Alena Leonova

Alena Igorevna Leonova (Russian: Алёна Игоревна Леонова; born 23 November 1990) is a Russian figure skater. She is the 2012 World silver medalist, the 2011 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2009 World Junior champion, and a three-time (2010–2012) Russian national medalist. She is also the 2014–15 ISU Challenger Series runner-up.

Alena Leonova
Leonova at the 2011 Grand Prix Final.
Personal information
Native nameАлёна Игоревна Леонова
Full nameAlena Igorevna Leonova
Country representedRussia
Born (1990-11-23) 23 November 1990
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.59 m (5 ft 2 12 in)
CoachEvgeni Rukavicin
Former coachNikolai Morozov, Alla Piatova, Marina Vakhrameeva
ChoreographerOlga Glinka, Valentin Molotov
Former choreographerOlga Kinnard, Michael Seibert, Nikolai Morozov, Svetlana Korol, Pasquale Camerlengo
Skating clubOlympic School St. Petersburg
Former skating clubVorobievye Gory
Training locationsSaint Petersburg
Former training locationsMoscow
Began skating1993
World standing39 (As of 18 February 2018)
Season's bests27 (2017-18)
ISU personal best scores
Combined total194.15
2018 NHK Trophy
Short program68.22
2018 NHK Trophy
Free skate127.34
2017 NHK Trophy

Personal life

Alena Igorevna Leonova was born on 23 November 1990 in Saint Petersburg (Leningrad).[1][2] She has a sister and brother, both of whom skated when they were young.[3]

In April 2019, Leonova married figure skater Anton Shulepov.[4]

Career

Early career

Leonova started skating at the age of four.[5][6] Coached initially by Marina Vakhrameeva, she later moved to the group of Tatiana Mishina, who was assisted by Alla Piatova.[6] Piatova formed her own group and became Leonova's main coach when she was 10.[6]

In her junior career, Leonova became a two-time Cup of Nice gold medalist and won silver at the 2007 Junior Grand Prix in Romania. She also won the silver medal at the 2008 Russian Junior Championships. In August 2008, she partially tore ligaments in her right ankle joint.[3] She placed fourth at the 2009 European Championships. She then won gold at the 2009 World Junior Championships.,[3] a surprising win as the focus was on Caroline Zhang, Ashley Wagner, and Elene Gedevanishvili as the leading contenders for the title. After her win, the Russian Federation rented an apartment for her.

2009–10 season

Leonova won the bronze medal at the 2009 Cup of Russia and the silver medal at the 2009 NHK Trophy. These results qualified her for the Grand Prix Final, where she placed sixth. She then won the silver medal at the 2010 Russian Championships and was selected to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where she placed ninth. She concluded her season by placing 13th at the 2010 World Championships.

2010–11 season

Leonova started her season at the 2010 Coupe de Nice where she won the gold medal. After picking up a pair of bronze medals at the 2010 Finlandia Trophy and 2010 Cup of China, she won another silver medal at the 2011 Russian Championships. Leonova then finished fourth at the 2011 World Championships.[7] Following the event, she began working full-time with Nikolai Morozov in Moscow.[8][9][10]

2011–12 season

Leonova with her coaches Nikolai Morozov (left) and Alla Piatova (right)

Leonova decided to compete in three Grand Prix events in the 2011–12 season.[8] After placing fourth at the 2011 Skate Canada, she won bronze at 2011 NHK Trophy and silver at 2011 Cup of Russia to qualify for her second Grand Prix Final. At the Grand Prix Final, she won the bronze medal.

Leonova won the bronze medal at the 2012 Russian Championships. At the 2012 European Championships, she finished seventh and sustained an injury to her left knee during the free skate.[11] Leonova placed first in the short program at the 2012 World Championships on her way to her first World medal, a silver.[12][13] Her podium finish was Russia's first in ladies' singles since 2005 when Irina Slutskaya won the title.[14] Leonova was named Russia's team captain at the 2012 World Team Trophy. Competing with a cold, she finished seventh in the ladies' event.[15]

2012–13 season

Leonova finished seventh at the 2012 Skate America. She placed sixth at her next Grand Prix event, the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. Her coach attributed Leonova's poor performances at the events to worn out equipment. Leonova finished seventh at the 2013 Russian Championships where she competed with a new long program that was put together one week before the competition.[16] She was not assigned to the 2013 European Championships because Nikol Gosviani placed ahead of Leonova amongst the age-eligible ladies. Leonova was sent to the 2013 World Championships. She returned to her long program from the previous season and finished thirteenth at the event.

2013–14 season

Leonova withdrew from her first 2013–14 Grand Prix event, the 2013 Skate Canada, due to a sprained ankle.[17] Leonova competed in her second event, at the 2013 NHK Trophy and finished seventh. At the 2014 Russian Championships, Leonova placed fourth in the short and seventh in the free, finishing fifth overall. She was assigned to the 2014 European Championships because the skaters in third and fourth place (Elena Radionova and Alexandra Proklova respectively) were not yet age-eligible for senior ISU Championship events. Leonova missed the podium at Europeans, finishing fourth overall. She was coached by Morozov in Novogorsk, Moscow until the end of the season.[18]

2014–15 season

In June 2014, Leonova began training under Evgeni Rukavicin in Saint Petersburg.[19] She started the 2014–15 season with a silver medal at the 2014 Nebelhorn Trophy. Her 2014–15 Grand Prix assignments were the 2014 Skate Canada International and 2014 NHK Trophy.[20] She then finished ninth at the 2016 Russian Championships. She ended her season with a win at the Russian Cup Final.

2017–18 season

Alena finished fifth in both the 2017 CS Finlandia Trophy and the 2017 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy, resulting in her finishing seventh in the 2017–18 ISU Challenger Series. Alena Finished sixth in the 2017 NHK Trophy, earning personal best scores in the free skate and overall score. At the 2017 Skate America she finished in seventh place. Alena was not selected for a place on the Russian National Team.

2018–19 season

Alena was invited to the 2018 NHK Trophy after Elena Radionova withdrew due to injury. She finished seventh in the most competitive event of the Grand Prix season, achieving new personal bests in the short program and total score. At the 2019 Russian Championships, she placed twelfth.

Skating style

Leonova is renowned for either superb technical ability, great style or artistic abilities, or noteworthy consistency, but she increasingly has gained recognition and praise for her unique choreography, on ice personality and delivery of her programs, and speed and attack. Her programs in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, done by renowned choreographer Nikolai Morozov, were noted for their creativity, rather bizarre and off beat quality, and complexity, and her delivery and commitment to them were praised. Early in her career she drew comparisons to former Russian great Irina Slutskaya due to her strong jumping ability and effervescent personality on the ice.

Programs

Leonova's gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2018–19
[21]
2017–18
[22]
  • Tune Maari Entriyaan (Bollywood Selection)
2016–17
[2]
2015–16
[23][24][25]
2014–15
[19][26]
  • Smile
    performed by Nat King Cole
  • Overture - Unveiling the Statue
    by Carl Davis
  • Terry's Theme
    by Charlie Chaplin
    choreo. by Olga Glinka
  • Asi se baila el Tango
    (from Take the Lead)
  • Otono Porteno
    performed by Ensemble Nuevo Tango
    choreo. by Olga Glinka
2013–14
[17][18][27]
Russian folk:
  • Barynia
  • Kalinka

2012–13
[28][29]

2011–12
[30]
  • Adagio for Strings
    by Samuel Barber
  • Requiem for a Tower
    (from Requiem for a Dream)
    by Clint Mansell
    performed by Escala quartet

2010–11
[31]
2009–10
[32]
2008–09
[33]
  • Al Andaluz
    by Manolo Carrasco
  • La Leyenda del Beso
    by Raúl di Blasio
2007–08
[34]
  • La Leyenda del Beso
    by Raúl di Blasio
2006–07
[35]
  • Jewish Dance

Competitive highlights

Leonova at the 2011 NHK Trophy

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

International[36]
Event 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19
Olympics9th
Worlds7th13th4th2nd13th
Europeans4th7th5th7th4th
GP Final6th3rd
GP Cup of China7th3rd
GP NHK Trophy2nd3rd7th2nd8thWD6th7th
GP Rostelecom5th3rd9th2nd6th
GP Skate America7th7th
GP Skate Canada4thWD6th8th
GP France12th
CS Finlandia5th
CS Golden Spin4th3rd
CS Ice Challenge4th
CS Nebelhorn2nd2nd
CS Ondrej Nepela6th5th
Universiade1st5th
Cup of Nice2nd1st2nd4th
Finlandia Trophy1st3rd
Merano Cup1st
International: Junior[36]
Event 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19
Junior Worlds12th6th1st
JGP Croatia5th
JGP Romania2nd
Cup of Nice1st J1st J
National[37]
Russian Champ.7th7th5th2nd2nd3rd7th5th7th9th13th15th12th
Russian Junior2nd2nd
Team events
World Team
Trophy
5th T
6th P
5th T
7th P
Japan Open2nd T
4th P
3rd T
4th P
J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

