“We have few duos with such high-speed pressure” – Sokolov’s coach on the Mironov-Ustenko pair

Coach Elena Sokolova works with a pair of skaters Ekaterina Mironova — Yevgeny Ustenko explained to why the past season has been the most difficult for the dancers, but at the same time the most accomplished.

Mironova and Ustenko are the winners of the championship of St. Petersburg, the dancers took fifth place in the championship of Russia. Following last season’s results, the duo are part of the Russian national figure skating team for the 2023/24 season.

– The season was the most difficult of all the previous ones, but so far the most successful in terms of advancement. Not easy, as Katya suffered a minor injury in September and all of our scheduled competitions had to be postponed to a later date. The most important start of the season – the Russian championship – turned out to be one of the most successful. The guys have matured a lot, got up technically. On the ice, they looked organic, strong, elegant and powerful. I think we have few couples with pressure as fast as the guys.

The competitions themselves were successful in some places, but nerve-wracking in others. I would like to bring the power and strength that the guys show in training to competitions. Because during competitions stress and you cannot show all the quality and strength one hundred percent. And, of course, adding stability in the new season. She is a necessary element, Sokolova told .