Ksenia Stolbova
# Ksenia Stolbova

Ksenia Andreyevna Stolbova (Russian: Ксе́ния Андре́евна Столбо́ва; born 7 February 1992) is a retired Russian pair skater who skated with Andrei Novoselov and Fedor Klimov. She is the 2014 Olympic silver medalist, the 2014 Olympic champion in the team event, the 2014 World silver medalist, a three-time European medalist (2012 bronze, 2014, 2015 silver), the 2015–16 Grand Prix Final champion, the 2013 Winter Universiade champion, a two-time World Junior medalist (2010 bronze, 2011 silver), and a three-time Russian national champion (2014, 2015, 2017). Stolbova announced her retirement from competitions on 12 February 2020.

## Personal life

Ksenia Andreyevna Stolbova was born on 7 February 1992 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She attended the Lesgaft Academy of Physical Education in Saint Petersburg.

## Career

### Early career

Stolbova became interested in skating at the age of three but did not begin skating until a few years later after badgering her family. After a number of years in single skating, she wanted to try something different and made the switch to pair skating at the age of 14.

Stolbova's partnership with Artur Minchuk lasted three seasons, from 2006–07 to 2008–09. They finished 11th competing on the senior level at the Russian Championships in December 2008.

### 2009–11

In spring 2009, coach Ludmila Velikova partnered Stolbova with Fedor Klimov. They trained in Saint Petersburg.

During their first season together, the pair placed 2nd and 7th at their two Junior Grand Prix events, and 7th at the Final. The pair won the Russian Junior title and then bronze at Junior Worlds in 2010.

During the 2010–11 season, Stolbova/Klimov won both of their JGP events and qualified for the JGP Final. They also debuted on the senior GP circuit, finishing 5th at Skate America. They won silver at the Junior Grand Prix Final. At the 2011 Russian Championships, Stolbova/Klimov finished sixth overall in their senior national debut and won their second junior national title. They were the silver medalists at the 2011 World Junior Championships.

### 2011–12 season

For the Grand Prix season, Stolbova/Klimov were assigned to 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard, where they finished 7th, and 2011 Cup of Russia, where they finished 4th. Third in the short program and second in the long at the 2012 Russian Championships, the pair won their first senior national medal, silver.

Stolbova/Klimov were originally the first alternates for the 2012 European Championships but Alexander Smirnov had an emergency surgery and was not able to recover in time. Replacing Kavaguti/Smirnov at the event, Stolbova/Klimov set new personal bests in their short and long program to win their first European medal, bronze.

### 2012–13 season

For the 2012–13 season, Stolbova/Klimov worked on upgrading their twist to a triple. They began their international season at the 2012 Coupe de Nice, where they took the silver. Stolbova/Klimov won their first senior Grand Prix medal, bronze, at the 2012 Cup of China, and finished 5th at the 2012 Trophée Eric Bompard. They won the bronze medal at the 2013 Russian Championships.

First alternates for the 2013 European Championships, Stolbova/Klimov were called up to replace Vera Bazarova / Yuri Larionov who withdrew due to Larionov's wrist injury. After finishing sixth at Europeans in Zagreb, they won their first senior international title at the 2013 Bavarian Open. In April 2013, the pair said they wanted to move to Moscow to work with Nina Mozer, who agreed to take them in her group. The move was opposed by Oleg Nilov, the head of the Saint Petersburg skating association, arguing against a concentration of skaters in Moscow, but was authorized by the Russian skating federation.

After relocating to Moscow, the pair focused on improving their basic skating skills. Their training was interrupted when Klimov fell off a bicycle in late May 2013, resulting in a broken leg.

### 2013–14 season

In 2013–14, Stolbova/Klimov started their Grand Prix season with a bronze medal at the 2013 Skate America. After placing sixth in the short program and third in the free skate, they finished fourth overall at the 2013 Cup of Russia behind Canadian pair Kirsten Moore-Towers / Dylan Moscovitch. Stolbova/Klimov won the gold medal at the 2013 Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy and then took their first national title at the 2014 Russian Championships, scoring 0.45 more than the 2012 national champions, Bazarova/Larionov.

At the 2014 European Championships, Stolbova/Klimov placed fourth in the short, first in the free skate, and scored a total of 207.98 points to win the silver medal behind Volosozhar/Trankov and ahead of Bazarova/Larionov. All three pairs were sent to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Assigned to the free skate in the inaugural Olympic team event, Stolbova/Klimov placed first in their segment and Team Russia went on to win the gold medal. In the pairs event, Stolbova/Klimov placed third in the short and advanced to second after the free skate with an overall score of 218.68 points. They won the silver medal ahead of four-time World champions Aliona Savchenko / Robin Szolkowy who took the bronze medal. Stolbova/Klimov won the silver medal in their first appearance at the 2014 World Championships.