Leonova at the 2011 Cup of Russia

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

2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
19–23 December 2018 2019 Russian Championships 7
70.79
13
128.73
12
199.52
9–11 November 2018 2018 NHK Trophy 6
68.22
7
125.93
7
194.15
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
21–24 December 2017 2018 Russian Championships 16
62.15
15
114.57
15
176.72
24–26 November 2017 2017 Skate America 7
63.91
7
122.02
7
185.93
10–12 November 2017 2017 NHK Trophy 7
63.61
5
127.34
6
190.95
6–8 October 2017 2017 CS Finlandia Trophy 6
56.73
3
121.73
5
178.46
21–23 September 2017 2017 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 5
54.70
5
115.98
5
170.68
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
1–5 February 2017 2017 Winter Universiade 6
54.69
4
116.37
5
171.06
20–26 December 2016 2017 Russian Championships 11
60.60
13
114.07
13
174.67
7–10 December 2016 2016 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 3
64.18
2
127.21
3
191.39
11–13 November 2016 2016 Trophée de France 7
63.87
12
77.49
12
141.36
19–23 October 2016 2016 Cup of Nice 4
54.47
5
99.55
4
154.02
29 September – 1 October 2016 2016 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial 4
56.84
7
94.28
6
151.12
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
16–20 February 2016 2015–16 Russian Cup – Final
domestic competition
2
64.78
1
126.56
1
191.34
24–27 December 2015 2016 Russian Championships 7
66.15
9
124.17
9
190.32
2–5 December 2015 2015 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 2
58.86
4
114.38
4
173.24
27–29 November 2015 2015 NHK Trophy 7
59.63
9
106.12
8
165.75
30 October – November 1, 2015 2015 Skate Canada 10
52.08
8
108.29
8
160.37
14–18 October 2015 2015 International Cup of Nice 1
68.52
2
110.07
2
178.59
24–26 September 2015 2015 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 4
56.41
2
109.20
2
165.61
2014–15 season
Date Event SP FS Total
4–8 February 2015 2015 Winter Universiade 1
67.12
1
115.73
1
182.85
24–27 December 2014 2015 Russian Championships 5
67.99
7
116.34
7
184.33
28–30 November 2014 2014 NHK Trophy 2
68.11
3
118.29
2
186.40
14–16 November 2014 2014 CS Ice Challenge 1
56.75
5
91.54
4
148.29
31 October – 2 November 2014 2014 Skate Canada 3
62.54
6
101.61
6
164.15
25–27 September 2014 2014 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 1
66.72
3
119.99
2
186.71
2013–14 season
Date Event SP FS Total
15–19 January 2014 2014 European Championships 4
64.09
5
114.06
4
178.15
24–26 December 2013 2014 Russian Championships 4
67.03
7
120.45
5
187.48
8–10 November 2013 2013 NHK Trophy 7
55.86
7
106.08
7
161.94
2012–13 season
Date Event SP FS Total
10–17 March 2013 2013 World Championships 13
56.30
14
102.76
13
159.06
25–28 December 2012 2013 Russian Championships 6
59.64
8
110.00
7
169.64
9–11 November 2012 2012 Rostelecom Cup 4
58.85
8
98.42
6
157.27
19–21 October 2012 2012 Skate America 9
46.72
5
106.77
7
153.49
2011–12 season
Date Event SP FS Total
18–22 April 2012 2012 World Team Trophy 9
50.92
6
102.79
5T/7P
153.71
26 March – 1 April 2012 2012 World Championships 1
64.61
4
119.67
2
184.28
23–29 January 2012 2012 European Championships 7
54.50
6
104.28
7
158.78
25–29 December 2011 2012 Russian Championships 5
59.95
3
118.20
3
178.15
8–11 December 2011 2011–12 Grand Prix Final 3
60.46
4
115.96
3
176.42
25–27 November 2011 2011 Rostelecom Cup 2
63.91
2
116.54
2
180.45
11–13 November 2011 2011 NHK Trophy 2
61.76
4
108.92
3
170.68
27–30 October 2011 2011 Skate Canada 7
49.75
4
102.47
4
152.22
2010–11 season
Date Event SP FS Total
27 April – 1 May 2011 2011 World Championships 5
59.75
4
124.17
4
183.92
24–30 January 2011 2011 European Championships 13
48.40
3
105.91
5
154.31
26–29 December 2010 2011 Russian Championships 3
60.14
2
127.54
2
187.68
18–21 November 2010 2010 Rostelecom Cup 9
46.61
7
97.45
9
144.06
4–7 November 2010 2010 Cup of China 5
50.79
3
97.82
3
148.61
13–17 October 2010 2010 Coupe de Nice 1
55.52
1
111.18
1
166.70
7–10 October 2010 2010 Finlandia Trophy 3
51.68
6
83.09
3
134.77
2009–10 season
Date Event SP FS Total
22–28 March 2010 2010 World Championships 14
54.36
14
98.50
13
152.86
14–27 February 2010 2010 Winter Olympics 8
62.14
10
110.32
9
172.46
18–24 January 2010 2010 European Championships 5
58.26
7
95.31
7
153.57
23–27 December 2009 2010 Russian Championships 4
55.70
2
120.19
2
175.89
3–6 December 2009 2009–10 Grand Prix Final 3
61.60
6
94.95
6
156.55
5–8 November 2009 2009 NHK Trophy 5
52.34
1
108.51
2
160.85
22–25 October 2009 2009 Rostelecom Cup 4
56.78
3
103.28
3
160.06
8–11 October 2009 2009 Finlandia Trophy 1
56.24
1
105.93
1
162.17
2008–09 season
Date Event SP FS Total
15–19 April 2009 2009 World Team Trophy 6
54.72
5
106.68
5T/6P
161.40
23–29 March 2009 2009 World Championships 11
58.18
6
110.73
7
168.91
23 February – 1 March 2009 2009 World Junior Championships 3
55.50
2
101.68
1
157.18
20–25 January 2009 2009 European Championships 11
45.08
4
98.91
4
143.99
24–28 December 2008 2009 Russian Championships 3
6
5
143.49
20–23 November 2008 2008 Cup of Russia 7
50.96
5
94.97
5
145.93
6–9 November 2008 2008 Cup of China 8
44.04
7
93.23
7
137.27
15–19 October 2008 2008 Coupe de Nice 4
43.40
2
84.01
2
127.41
2007–08 season
Date Event SP FS Total
25 February – 2 March 2008 2008 World Junior Championships 7
49.76
5
88.30
6
138.06
30 January – 2 February 2008 2008 Russian Junior Championships 1
3
2
140.91
3–7 January 2008 2008 Russian Championships 8
5
7
132.22
18–21 October 2007 2007 Coupe de Nice 3
42.42
1
89.28
1
131.70
26–29 September 2007 2007 JGP Croatia 10
37.05
4
81.03
5
118.08
6–9 September 2007 2007 JGP Romania 5
39.64
1
86.86
2
126.50

