18-year-old Russian-Armenian figure skater Adelia Petrosyan captured her third straight Russian Figure Skating Championship title, officially becoming the 2026 Russian Champion, after a dominant showing on December 20 in St. Petersburg, further cementing her status as Russia’s top Olympic hopeful ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Petrosyan scored a total of 235.95 points, finishing well ahead of Alisa Dvoeglazova (227.40) and Maria Zakharova (217.73). The victory continues her uninterrupted run at the top of Russian women’s figure skating.
Her short program, skated to a Michael Jackson track, electrified the arena. The crowd clapped along in rhythm, while legendary coach Tatyana Tarasova was visibly emotional after Petrosyan landed one of the sport’s most difficult elements. The performance earned a standing ovation from Russian Figure Skating Federation President Anton Sikharulidze and Secretary General Alexander Kogan.
In the free skate, Petrosyan skated with control and authority, needing only to protect her lead. She opened with a clean triple Axel, followed by a 4-2 toe loop combination, effectively sealing the championship and underlining her technical superiority.
Notably, the Russian Championships marked the return of Petrosyan’s Ultra-C elements, the ISU classification for the highest-difficulty jumps in figure skating, including quadruple jumps and the triple Axel. After limiting these elements earlier in the season, their successful reintroduction signals a key step forward in her Olympic preparation.
Commentators noted that Eteri Tutberidze’s star student has reached exceptional form at exactly the right moment, calling her condition and confidence “incredible” heading into the Olympic cycle.
A Proven Champion on the Road to Milan
Earlier this season, Petrosyan secured her place at the 2026 Winter Olympics by winning the ISU “Skate to Milano” Olympic Qualifier in Beijing, claiming both the short and free programs with a combined score of 209.63 points.
Her recent achievements highlight her dominance:
- Three-time Russian Figure Skating Champion (2024, 2025, 2026)
- Three-time Russian Grand Prix Final Champion (2023, 2024, 2025)
- History-maker, first woman to land a quadruple loop, and the first skater ever to land two quad loops in a single free skate
- Russian Jumping Championship winner (2025)
Despite ongoing restrictions on Russian athletes in many international qualifying events, Petrosyan remains fully qualified for the 2026 Winter Games, set to take place from February 6–22, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
With elite difficulty, restored Ultra-C elements, and championship-level composure, Adelia Petrosyan continues to stand as one of the strongest gold medal contenders as the Olympic Games approach.
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