Evgeni Semenenko

Evgeni Stanislavovich Semenenko (; born 26 July 2003) is a Russian figure skater who currently competes as an Individual Neutral Athlete. He is the 2021 Skate Canada bronze medalist and a two-time Russian national champion (2023–24). He placed in the top eight at the 2021 World Championships. He was the best result of Russia at 2022 Winter Olympics, placing 8th all-around. On the junior level, he is the 2021 Russian junior national champion.

Personal life Semenenko was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia on 26 July, 2003. He graduated from high school with honors in 2021 and has been studying at the medical faculty of First Pavlov State Medical University of St. Petersburg ever since.

Career

Early career Evgeni started skating when he was 5 years old. At the age of 8, Evgeni joined the team of Alexei Mishin and Tatiana Mishina. In his international advanced novice career, he notably won the 2016 Bavarian Open and the 2016 NRW Trophy. He debuted internationally as a junior at the Junior Grand Prix in Austria, placing 6th.

Semenenko missed the majority of the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons due to injury by a stress fracture in his tibia. Throughout the two seasons, he encountered struggles with his hip.

Evgeni debuted as a senior skater in the 2019–20 season, winning the silver medal at the 2020 Tallink Hotels Cup, and later winning the 2020 Russian Cup Final.

2020–2021 season: World Championships debut, Junior national champion Semenenko made his first appearance on the senior Grand Prix circuit at the 2020 Rostelecom Cup; placing 7th in the short program, 3rd in the free and 6th overall.

Being age eligible for both senior and junior competitions, Evgeni opted to compete at both the senior and junior national championships. He placed 11th at senior nationals, later going onto win junior nationals just two weeks after. The following month, Semenenko won the senior Russian Cup Final.

Semenenko competed at the 2021 World Team Trophy, helping team Russia win the gold medal.

2021–2022 season: Beijing Olympics, Grand Prix bronze Evgeni opened the Olympic season competing on the Challenger Series event, Finlandia Trophy; placing 5th. In the same month, he won his first Grand Prix medal, bronze at the 2021 Skate Canada. He later placed 6th at the Rostelecom Cup, his second Grand Prix assignment.

In December, Semenenko placed first in the short program at the 2022 Russian Nationals. However, placing 5th in the free program, he dropped to 4th place overall. He was named to the European team and named the first alternate for the Beijing Olympics.

At the 2022 European Championships, Evgeni placed 3rd in the short program, winning a small bronze medal for that segment. Placing 9th in the free program, he dropped to 5th overall.

Just a few weeks prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing, Evgeni was called up to compete due to teammate Mikhail Kolyada being forced to withdraw from the Games due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Evgeni competed in the individual event only. He finished in 8th place overall, earning new personal best scores in the free program and overall, making him the highest placed Russian man at the games in the figure skating event.

2022–2023 season: National champion At the 2023 Russian Championships, Evgeni won the title despite having a tie with competitor Petr Gumennik. Both athletes scored an identical total score of 295.07 points. The overall win and gold medal was given to Semenenko due to him placing higher in the free skating segment.

2023–2024 season: Two-time national champion Semenenko won his second national title at the 2024 Championships, making him a two-time consecutive national champion. He later won the Russian Cup Final, breaking the 300 point barrier for the first time in his career.

2024–2025 season Semenenko placed 3rd at the 2025 Russian Nationals, taking home the bronze medal.

2026–2027 season: Return to international competition On 30 June 2026, the International Skating Union announced that figure skaters from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete at international competitions as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs). Each of these skaters are be required to undergo an individual assessment conducted by the ISU Council to determine whether they meet the criteria for neutral status. Semenenko's application was approved, making him eligible to compete internationally as a neutral athlete.

Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2026–2027 "Dracula" soundtrack Music Box It's Her Eternal Love Last Combat

by Danny Elfman "The Count of Monte Christo" soundtrack Tempete

Mercedes Le Tresor

by Jerome Rebotier

Kalla

by Elephant Music 2025–2026 Heart-Shaped Box Smells Like Teen Spirit Gladiator Gladiator Orchestra Suite: Part 1, The Wheat / The Battle Gladiator Rhapsody Gladiator Orchestra Suite: Part 2, Elysium Now We Are Free Phantom 2024–2025 A Time of Quiet Between the Storms Harvester Attack Elegy for the Arctic Day 2: Golden Butterflies Variation 1 Experience Clockwork 2023–2024 Le clown Romeo + Juliet Talk Show Host O Verona Kissing You Escape from Mantua Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

Piano Concerto No. 2 2022–2023 Adagio in G minor Trust Fund Baby Good Boy Gone Bad Les sans-papiers Le pape des fous La fête des fous

Облака-бродяги (Tramp Clouds)

Trust Fund Baby Good Boy Gone Bad

Phantom

Frost

Adagio in G minor 2021–2022