Ruslan Nailevich Zhiganshin (Russian: Руслан Наильевич Жиганшин; born 25 September 1992) is a retired Russian ice dancer. With partner Elena Ilinykh, he is the 2015 Russian national champion.

Ruslan Zhiganshin
Ilinykh and Zhiganshin at the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final
Full nameRuslan Nailevich Zhiganshin
Born (1992-09-25) 25 September 1992 (age 32)
Moscow, Russia
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9 12 in)
Figure skating career
CountryRussia
PartnerElena Ilinykh
CoachElena Kustarova, Svetlana Alexeeva, Olga Riabinina
Skating clubSport School No. 2
Began skating1996
RetiredMay 18, 2017[1][2]
Medal record
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Representing  Russia
(with Ilinykh)
World Team Trophy
Silver medal – second place 2015 Tokyo Team
Representing  Russia
(with Sinitsina)
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Minsk Ice dancing
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2011–12 Quebec Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 2010–11 Beijing Ice dancing

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

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Ruslan Zhiganshin was born on 25 September 1992 in Moscow. He is the brother of Nelli Zhiganshina, a former competitive ice dancer for Germany.[9]

Early years on the ice

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Zhiganshin became interested in skating after his mother took him along to his sister's practices.[10][11] Having taken up ice dancing at age nine, he had one partner before becoming partnerless for a year.[10]

Partnership with Sinitsina

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Zhiganshin and Victoria Sinitsina met in a group led by Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh but soon joined Elena Kustarova and Svetlana Alexeeva.[10] They trained mostly in Moscow. From 2010 to 2012, they also went to summer training camps in Ventspils, Latvia.[12]

Junior

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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[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] They were first in both the short and free dance and scored their season's best, 153.81 points.

Senior

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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.[11] 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.[16]

Partnership with Ilinykh

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Soon after, in early April 2014, Zhiganshin's coaches invited Katsalapov's former partner, Elena Ilinykh, to try out with their student.[17][16] 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.[18]

2014–15 season

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For the 2014–15 Grand Prix season, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin were assigned to Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup.[19] 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.[17] 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/Ziganshin won their first national title.

2015–16 season

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Ilinykh/Zhiganshin began their season at the Mordovian Ornament, which they won with new personal bests in all segments. For the 2015–16 Grand Prix season, they were once again assigned to Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup. They won the bronze at Cup of China behind Italians Anna Cappellini / Luca Lanotte and Americans Madison Chock / Evan Bates. Their next competition they finished 5th at the 2015 Rostelecom Cup. On December 24–27, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin competed at the 2016 Russian Championships, where they finished 4th behind Alexandra Stepanova / Ivan Bukin after placing fourth in the short dance and second in the free dance.

Ilinykh/Zhiganshin decided to fly to Michigan on 27 February 2016 to work with Igor Shpilband.[20]

2016–17 season

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They finished fourth at the 2017 Russian Championships, losing the bronze to Sinisina/Katsalapov by 0.17. They had a one-point deduction after part of their costume fell onto the ice.[21]

Zhiganshin decided to retire from competition due to a spinal injury.[22]

Programs

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With Ilinykh

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Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2015–2016
[23][24][25][26]
Waltz: Queen medley
2014–2015
[9][18]
Pasodoble: Carmen Suite

With Sinitsina

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Sinitsina and Zhiganshin, gold medalists at the 2012 World Junior Championships
Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2013–2014
[27][28]
  • Quickstep: Let the Good Times Roll
  • Swing: Swing Baby
2012–2013
[29]
2011–2012
[30]
2010–2011
[31]
Original dance
2009–2010

Competitive highlights

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

With Ilinykh

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International[32]
Event 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
Worlds 7th
Europeans 4th
GP Final 6th
GP Bompard 4th
GP Rostelecom Cup 2nd 5th
GP Cup of China 4th 3rd
GP Skate America 5th
CS Mordovian Ornament 1st
CS Tallinn Trophy 1st
National[33]
Russian Champ. 1st 4th 4th
Team events
World Team Trophy 2nd T
(4th P)
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result;
Medals awarded for team result only.

With Sinitsina

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International[34]
Event 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14
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[34]
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[33]
Russian Champ. 5th 3rd
Russian Junior 12th 7th 6th WD 1st
J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

Detailed results

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Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.

