The first one will go: Dikiji will perform at the Grand Prix stage in China

Russian champion Vladislav Dikidzhi has received an invitation to the Grand Prix stage in China, which indicates the full return of our figure skating to the international arena. This opinion was expressed by Alexander Kogan, Secretary General of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR). Let us remind you that the last time our athletes competed in the main stage of the ISU calendar was in December 2021. In addition, a huge number of our compatriots have declared for other international competitions.

The first spare

It should be recalled that Russian figure skaters spent their last full-fledged international season almost five years ago. In the Grand Prix finals, which took place in Osaka from December 9 to December 12, 2021, our athletes won six medals out of a possible 12. Since March 2022, Russians have stopped being allowed to participate in international competitions for political reasons. This season, we finally got the necessary permits. At the challenger (tournaments of the second category, the Grand Prix of the first) Kinoshita Group Cup, Russia was represented by figure skaters in all four sports, and the composition turned out to be almost the maximum — 18 people.

As a result, we won a lot of medals in the capital of Japan. Vladislav Dikidzhi won the men's single skating. Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky won the sports pairs competition, where the Russians took the entire podium.: Ekaterina Chikmareva and Matvey Yanchenkov won silver, Anastasia Mukhortova and Dmitry Evgeniev won bronze. Alexandra Trusova won silver in women's single skating, Anna Frolova — bronze. Evgeny Semenenko and the dance duo Vasilisa Kaganovskaya won two more awards./Maxim Nekrasov.

Icebook of victories: Russians won eight medals at the Tokyo tournament

Substitute Dikigi won the men's singles, Trusova returned with a quadruple, and the Russian pairs took the entire podium.

Following the results of the challenger, Dikidzhi, as well as Boikova and Kozlovsky topped the list of reserves in their disciplines. As a result, Dikiji received an invitation to the Grand Prix in Shenzhen, which will be held from November 6 to 8.

—Vladislav, in accordance with the alternative reserve list, received an invitation to participate in the Grand Prix stage in China," TASS quoted Alexander Kogan, secretary of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, as saying. — We wish him good luck, and also look forward to the performances of our other skaters on the challenger stages. We are pleased with these steps towards the full-fledged return of Russian figure skaters to the international arena. The Russian audience will soon be able to see all of them at the control box office.

Recall that after the short program of the challenger, Dikiji took second place, 7.69 points behind the "host" of the Rio Nakata tournament. However, Vladislav skated the free skate almost flawlessly, and the Japanese made several blunders. That's how our figure skater won gold.

Moreover, Vladislav got to the Japanese challenger quite unexpectedly: Dikigi was declared a reserve and went to Tokyo due to the suspension of Mark Kondratyuk's neutral status.

— Emotions from the international launch? They were justified," he said in an interview with Izvestia. — Because everything was so spontaneous, I didn't have time to imagine what the first tournament would be like. They said, let's go, one day has passed, that's it, and now I'm standing with two rolled—back programs. I still have emotions. Of course, I want to continue performing internationally.

"It will work for the first competition"

Figure skater Vladislav Dikidzhi — about his triumph at the Kinoshita Group Cup in Japan and the quadruple jump with his eyes closed

Who else to follow

Now Vladislav has the opportunity to prove himself against the background of the best figure skaters in the world. In early November, the entire elite of single skating is scheduled to gather in Shenzhen, including the current Olympic champion from Kazakhstan, Mikhail Shaidorov.

Very soon we will see a couple of Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky in the USA. They will participate in the John Nicks Pairs International 2026 tournament, which will be held in Norwood on September 11-12.

Matvey Vetlugin is expected to participate in the Lombardia Trophy tournament, which will be held in Bergamo, Italy, from September 17 to 20. Evgeny Semenenko, Gleb Lutfullin and Grigory Fedorov, as well as the ice dancing duo Irina Khavronina and David Narizhny will travel to Slovakia for the Ondrej Nepela Memorial (September 24-27).

Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Gallyamov will travel to Georgia for the Trialeti Trophy (September 30 – October 3). Nikolai Ugozhaev and the duo Elizaveta Pasechnik and Dario Cirizano will also be there.

Vasilisa Kaganovskaya and Maxim Nekrasov, silver medalists of the Kinoshita Group Cup 2026 in ice dancing, will take part in the Denis Ten Memorial in Kazakhstan (October 8-10).