Rostelecom Cup

History

Beginning with the 1995–96 season, the International Skating Union (ISU) launched the Champions Series – later renamed the Grand Prix Series – which, at its inception, consisted of five qualifying competitions and the Champions Series Final. This allowed skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the same skaters whom they would later encounter at the World Championships. This series also provided the viewing public with additional televised skating, which was in high demand. Skaters earned points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were then invited to compete at the Champions Series Final.

The first edition – the 1996 Cup of Russia – was held in Saint Petersburg. Alexei Urmanov and Irina Slutskaya, both of Russia, won the inaugural men's and women's events, respectively. Mandy Wötzel and Ingo Steuer of Germany won the pairs event, while Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsyannikov of Russia won the ice dance event. The Cup of Russia adopted its current name in 2009 in recognition of its sponsor, the telecommunications company Rostelecom.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a number of modifications were made to the structure of the 2020 Rostelecom Cup. The competitors consisted only of skaters from Russia, skaters already training in Russia, or skaters assigned there for geographic reasons. However, the event became controversial after an apparent COVID-19 spread among attendees. Despite some precautionary measures being taken, the organizers of the Rostelecom Cup, as with many other Russian domestic competitions during the season, came under criticism for allowing a large audience and an insufficient enforcement of mandates regarding social distancing and proper mask usage. A focal point of criticism was the decision to hold the traditional post-competition banquet where many skaters were documented not socially distancing at all, as well as sharing food from a communal buffet. Several Russian skaters who competed at the event reported contracting the virus in the weeks afterward, including Dmitri Aliev, Alena Kostornaia, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Victoria Sinitsina, and Nikita Katsalapov. Estonian skater Eva-Lotta Kiibus also reported contracting COVID-19 at the event and was still suffering effects two months later.

Irina Rodnina, three-time Olympic champion for Russia in pair skating and member of the State Duma, strongly criticized the handling of the Rostelecom Cup and cited it as an example of the government needing to more aggressively fine people for non-compliance. After the event, when questioned by a journalist as to whether the Figure Skating Federation of Russia would be sanctioned over their disregard for safety protocols, Jan Dijkema, then-president of the ISU, acknowledged "the regrettable news about the situation involving positive test results for COVID-19," but denied that the ISU would take responsibility, citing the semi-domestic nature of the 2020–21 Grand Prix series.

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from participating in international figure skating competitions. The ISU also ordered that no international competitions be held in Russia or Belarus. Therefore, the Rostelecom Cup, which was scheduled for that November, was cancelled. The Grand Prix of Espoo in Finland was held as a replacement.

Medalists

Men's singles

Women's singles

Pairs

Ice dance

Records

Cumulative medal count

Men's singles

Women's singles

Pairs

Ice dance

Total medals

References

References

1. Hines, James R.. (2006). "Figure Skating: A History". [[University of Illinois Press]].
2. "Звездная дорожка".
3. (4 August 2020). "Grand Prix figure skating series downsized to localized events".
4. (4 December 2020). "". link
5. Goh, ZK. (3 December 2020). "Tuktamysheva, Aliev test positive for Covid-19; out of Cup of Russia finale".
6. (22 December 2020). "". link. Zvezda]]
7. Pahv, Peep. (20 January 2021). "Eva-Lotta Kiibus: koroonaviirus tekitas kurnatust, taastumine võttis aega ja võistlema tulek oli paras eneseületus".
8. Hersh, Philip. (16 March 2021). "Reigning champ Nathan Chen doesn't hide his anxieties about getting to, competing at figure skating worlds in Sweden".
9. Dunbar, Graham. (1 March 2022). "Russia excluded from more sports as sanctions mount".
10. (21 March 2022). "Russia's Figure Skating Ban Will Reverberate For Years To Come".
11. (25 April 2022). "Russia Stripped of Hosting Grand Prix Figure Skating Event Due to the Invasion in Ukraine".
12. (15 July 2022). "Finland replaces Russia as host of Grand Prix event".
13. "Cup of Russia 1996".
14. "1997 Cup of Russia".
15. "1998 Cup of Russia".
16. "1999 Cup of Russia".
17. "2000 Cup of Russia".
18. "2001 Cup of Russia".
19. "2002 Cup of Russia".
20. "2003 GP Cup of Russia".
21. "2004 GP Cup of Russia".
22. "2005 GP Cup of Russia".
23. "2006 GP Cup of Russia".
24. "2007 GP Cup of Russia".
25. "2008 GP Cup of Russia".
26. "2009 GP Rostelecom Cup".
27. "2010 GP Rostelecom Cup".
28. "2011 GP Rostelecom Cup".
29. "2012 GP Rostelecom Cup".
30. "2013 GP Rostelecom Cup".
31. "2014 GP Rostelecom Cup".
32. "2015 GP Rostelecom Cup".
33. "2016 GP Rostelecom Cup".
34. "2017 GP Rostelecom Cup".
35. "2018 GP Rostelecom Cup".
36. "2019 GP Rostelecom Cup".
37. "2020 GP Rostelecom Cup".
38. "2021 GP Rostelecom Cup".
39. "Competition Results – Evgeni Plushenko".
40. "Competition Results – Irina Slutskaya".
41. "A Pair of Hearts: Elena Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze".
42. "Competition Results – Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy".
43. "Competition Results – Aljona Savchenko/Bruno Massot".
44. "Competition Results – Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang".
45. "Competition Results – Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev".
46. "Krylova & Ovsyannikov: World Champions".
47. "Navka Tatiana/Kostomarov Roman – RUS Russia".
48. "Competition Results – Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov".