Ukrainian figure skater Yegor Kurtsev has etched his name into the history of national sports by winning the bronze medal at the final stage of the Junior Grand Prix series, which concluded in Gdańsk, Poland. This successful international performance allowed the 18-year-old athlete from Kharkiv to set an absolute historical record for Ukrainian men's single skating, demonstrating an exceptional level of preparation, consistency, and fighting spirit under intense competition.
Competition details and triumph in Gdańsk
The large-scale international competitions in Gdańsk, Poland, took place from October 8 to 10, 2026, gathering the strongest young figure skaters on the planet. Following a tense battle in both the short and free programs, Yegor Kurtsev climbed to the third step of the podium, scoring a total of 198.84 points. A particularly bright moment was his short program performance, where the Kharkiv native renewed his personal best by receiving 71.39 points from the judges. The centerpiece of this routine was a flawlessly executed triple flip and triple toe loop combination, which earned 11.59 points—the highest score among all stage participants for this technical element.
Free program and the path to the podium
A confident and technically complex free program helped Yegor cement his success and secure a spot among the top three. In this discipline, the Ukrainian skater earned 127.45 points, guaranteeing his final placement on the podium and confirming his elite class. This bronze medal marks Kurtsev's second consecutive podium finish in the current Junior Grand Prix season. Previously, in September 2026, the Kharkiv athlete won a silver medal at the series stage in Ankara, Turkey, demonstrating remarkable stability throughout the autumn stretch of the season.
Historical significance of the record for Ukraine
Thanks to his consistently high results in Ankara and Gdańsk, Yegor Kurtsev became the first representative of Ukraine in the history of men's single skating to twice step onto the Junior Grand Prix podium within a single sports season. This unprecedented breakthrough opens a new chapter in the development of winter sports in the country and proves that the Ukrainian figure skating school is capable of producing world-class medalists even amidst modern challenges.
