Russian figure skater Petr Gumennik will perform his new free program featuring a spoken monologue recorded by actor Yura Borisov, choreographer Daniil Gleikhengauz has announced.
Gumennik presented the complete routine for the first time during an open training session held by Eteri Tutberidze's coaching group. The performance is set to music from the soundtrack of the film Hamnet: The Story That Inspired "Hamlet".
Artistic Collaboration and Routine Details
Details of the routine were disclosed by Gleikhengauz in comments reported by sports outlet Sports. The choreographer said it was a major honor for the team that Borisov, a prominent Russian actor, agreed to record the custom monologue in a studio setting. Gleikhengauz noted that the actor's contribution gave the program a distinctly theatrical character, allowing the coaching staff to blend elements of stage theater directly into competitive figure skating.
Gumennik acknowledged that skating to lines of poetry delivered by Borisov provided a unique experience during practice. The skater explained that hearing the spoken verses during his run-throughs helped him better interpret and convey the narrative theme of the choreography on the ice.
In competitive figure skating, the free program serves as the longer segment of singles competition, requiring skaters to combine technical jumping passes and complex footwork with artistic presentation. Using voice recordings and spoken word extracts in figure skating music has become increasingly popular in recent years as athletes look to build dramatic narrative arcs within their competitive programs.
The musical score for Gumennik's new program draws from Hamnet, a film exploring the personal life of English playwright William Shakespeare, focusing on the tragedy of his young son Hamnet and how that loss inspired the creation of his famous tragedy Hamlet.
Competitive Record and Career Context
Gumennik enters the upcoming season as the reigning 2026 Russian national champion. He also competed on the international stage at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, where he placed sixth in the men's singles event.
The skater trains in Moscow under the guidance of Tutberidze, one of the sport's most successful coaches. Tutberidze and Gleikhengauz have spent years choreographing programs for top Russian singles skaters who have achieved national and international honors.
Off the ice, Gumennik is dating fellow Russian figure skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, a long-standing competitor who won both the World Figure Skating Championships and European Figure Skating Championships during her career.
