
GP Skate America 11th 12th 9th 7th 6th
CS Asian Open 4th
CS Denis Ten MC WD
CS Finlandia 5th 7th WD
CS Golden Spin 1st 2nd 10th 8th 13th
CS Ice Star 6th WD
CS Nebelhorn 7th 3rd
CS Ondrej Nepela WD
CS Warsaw Cup 6th
Bavarian Open 5th
Challenge Cup 6th WD
Cranberry Cup 6th
Cup of Tyrol 2nd
Golden Spin 8th 5th 4th
Ice Challenge 13th
Nebelhorn Trophy 15th 5th
Open Ice Mall 2nd
Tallinn Trophy 1st
Toruń Cup 1st
U.S. Classic 14th 9th WD
National[32]
Israeli Champ. 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 2nd
Team Events
Olympics 8th T
2nd P
Japan Open 1st T
6th P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event Cancelled
T = Team Result; P = Personal Result. Medals awarded for team result only.

For Ukraine

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International[32]
Event 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10
Crystal Skate 3rd 2nd 4th
Cup of Nice 11th
Finlandia Trophy 11th
Nepela Memorial 8th
Skate Israel 6th
Universiade 29th
International: Junior[32]
JGP Andorra 15th
JGP Croatia 10th
JGP Czech Rep. 22nd
JGP Taiwan 8th
JGP Ukraine 19th
National[32]
Ukrainian Champ. 4th 4th 2nd J 2nd 2nd 3rd
J = Junior level

Detailed results

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Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 8–10, 2022 2022 Winter Olympics 26
68.01
26
68.01
December 9–11, 2021 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 4
82.88
16
128.67
13
211.55
November 17–20, 2021 2021 CS Warsaw Cup 5
79.35
5
145.05
6
224.40
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 22–28, 2021 2021 World Championships 18
78.05
24
112.40
24
190.45
October 23–24, 2020 2020 Skate America 6
77.48
8
137.14
6
214.62
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 20–23, 2020 2020 Challenge Cup 4
75.15
9
118.85
6
194.00
January 20–26, 2020 2020 European Championships 8
78.27
13
140.76
12
219.03
December 4–7, 2019 2019 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 1
81.31
10
131.82
13
213.13
November 22–24, 2019 2019 NHK Trophy 12
61.97
11
135.66
11
197.63
30 October – 3 November 2019 2019 CS Asian Open Trophy 6
67.81
4
127.82
4
195.03
October 18–20, 2019 2019 Skate America 6
79.76
10
139.94
7
219.70
September 25–28, 2019 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 2
70.46
3
144.24
3
214.70
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 18–24, 2019 2019 World Championships 22
77.67
22
138.93
22
216.60
20–23 February 2019 2019 Open Ice Mall Cup 2
78.06
1
156.51
2
234.57
21–27 January 2019 2019 European Championships 7
84.19
13
136.31
9
220.50
December 5–8, 2018 2018 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 10
72.94
12
119.27
10
192.21
2–4 November 2018 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki 9
74.05
8
128.89
9
202.33
19–21 October 2018 2018 Skate America 10
69.69
8
127.78
9
197.47
4–7 October 2018 2018 CS Finlandia Trophy 22
46.90

WD

WD
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
19–25 March 2018 2018 World Championships 7
90.99
7
167.29
4
258.28
16–17 February 2018 2018 Winter Olympics 13
84.13
9
172.88
11
257.01
9–11 February 2018 2018 Winter Olympics (team event) 2
88.49