### 2014–15 season

In the 2014–15 season, Stolbova/Klimov won both of their Grand Prix events, the 2014 Rostelecom Cup and 2014 Trophee Eric Bompard, and took silver at the Grand Prix Final behind Canada's Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford. They won their second consecutive national title at the 2015 Russian Championships and went on to win silver at the 2015 European Championships behind Kavaguti/Smirnov.

Stolbova/Klimov decided not to compete at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, China, as they wanted to focus on learning new throw jumps.

### 2015–16 season

Stolbova/Klimov started the 2015–16 season competing in a challenger series at the 2015 Ondrej Nepela Trophy where they won the gold medal. They competed in their first Grand Prix of the season at the 2015 Skate America finishing 4th place. However, they polished their program and elements and won the gold medal in their second Grand Prix at the 2015 Rostelecom Cup ahead of teammates Yuko Kavaguti / Alexander Smirnov. They qualified for the 2015–16 Grand Prix Final in Barcelona where they placed first in both segments in pairs short program and in the free skate where they scored 154.60 points, just 0.06 lower than the free skate World record achieved by compatriots Tatiana Volosozhar / Maxim Trankov at the 2013 Skate America. Stolbova/Klimov landed clean side-by-side 3T-3T-2T jumps, as well as 3 Flip, 3 Salchow throws in their free skate. They won the gold medal with a total of 229.44 points.

Stolbova/Klimov withdrew from the entry list at the 2016 Russian Championships due to Klimov's allergic reaction from a therapeutic massage a week before nationals. They were selected to compete at the 2016 European Championships but withdrew before the event. A nerve problem affected Klimov's arm and shoulder muscles, preventing him from performing lifts.

At the 2016 World Championships in Boston, the pair placed 5th in the short program, 4th in the free skate, and 4th overall.

### 2016–17 season

During a training camp in mid-July 2016, Stolbova developed severe inflammation in her left ankle due to a nerve problem that arose after a change of skating boots. She and Klimov withdrew from both of their Grand Prix assignments – the 2016 Rostelecom Cup and 2016 NHK Trophy. They returned to competition in late December, winning gold at the 2017 Russian Championships by a margin of 0.93 over Evgenia Tarasova / Vladimir Morozov.

In January 2017 they competed at the 2017 European Championships where they placed 4th after placing 4th in both the short program and the free skate. Two months later they competed at the 2017 World Championships where they placed 5th after placing only 13th in the short program but 3rd in the free skate.

### 2017–18 season

In the Grand Prix season they won two silvers, first at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup and then at the 2017 NHK Trophy. These results qualified them to the 2017–18 Grand Prix Final where they placed 4th. They then won another pair of silver medals, first at the 2018 Russian Championships and then at the 2018 European Championships. They weren't sent to the 2018 Winter Olympics because it was announced by the Russian Figure Skating Federation on 23 January 2018 that Stolbova wasn't invited to the 2018 Olympics. They later withdrew from the 2018 World Championships.

Stolbova and Klimov ended their partnership later that year, and she teamed up with Andrei Novoselov.

### 2019–20 season

Stolbova and her new partner first performed at the 2019 Russian test skates. She described herself as "overwhelmed by emotions. We've waited a long time for this comeback. We're coming back with renewed bodies, renewed mindset, renewed emotions." Following the test skates, Stolbova/Novoselov discard their "I'll Take Care of You" short program in favour of a new one set to "Rebirth" by Hi-Finesse, first seen when they made their competitive debut at the 2019 Rostelecom Cup. They placed third in the short program, despite a doubled jump by Novoselov. In the free skate, errors on both jumping passes, a throw, and two lifts dropped them to fifth place overall.

## Programs

### With Novoselov

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2019–20 | Rebirth by Hi-Finesse & Natacha Atlas I'll Take Care of You by Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa | Moonlight Sonata (Epic Trailer Version) by Ludwig van Beethoven performed by Hidden Citizens | |

### With Klimov

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2017–18 | Tango de Besame performed by Benise | Carmen Suite | Please Don't Stop the Rain by James Morrison |
| 2016–17 | Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy choreo. by Yuri Smekalov | Après la pluie Pomeriggio Lied guitare by René Aubry choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Yuri Smekalov | Eine kleine Nachtmusik by W. A. Mozart |
| 2015–16 | I Put a Spell on You performed by Annie Lennox | Man and Shadow (from The Unknown Known) by Danny Elfman | Hello by Adele Memories of Sochi Losing by Marc Sway |
| 2014–15 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by Tan Dun House of Flying Daggers by Shigeru Umebayashi | Notre-Dame de Paris by Richard Cocciante Tu vas me Détruire performed by Daniel Lavoie Bohémienne performed by Hélène Ségara Danse, Mon Esmeralda performed by Garou | Losing by Marc Sway Memories of Sochi Strange Birds by Birdy |
| 2013–14 | Surrender by Jesse Cook | The Addams Family by Marc Shaiman | Laugh, I Nearly Died by The Rolling Stones La Strada by Nino Rota |
| 2012–13 | Interview with the Vampire by Elliot Goldenthal | The Addams Family by Marc Shaiman | Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy |
| 2011–12 | Boléro by Maurice Ravel | Polovtsian Dances by Alexander Borodin | La Strada by Nino Rota |
| 2010–11 | Asturias by Isaac Albéniz | La Strada soundtrack by Nino Rota | Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy |
| 2009–10 | Russian Fantasy by unknown | Oriental Fantasy by unknown | |