References

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  2. "Alena LEONOVA: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  4. Леонова вышла замуж за Шулепова [Leonova married to Shulepov] (in Russian). 21 April 2019.
  5. Flade, Tatjana (14 June 2009). "Alena Leonova: An unexpected break-through". Golden Skate.
  6. Bagdasarova, Maria (2009). "Alena Leonova: "When I was born, someone gave my mom a horoscope of my life which said that I might become a successful athlete"". AbsoluteSkating.com. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  7. Luchianov, Vladislav (2 May 2011). "Leonova will continue to train with new inspiration". IceNetwork. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  8. Bagdasarova, Maria (10 December 2011). "Alena Leonova: "I feel that I can show new sides of myself."". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  9. Фигуристка Леонова считает, что смена тренера пошла ей на пользу [Skater Leonova believes changing coaches has worked out well for her] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  10. Flade, Tatjana (16 September 2011). "Russian Skaters Preview New Programs". IFS Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
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  14. Moore, Emmeline (31 March 2012). "Chan, Kostner strike gold in Nice". Agence France-Presse. Google News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.
  15. Фигуристка Леонова выступает на КЧМ в Токио на фоне простуды [Figure skater Leonova performs at World Team Trophy in Tokyo with the common cold]. rsport.ru (in Russian). 20 April 2012.
  16. Vorobieva, Maria (7 January 2013). Алена Леонова: я не готова "отпустить" этот сезон – буду бороться за место в составе сборной России на чемпионате мира! [Alena Leonova: I'm not ready to give up on this season – I will fight for a spot on the Russian team to the World Championships]. team-russia2014.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  17. Ivanov, Vladimir (24 October 2013). Николай Морозов: Леонова настроена максимально успешно начать сезон [Nikolai Morozov: Leonova is ready to start her season]. team-russia2014.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
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  24. Simonenko, Andrei (16 May 2015). Работа Леоновой с американским хореографом на сборе в США была полезной - тренер [Leonova working with the American choreographer in the camp in the United States has been useful - Coach]. R-Sport (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
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