With Ilinykh

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Ilinykh/Zhiganshin at the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final
2016–17 season
Date Event SD FD Total
22–25 December 2016 2017 Russian Championships 4
73.22
3
105.06
4
178.28
20–27 November 2016 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy 1
76.04
1
109.15
1
185.19
11–13 November 2016 2016 Trophée de France 2
68.72
4
98.68
4
167.40
21–23 October 2016 2016 Skate America 4
66.60
6
98.56
5
165.16
2015–16 season
Date Event SD FD Total
23–27 December 2015 2016 Russian Championships 4
66.75
2
102.97
4
169.72
20–22 November 2015 2015 Rostelecom Cup 6
54.46
4
98.55
5
153.01
5–8 November 2015 2015 Cup of China 3
63.54
3
95.46
3
159.00
15–18 October 2015 2015 Mordovian Ornament 1
70.12
1
106.58
1
176.70
2014–15 season
Date Event SD FD Total
16–19 April 2015 2015 World Team Trophy 4
63.09
4
95.10
2T/4P
158.19
23–29 March 2015 2015 World Championships 5
69.46
9
95.38
7
164.84
26 Jan. - 1 Feb. 2015 2015 European Championships 2
69.94
8
89.89
4
159.83
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

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Sinitsina/Zhiganshin at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup
 
Sinitsina/Zhiganshin at the 2010–11 JGP Final
 
Sinitsina/Zhiganshin at the 2009 JGP Lake Placid
2013–14 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
2012–13 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
2011–12 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
2010–11 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
2009–10 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
2008–09 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
2007–08 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

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  1. ^ Simonenko, Andrei (18 May 2017). Экс-чемпион России в танцах на льду Руслан Жиганшин завершил карьеру [Russian ex-champion ice dancer Ruslan Zhiganshin finished his career]. R-Sport (in Russian).
  2. ^ Samokhvalov, Anatoly (8 September 2017). Экс-чемпион России в танцах на льду Руслан Жиганшин сообщил, что завершил карьеру [Russian ex-champion ice dancer Ruslan Zhiganshin announced that he had completed his career]. R-Sport (in Russian).
  3. ^ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2013/2014: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  4. ^ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2012/2013: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  5. ^ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2011/2012: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  6. ^ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2010/2011: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  7. ^ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2009/2010: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  8. ^ "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2008/2009: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Elena ILINYKH / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Flade, Tatjana (18 December 2011). "Sinitsina and Zhiganshin look to Sochi and beyond". Golden Skate. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  11. ^ a b 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Kondakova, Anna (9 December 2010). "Sinitsina and Zhiganshin lead dance in Beijing; teammates follow". GoldenSkate. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Simonenko, Andrei (14 March 2012). Синицина/ Жиганшин: отвлечься от танцев на льду не выходит даже во сне [Sinitsina/Zhiganshin interview]. rsport.ru (in Russian).
  16. ^ a b 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).
  17. ^ a b Flade, Tatjana (7 December 2014). "Ilinykh and Zhiganshin rise from the ashes". Golden Skate.
  18. ^ a b 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.
  19. ^ "2014-15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Ice Dance" (PDF). 10 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2014.
  20. ^ Vaytsekhovskaya, Elena (22 February 2016). "Ильиных и Жиганшин начинают работу со Шпильбандом" [Ilinykh and Zhiganshin to begin working with Sphilband]. Sport Express (in Russian).
  21. ^ Kondakova, Anna (23 December 2016). "Sixth national title for Bobrova and Soloviev". Golden Skate.
  22. ^ ""В Америке за тренировки у Шпильбанда платили $10 тыс. в месяц"". sport24.ru (in Russian). 6 August 2019.
  23. ^ Илья Авербух не расстроен окончанием сотрудничества с фигуристкой Юлией Липницкой (in Russian). TACC. 7 May 2015.
  24. ^ Новый танец Ильиных и Жиганшина - история любви двух художников, рассказал хореограф. Р-Спорт (in Russian). 14 May 2015.
  25. ^ Flade, Tatjana (5 June 2015). "Inside Russia: Skaters Prepare for New Season". International Figure Skating. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  26. ^ "Elena ILINYKH / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016.
  27. ^ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  28. ^ 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).
  29. ^ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013.
  30. ^ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012.
  31. ^ "Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010.
  32. ^ "Competition Results: Elena ILINYKH / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN". International Skating Union.
  33. ^ a b "Руслан Наильевич Жиганшин" [Ruslan Nailyevich Zhiganshin] (in Russian). fskate.ru.
  34. ^ a b "Competition Results: Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
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