## Competitive highlights

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

### With Novoselov

International :

| Event | 19–20 |
| - | - |
| GP Rostelecom | 5th |
| National ||
| Russian Champ. | WD |

### With Klimov

International :

| Event | 09–10 | 10–11 | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18–19 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Olympics | | | | | 2nd | | | | | |
| Worlds | | | | | 2nd | | 4th | 5th | WD | |
| Europeans | | | 3rd | 6th | 2nd | 2nd | WD | 4th | 2nd | |
| GP Final | | | | | | 2nd | 1st | | 4th | |
| GP Bompard | | | 7th | 5th | | 1st | | | | |
| GP Cup of China | | | | 3rd | | | | | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | WD | 2nd | |
| GP Rostelecom | | | 4th | | 4th | 1st | 1st | WD | 2nd | |
| GP Skate America | | 5th | | | 3rd | | 4th | | | |
| CS Finlandia Trophy | | | | | | | | | 3rd | |
| CS Nepela Trophy | | | | | | | 1st | | | |
| Universiade | | | | | 1st | | | | | |
| Bavarian Open | | | | 1st | | | | | | |
| Cup of Nice | | | | 2nd | | | | | | |
| Warsaw Cup | | | | | 1st | | | | | |
| International: Junior |||||||||||
| Event | 09–10 | 10–11 | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18–19 |
| Junior Worlds | 3rd | 2nd | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Final | 7th | 2nd | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Austria | | 1st | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Belarus | 7th | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP U.K. | | 1st | | | | | | | | |
| JGP U.S. | 2nd | | | | | | | | | |
| National |||||||||||
| Russian Champ. | | 6th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | | 1st | 2nd | |
| Russian Jr. Champ. | 1st | 1st | | | | | | | | |
| Team events |||||||||||
| Olympics | | | | | 1st T 1st P | | | | | |
| Team Challenge Cup | | | | | | | 2nd T 2nd P | | | |
| TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew |||||||||||

### With Minchuk

National :

| Event | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 |
| - | - | - | - |
| Russian Championships | | | 11th |
| Russian Junior Champ. | 12th | 10th | |

### Ladies' singles

International :

| Event | 2004–05 | 2005–06 |
| - | - | - |
| Cup of Nice | 3rd N | |
| National |||
| Russian Junior Champ. | | 16th |

## Detailed results

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

### With Klimov

2017–18 season :

| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 15–21 January 2018 | 2018 European Championships | 3 72.05 | 2 138.96 | 2 211.01 |
| 21–24 December 2017 | 2018 Russian Championships | 1 76.32 | 2 139.23 | 2 215.55 |
| 7–10 December 2017 | 2017–18 Grand Prix Final | 4 73.15 | 4 136.11 | 4 209.26 |
| 10–12 November 2017 | 2017 NHK Trophy | 2 75.05 | 2 147.69 | 2 222.74 |
| 20–22 October 2017 | 2017 Rostelecom Cup | 2 71.39 | 2 133.04 | 2 204.43 |
| 6–8 October 2017 | 2017 CS Finlandia Trophy | 2 70.12 | 4 114.66 | 3 184.78 |
| 2016–17 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| 29 March – 2 April 2017 | 2017 World Championships | 13 65.69 | 3 141.03 | 5 206.72 |
| 25–29 January 2017 | 2017 European Championships | 4 73.70 | 4 142.81 | 4 216.51 |
| 20–26 December 2016 | 2017 Russian Championships | 2 77.47 | 1 142.65 | 1 220.12 |
| 2015–16 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| 22–24 April 2016 | 2016 Team Challenge Cup | | 2 130.46 | 2 |
| 28 March – 3 April 2016 | 2016 World Championships | 5 73.98 | 4 140.50 | 4 214.48 |
| 10–13 December 2015 | 2015–16 Grand Prix Final | 1 74.84 | 1 154.60 | 1 229.44 |
| 20–22 November 2015 | 2015 Rostelecom Cup | 1 75.45 | 1 139.25 | 1 214.70 |
| 23–25 October 2015 | 2015 Skate America | 5 63.41 | 2 125.65 | 4 189.06 |
| 1–3 October 2015 | 2015 Ondrej Nepela Trophy | 2 66.10 | 2 124.18 | 1 190.28 |
| 2014–15 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| 26 January – 1 February 2015 | 2015 European Championships | 1 71.38 | 2 129.73 | 2 201.11 |
| 24–28 December 2014 | 2015 Russian Championships | 1 75.72 | 2 136.38 | 1 212.10 |
| 11–14 December 2014 | 2014–15 Grand Prix Final | 2 72.33 | 2 141.39 | 2 213.72 |
| 21–23 November 2014 | 2014 Trophée Éric Bompard | 1 71.20 | 1 138.61 | 1 209.81 |
| 14–16 November 2014 | 2014 Cup of Russia | 1 69.09 | 1 142.88 | 1 211.97 |
| 2013–14 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| 24–30 March 2014 | 2014 World Championships | 3 76.15 | 2 139.77 | 2 215.92 |
| 6–22 February 2014 | 2014 Winter Olympics | 3 75.21 | 2 143.47 | 2 218.68 |
| 6–22 February 2014 | 2014 Winter Olympics (Team Event) | | 1 135.09 | 1 |
| 15–19 January 2014 | 2014 European Championships | 4 70.90 | 1 137.08 | 2 207.98 |
| 24–27 December 2013 | 2014 Russian Championships | 1 75.55 | 2 138.92 | 1 214.47 |
| 11–15 December 2013 | 2013 Winter Universiade | 1 70.01 | 1 128.86 | 1 198.87 |
| 22–24 November 2013 | 2013 Cup of Russia | 6 57.20 | 3 130.90 | 4 188.10 |
| 13–17 November 2013 | 2013 Warsaw Cup | 1 64.64 | 1 128.27 | 1 192.91 |
| 18–20 October 2013 | 2013 Skate America | 3 64.80 | 3 122.55 | 3 187.35 |
| 2012–2013 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| 6–11 February 2013 | 2013 Bavarian Open | 1 59.84 | 1 123.03 | 1 182.87 |
| 23–27 January 2013 | 2013 European Championships | 8 53.70 | 6 113.53 | 6 167.23 |
| 25–28 December 2012 | 2013 Russian Championships | 3 67.78 | 3 127.68 | 3 195.46 |
| 15–18 November 2012 | 2012 Trophée Éric Bompard | 5 53.64 | 3 113.09 | 5 166.73 |
| 2–4 November 2012 | 2012 Cup of China | 5 56.66 | 3 115.89 | 3 172.55 |
| 24–28 October 2012 | 2012 Cup of Nice | 3 48.32 | 1 106.72 | 2 155.04 |
| 2011–2012 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| 23–29 January 2012 | 2012 Europeans Championships | 3 58.66 | 3 113.15 | 3 171.81 |
| 25–29 December 2011 | 2012 Russian Championships | 3 58.46 | 2 123.67 | 2 182.13 |
| 24–27 November 2011 | 2011 Cup of Russia | 4 51.73 | 5 97.93 | 4 149.66 |
| 18–20 November 2011 | 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard | 7 48.81 | 8 88.25 | 7 137.06 |

### 2009–2010 to 2010–2011

2010–2011 season :

| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 28 February – 6 March 2011 | 2011 World Junior Championships | Junior | 3 54.21 | 2 105.39 | 2 159.60 |
| 2–4 February 2011 | 2011 Russian Junior Championships | Junior | 1 62.63 | 1 115.33 | 1 177.96 |
| 26–29 December 2010 | 2011 Russian Championships | Senior | 5 61.03 | 6 107.05 | 6 168.08 |
| 8–12 December 2010 | 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final | Junior | 2 49.63 | 2 100.91 | 2 150.54 |
| 11–14 November 2010 | 2010 Skate America | Senior | 5 53.73 | 6 105.76 | 5 159.49 |
| 29 September – 3 October 2010 | 2010 Junior Grand Prix UK | Junior | 1 54.17 | 2 97.47 | 1 151.64 |
| 15–19 September 2010 | 2010 Junior Grand Prix Austria | Junior | 1 54.30 | 1 105.49 | 1 159.79 |
| 2009–2010 season ||||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| 9–13 March 2010 | 2010 World Junior Championships | Junior | 3 54.26 | 3 91.09 | 3 145.35 |
| 3–6 February 2010 | 2010 Russian Junior Championships | Junior | 1 60.04 | 1 107.14 | 1 167.18 |
| 2–6 December 2009 | 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final | Junior | 3 48.90 | 8 73.29 | 7 122.19 |
| 23–27 September 2009 | 2009 Junior Grand Prix Belarus | Junior | 2 49.52 | 8 74.48 | 7 124.00 |
| 2–6 September 2009 | 2010 Junior Grand Prix U.S. | Junior | 2 47.53 | 5 81.97 | 2 129.50 |