15–21 January 2018 2018 European Championships 8
74.97
4
163.47
5
238.44
6–9 December 2017 2017 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 4
77.88
3
153.93
2
231.81
17–19 November 2017 2017 Internationaux de France 5
86.79
5
160.65
5
247.44
10–12 November 2017 2017 NHK Trophy 2
85.52
3
166.55
3
252.07
26–29 October 2017 2017 CS Minsk-Arena Ice Star 4
76.01
7
135.20
6
211.21
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
29 March – 2 April 2017 2017 World Championships 11
85.28
12
160.68
10
245.96
25–29 January 2017 2017 European Championships 3
86.68
9
152.56
4
239.24
7–10 December 2016 2016 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 4
76.18
2
151.90
1
228.08
25–27 November 2016 2016 NHK Trophy 7
75.13
4
154.74
4
229.87
4–6 November 2016 2016 Rostelecom Cup 4
86.81
3
168.71
3
255.52
6–10 October 2016 2016 CS Finlandia Trophy 6
74.17
10
129.58
7
203.75
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
28 March – 3 April 2016 2016 World Championships 19
69.86
11
156.21
13
226.07
26–31 January 2016 2016 European Championships 4
84.09
4
158.47
2
242.56
6–10 January 2016 2016 Toruń Cup 1
78.57
1
149.95
1
228.52
20–22 November 2015 2015 Rostelecom Cup 10
67.46
10
118.54
10
186.00
23–25 October 2015 2015 Skate America 12
50.68
12
121.15
12
171.83
2014–15 season
Date Event SP FS Total
23–29 March 2015 2015 World Championships 12
74.98
16
134.26
17
209.26
26 Jan. – 1 Feb. 2015 2015 European Championships 7
73.63
4
146.59
4
220.22
3–7 December 2014 2014 Tallinn Trophy 1
65.72
1
143.30
1
209.02
7–9 November 2014 2014 Cup of China 5
76.96
8
127.19
7
204.15
24–26 October 2014 2014 Skate America 11
64.54
12
121.44
11
185.98
9–12 October 2014 2014 CS Finlandia Trophy 5
59.03
5
117.63
5
176.66
24–27 September 2014 2014 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 7
66.55
9
112.16
7
178.71
2013–14 season
Date Event SP FS Total
26–29 March 2014 2014 World Championships 12
69.73
13
141.51
15
211.24
13–14 February 2014 2014 Winter Olympics 22
62.44
21
114.62
21
177.06
13–19 January 2014 2014 European Championships 13
63.68
9
135.08
10
203.76
5–8 December 2013 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb 4
62.34
3
125.64
4
187.98
26–28 September 2013 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy 8
64.50
3
132.96
5
197.46
12–14 September 2013 2013 U.S. Classic 5
62.19
9
100.52
9
162.71

References

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  1. ^ "Oleksii Bychenko" (in Hebrew). Israel Ice Skating Federation. January 15, 2012. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013.
  2. ^ "2014 - 2015 Coach/Instructor Compliance" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. December 5, 2014. p. 37. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "Alexey Bychenko" (Instagram).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Figure Skating | Athlete Profile: Alexei BYCHENKO - Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games
  5. ^ "2018 Winter Olympics," Jewish Sports Review, March/April 2018, Vol. 11, No. 6, Issue 126, page 2.
  6. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO". Sochi2014.com. Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  7. ^ Flade, Tatjana (28 January 2016). "No match for Fernandez in Europe". Golden Skate.
  8. ^ Flade, Tatjana (12 March 2016). "Alexei Bychenko: 'Better late than never'". Golden Skate.
  9. ^ Two Israelis impress in Olympic men's figure skating | The Times of Israel
  10. ^ Blue-and-white athletes all done at Winter Olympics - Israel News - Jerusalem Post
  11. ^ "Welcome to Unpacked".
  12. ^ "Men Single Skating - Short Program Results - Olympic Figure Skating". International Olympic Committee. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Time to Say Goodbye: Retirements of the 2021/2022 season". International Skating Union. May 24, 2022.
  14. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^ International Figure Skating Magazine (November 12, 2017). "2017 NHK Trophy gala exhibition line-up and music the skaters will perform to". Facebook (facebook).
  20. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ 2016 European Championships - Exhibition (Television production). Germany: ARD EinsFestival. January 31, 2016.
  23. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012.
  27. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012.
  28. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 22, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  31. ^ "Alexei BYCHENKO: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 9, 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. ^ a b c d e "Competition Results: Alexei BYCHENKO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014.
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