Estonian figure skater Aleksandr Selevko showcased a commendable performance during the short program at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Tuesday, successfully qualifying for the free skate stage. Although he incurred a fall that cost him critical points, the 24-year-old European silver medalist scored a respectable 82.02 points, which fell short of the winning score of 108.16 points.
Selevko secured his spot at the Winter Games by finishing fifth at last month’s European Championships held in Sheffield, England. His younger brother, Mihhail, who finished just behind him, did not qualify for the Olympics. In November, Selevko had set a personal best in the short program with a score of 91.28 points and has achieved a total score of 257.21 points at a Canadian Grand Prix event last year, marking a significant milestone as he became the first Estonian man to podium at that level.
This marks Selevko’s second appearance at the Winter Olympics in men’s singles figure skating, having previously placed 28th in Beijing four years ago. Competing as the 19th skater among 29 participants, he took to the ice late in the evening.
In the lead-up to the event, Selevko exhibited strong consistency during practice, particularly with his quadruple jumps. “My toe loop went well, no problem at all. The quadruple lutz was also okay. I did my short program and think everything was good. There was one mistake, but the quads were very good. I like the ice here. I’m in good shape,” he remarked to ERR.
The competition was fierce, featuring last-minute entries like Italy’s Matteo Rizzo and Daniel Grassl, alongside top contenders such as Ilia Malinin of the U.S., who had already claimed gold in a team event, and Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, the silver medalist from 2022.
In a strong start to his program, Selevko executed a solid quadruple toe loop and successfully landed a triple axel. Unfortunately, he stumbled on a triple lutz, which disrupted his momentum and ultimately impacted his score. Despite this setback, he concluded his performance confidently, achieving a score that, without the fall, might have crossed the 90-point threshold.
Following Selevko in the rankings was France’s Adam Siao Him Fa, who delivered a stellar performance and set a new personal best of 102.55 points before Ilia Malinin dazzled the judges, earning an impressive 108.16 points, which included a backflip, a rare spectacle in Olympic competition.
Selevko’s 82.02 points place him heading into Friday’s free skate in 18th position, where he will aim to improve his standing and showcase his skills further.
His journey not only highlights the fierce competitiveness of figure skating but also the potential for growth and improvement as he progresses in this prestigious event.