Alexander Abt

Alexander "Sasha" Viktorovich Abt (Russian: Александр "Саша" Викторович Абт; born October 22, 1976) is a Russian figure skater and coach. He is a two-time European medalist and placed fifth at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Alexander Abt
Abt in 2003.
Personal information
Country representedRussia
Born (1976-10-22) October 22, 1976
Moscow
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 12 in)
Former coachAlexander Zhulin
Rafael Arutyunyan
Sergei Volkov
Former choreographerAlexander Zhulin
Skating clubTrade Union Moscow
Began skating1982
Retired2004
ISU personal best scores
Combined total189.46
2003 Cup of Russia
Short program73.05
2003 Cup of Russia
Free skate121.40
2003 NHK Trophy

Career

Abt's first experience with figure skating came at the age of six when his grandmother took him to a rink.[1] Sergei Volkov coached him early on but he began suffering from cancer and sent Abt to be trained by Rafael Arutyunyan before he died. Soon after, Abt began to make a name for himself on the junior circuit and won the silver medal at the 1991 World Junior Championships.

Abt underwent surgery for a knee problem early in his career.[1] Later, in the summer of 1996, he sustained a serious injury during an exhibition performance in Mexico – He crashed into the boards and cut into his right leg's quadriceps muscle with his left blade, keeping him in hospital for several weeks and off ice for six months.[1][2] He was a late replacement at the 1997 European Championships, where he won the bronze medal.[3]

Alexander placed fourth at the 1998 Russian Championships and was not named to the Olympic team. Later that year, he placed third at the European Championships, behind fellow countrymen Alexei Yagudin and Evgeni Plushenko and claimed the bronze medal. Abt underwent knee surgery in December 1998.[1]

Abt had a sinus infection at the 2001 European Championships and underwent surgery in spring 2001 to remove a cyst from his sinuses.[4] In June 2001, he moved to Lake Arrowhead, California, for training.[4] Abt won the silver medal at the 2002 European Championships, and came in fifth at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Abt intended to retire following that season, but instead elected to continue competing.[5] Having worked with Arutyunyan for eleven years, Abt decided to move to a new coach, Alexander Zhulin, in May 2002.[6]

Abt won three Grand Prix medals, as well as his first (and only) Russian Championship in the 2002-03 season.[5] He was forced to withdraw from the 2003 European Championships after injuring his landing ankle in practice a day before he was supposed to fly out,[5] and took several months to recover. His last competition was the 2004 Russian Championships. He withdrew after placing fourth in the short program.

Abt retired from competition and participated in the Russian TV show Ice Age (2008). He played one of the main roles in a Russian soap opera about figure skating, My Hot Ice (2008–2009). Abt has skated in Japan for Prince Ice World and in Russia on the Ice Symphony tour. He coaches in New Jersey.

Personal life

In April 1999, Abt married former ice dancer Elena Pavlova,[7] who competed with her brother Alexander Pavlov.[8] They have one son, Makar, born in March 2000.[7] The family now resides in New Jersey, in the United States.

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2003–2004
[7]
2002–2003
[6]
  • Yablochko
    by Reinhold Glière
2001–2002
[4]
  • Wonderful World
2000–2001
[1]
  • Artsakh
    by Ara Gevorgyan

Results

Results[1][4][6][7]
International
Event 1990–91 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
Olympics5th
Worlds6th8th4th
Europeans3rd4th4th2ndWD
Grand Prix Final5th4th4th
GP Cup of Russia3rd2nd3rd6th
GP Nations Cup /
Sparkassen / Bofrost
3rd2nd4th4th2nd
GP NHK Trophy8th5th
GP Skate America3rd3rd7th5th3rd2nd
Nebelhorn3rd3rd
Winter Universiade3rd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds2nd7th8th
National
Russian Champ.4th4th18th7th4th3rd3rd2nd1stWD
Soviet Junior1st
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

References

  1. "Alexander ABT: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 18, 2001.
  2. Mittan, Barry (February 15, 2002). "Injuries Dog Abt's Career". Golden Skate.
  3. Mittan, J. Barry (1998). "Alexander Abt". Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
  4. "Alexander ABT: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  5. Bangs, Kathleen (November 17, 2003). "Alexander Abt: Sasha Debuts New Season on Hometown Moscow Ice". GoldenSkate. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010.
  6. "Alexander ABT: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 17, 2003.
  7. "Alexander ABT: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2004.
  8. "Danika BOURNE / Alexander PAVLOV: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 25, 2005.
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