Sofia Sergeyevna Biryukova (Russian: Софья Серге́евна Бирюкова; born 19 July 1994) is a Russian figure skater. She is the 2013 Winter Universiade champion and 2011 Finlandia Trophy champion.[1]

Sofia Biryukova
Biryukova with her former coach, Viktoria Volchkova, at the 2011 Cup of Russia
Full nameSofia Sergeyevna Biryukova
Born (1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 (age 30)
Moscow, Russia
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Figure skating career
CountryRussia
PartnerAndrei Filonov
CoachDmitri Savin
Skating clubVorobyovy Gory
Began skating2001
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ladies Figure skating
Winter Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2013 Trentino Ladies' singles

Career

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Biryukova competed in the 2009–10 ISU Junior Grand Prix series, winning a silver medal in Turkey. The following season, she began competing on the senior level internationally. She appeared at her first senior Grand Prix event, the 2010 Cup of Russia.

Biryukova began the 2011–12 season by winning gold at the 2011 Finlandia Trophy. She placed 4th at the 2011 Cup of Russia, setting personal bests in both programs. Toward the end of the season, she sustained four fractures.[2]

In the 2012–2013 season, Biryukova was assigned to two ISU Grand Prix events, the 2012 Cup of China and 2012 NHK Trophy, and finished 9th at both.

Biryukova won the gold medal at the 2013 Winter Universiade.[3] Since Butsaeva was unable to attend, Svetlana Sokolovskaya stepped in to work with her at the event.[4]

Pair Skating career

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In spring 2014, Biryukova decided to try pair skating.[5] After telling her coach, Butsaeva, Butsaeva contacted pairs coach, Nina Mozer, and Mozer invited Biryukova to watch the pair skating at the Vorobyovy Gory where she coaches. After deciding she wanted to switch to pair skating, Mozer agreed to let her train at the rink and paired her up with Aleksandr Stepanov in the fall of 2014, who was also a singles skater that wanted to switch to pair skating. Pavel Alexandrovich Kitashev became the pair team's coach.[6] On January 13, 2015, however, Biryukova stated she was unsure if she would continue pair skating or start coaching, feeling as though she hadn't made a lot of progress as a pair skater.[7]

Deciding to end her pair skating career, Biryukova ended her partnership with Stepanov. Four months later, however, Biryukova was contacted by Nina Mozer, who convinced her to tryout with pair skater Andrei Filonov, who was looking for a partner. After a successful tryout, the pair decided to skate together and are coached by Dmitri Savin.[8]

The pair made their skating debut at the 2016 Russian Figure Skating Championships, where they placed 7th.

Programs

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With Filonov

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Season Short program Free skating
2015–2016

Singles Skating

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2012–2013
[9]
2011–2012
[10]
  • Turandot
    by Giacomo Puccini
2010–2011
[11]
2009–2010
  • Danse macabre, Op. 40
    by Camille Saint-Saëns

Competition highlights

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With Filonov

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National
Event 2015–16
Russian Champ. 7th
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

Singles Skating

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International[1]
Event 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14
GP Cup of China 9th
GP NHK Trophy 9th
GP Rostelecom 6th 4th
Winter Universiade 1st
Finlandia 7th 1st
Cup of Nice 6th
International: Junior[1]
JGP Turkey 2nd
National[1]
Russian Champ. 6th 6th 9th 17th 12th
Russian Junior 7th 6th
GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Competition Results: Sofia BIRYUKOVA". International Skating Union.
  2. ^ Biryukova, Sofia (29 December 2012). Сильно не ругайте!. rsport.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  3. ^ Фигуристка Бирюкова победила на Универсиаде, Мишина завоевала бронзу [Figure skater Biryukova won at the Universiade, Mishina achieved bronze]. ria.ru (in Russian). Ria Novosti. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  4. ^ Ermolina, Olga (29 April 2014). Софья Бирюкова получила благодарность от президента РФ [Sofia Biryukova recognized]. Russian Figure Skating Federation (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 April 2014.
  5. ^ Simonenko, Andrei (10 June 2014). Софья Бирюкова: устала от одиночного катания – и решила попробовать что-то новое [Sofia Biryukova has left singles to try something new]. R-Sport (in Russian).
  6. ^ Simonenko, Andrew. "Софья Бирюкова: устала от одиночного катания – и решила попробовать что-то новое". rsport.ru. rsport.ru. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  7. ^ Воробьева, Мария. "Фигуристка Бирюкова сказала, что может перейти на постоянную тренерскую работу". rsport.ru. rsport. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  8. ^ Simonenko, Andrew. "Кататься в паре приятнее – мальчика за ручку подержать можно, поболтать". SovSport. SovSport. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Sofia BIRYUKOVA: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Sofia BIRYUKOVA: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Sofia BIRYUKOVA: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011.
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