Alexei Alexandrovich Sitnikov (Russian: Алексей Александрович Ситников; born 23 May 1986) is a former competitive ice dancer. Competing for Azerbaijan with Julia Zlobina, he is the 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb champion, 2013 Volvo Open Cup champion, 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy silver medalist, and 2013 Winter Universiade silver medalist. They competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing 12th, and have placed as high as sixth at the European Championships (2014).

Alexei Sitnikov
Zlobina/Sitnikov at the 2012 Worlds
Full nameAlexei Alexandrovich Sitnikov
Born (1986-05-23) 23 May 1986 (age 38)
Kirov, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Figure skating career
CountryAzerbaijan
PartnerJulia Zlobina
CoachIgor Shpilband, Alexei Gorshkov
Skating clubNeftchi Baku
Began skating1990
Retired2014
Medal record
Representing  Azerbaijan
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Winter Universiade
Silver medal – second place 2013 Trentino Ice dancing

Career

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Career for Russia

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Zlobina and Sitnikov teamed up in June 2001.[1] Early in their career, they represented Russia and were coached by Igor Gavrin and later Olga Riabinina.[2] In 2005, they moved with Riabinina from Kirov to Rostov-on-Don.[3][4] In 2006, Zlobina/Sitnikov won the bronze medal in Hungary and gold in the Czech Republic on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. Their final international event representing Russia was the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they finished 5th. In May 2009, they moved with Riabinina to Moscow and joined Elena Kustarova and Svetlana Alexeeva's group. In the 2009–10 season, Zlobina/Sitnikov made no international appearances but competed at the Russian Championships, where they finished 5th.

Career for Azerbaijan

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Zlobina/Sitnikov decided to represent Azerbaijan and made their first appearance for the country at the 2011 Estonian Championships, competing as guests.[1] In mid-2011, they switched to another Moscow-based coaching team, Alexander Zhulin and Oleg Volkov, with Zhulin also serving as their choreographer.[1][5] In the 2011–12 season, Zlobina/Sitnikov won the bronze medal at the 2011 Ondrej Nepela Memorial and gold at the Istanbul Cup. Their first major international event was the 2012 European Championships, where they finished 10th. They then placed 17th at the 2012 World Championships.

Zlobina/Sitnikov began the 2012–13 season by taking gold at Ice Star in Belarus and then silver at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy.[6][7] They finished sixth at their first Grand Prix event since 2007, the 2012 Skate Canada, and fifth at the 2012 Trophee Eric Bompard. After placing seventh at the 2013 European Championships, the team finished 16th at the 2013 World Championships and qualified a spot for Azerbaijan in the ice dancing event at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Zlobina/Sitnikov changed coaches before the 2013–14 season, joining Igor Shpilband and Alexei Gorshkov in Novi, Michigan.[8] They had a weak start to their season, placing eighth at the 2013 Skate America but went on win gold at the 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb, Volvo Open Cup, and Ukrainian Open, and silver at the 2013 Winter Universiade. They placed sixth at the 2014 European Championships, a career high.

Programs

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(with Zlobina)

Season Short dance Free dance
2013–2014
[8]
  • Pina
    by Thomas Hanreich
    choreo. by Igor Shpilband, Sergei Nikulshin
2012–2013
[9]
  • Mahalageasca
    by Goran Bregović
  • Ausencia
    by Goran Bregović
  • Mahalageasca
    by Goran Bregović
    choreo. by Sergei Petukhov
2011–2012
[5]
  • La Bomba
    by Balli di Gruppo
  • Samba Vocalizado
    by Luciano Perrone
    choreo. by Alexander Zhulin
  • Derap
    by René Aubry
  • Aquarelle
    by René Aubry
    choreo. by Alexander Zhulin
2010–2011
Original dance
2009–2010
  • Shadritsa
    (Gypsy dance)
    by unknown
2008–2009
2007–2008
[2]
  • Unknown Russian folk music
    choreo. by N. Michura
2006–2007
[10]
  • Tango
    by unknown
    choreo. by Polina Silivanova

Results

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With Zlobina for Azerbaijan

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International[11]
Event 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15
Olympics 12th
Worlds 17th 16th 12th
Europeans 10th 7th 6th
GP Bompard 5th
GP Rostelecom Cup WD
GP Skate America 8th WD
GP Skate Canada 6th
Universiade 2nd
Golden Spin 2nd 1st
Ice Star 1st
Istanbul Cup 1st
Nebelhorn 2nd
NRW Trophy 5th
Ondrej Nepela 3rd
Ukrainian Open 1st
U.S. Classic 6th
Volvo Open Cup 1st
Other
Estonian Champ. 1st (G)
GP = Grand Prix
G = Competed as guests; TBD = Assigned

With Zlobina for Russia

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International[11]
Event 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
GP NHK Trophy 7th
GP Skate Canada 9th
Nebelhorn 5th
International: Junior[11]
JGP Final 6th
JGP Bulgaria 6th
JGP Czech Rep. 1st
JGP Estonia 4th
JGP Hungary 3rd
JGP Serbia 5th
National[11]
Russian Champ. 8th 8th 9th 8th 6th 7th 5th
GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix

References

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  1. ^ a b c Tushiev, T. (15 April 2011). Юлия ЗЛОБИНА: "Выступление за Азербайджан принесло нам удачу" [Julia Zlobina: "Competing for Azerbaijan has brought us good luck"]. extratime.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007.
  3. ^ Фигуристы: минус четыре [Skaters: Minus four]. sport-Kirov.ru (in Russian). 28 October 2005. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013.
  4. ^ Фигуристов на Дону станет больше [More figure skaters in Rostov-on-Don]. rostovsport.ru (in Russian). 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012.
  6. ^ Golinsky, Reut (27 October 2012). "Julia Zlobina and Alexei Sitnikov: "We just didn't want to quit"". Absolute Skating.
  7. ^ Flade, Tatjana (30 September 2012). "2012 Nebelhorn Trophy". Golden Skate.
  8. ^ a b "Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
  11. ^ a b c d "Competition Results: Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV". International Skating Union.
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