Maxim Kovtun Explained

Maxim Kovtun
Fullname:Maxim Pavlovich Kovtun
Country:Russia
Birth Date:18 June 1995
Birth Place:Yekaterinburg, Russia
Residence:Moscow, Russia
Coach:Elena Buianova
Formercoach:Inna Goncharenko, Tatiana Tarasova, Maxim Zavozin, Nikolai Morozov, Maria Voitsekhovskaia
Choreographer:Anna Bilibina
Formerchoreographer:Peter Tchernyshev, Irina Tagaeva, Tatiana Tarasova, Nikolai Morozov
Skating Club:CSKA Moscow
Former Skating Club:Vorobievie Gory
Currenttraininglocations:Moscow
Formertraininglocations:Yekaterinburg
Beganskating:1999
Retired:23 April 2019
Worldranking:21 (2017–18)
8 (2016–17)
6 (2015–16)
7 (2014–15)
9 (2013–14)
29 (2012–13)
85 (2011–12)
Combined Total:247.55
Combined Date:2018 CS Tallinn Trophy
Sp Score:87.70
Sp Date:2019 Europeans
Fs Score:166.64
Fs Date:2018 CS Tallinn Trophy
Show-Medals:yes

Maxim Pavlovich Kovtun (Russian: Максим Павлович Ковтун; born 18 June 1995) is a retired Russian figure skater. He is a three-time European medalist (silver in 2015 and 2017, bronze in 2016) and four-time (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) Russian national champion. On the junior level, he is the 2012 JGP Final champion. Kovtun has successfully landed two quad jumps in a short program, and three quads in a free program.

On 23 April 2019, Kovtun announced his retirement from competition.[1]

Personal life

Maxim Pavlovich Kovtun was born 18 June 1995 in Yekaterinburg. His two older brothers formerly competed in figure skating and his father, Pavel, is a skating coach and former pair skater. He was in a relationship with a gymnast Chilita Bagdzhi from 2015 until 2016. He has been dating a Russian group rhythmic gymnast Evgeniia Levanova since 2019.[2]

Career

Taken to the ice rink by his father, Kovtun began skating at age four in Yekaterinburg and was coached mainly by Maria Voitsekhovskaia in his early years. He also trained in ice hockey but chose skating at age ten.

2011–12 season: JGP and senior debuts

In the spring of 2011, Kovtun began training with Nikolai Morozov. He debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit in the 2011–12 season, winning gold at his first event in Romania and then silver in Estonia. He qualified for the 2011–12 JGP Final where he finished fourth. At the 2012 Russian Championships, Kovtun finished twelfth on the senior level and won the bronze medal on the junior level. He was assigned to the 2012 World Team Trophy—his first senior international event—following Sergei Voronov's injury-related withdrawal. He finished twelfth at the event.

2012–13 season: Gold at JGP Final

In the summer of 2012, Kovtun switched coaches to Elena Buianova (Vodorezova). He began the 2012–13 season by winning a pair of gold medals at JGP events in Croatia and Germany. In Croatia, he scored a personal best 80.00 points in free skating TES. Kovtun qualified for the JGP Final in Sochi, Russia, where he won gold by eleven points over silver medalist Joshua Farris. At the event, he scored 149.78 points for his free skate which included a 4T-3T, 3A-3T and 3A.

Kovtun said he would try two quads in his free program at the 2013 Russian Championships. Although he finished fifth on the senior level, he was named in the Russian team to the 2013 European Championships because Russian regulations guaranteed berths only to the top two finishers while a committee had the right to choose the third entry. In his European debut, Kovtun placed seventh in the short program, fourth in the free skate, and fifth overall with a total score of 226.57 points. In the free skate, his fourth combination (3S-2T) was deemed invalid. Kovtun finished seventeenth in his first World Championships, held in London, Ontario, Canada. He was eighth in the men's event at the 2013 World Team Trophy and Team Russia finished fourth.

2013–14 season: First senior national title

Kovtun found his short program for the 2013–14 season very challenging, stating, "When we [began training the program], it was just hell. [...] I needed half an hour to learn one step, so it took a very long time to put this all together." He made his senior Grand Prix debut at the 2013 Cup of China. He placed second in the short—landing a 4S-3T, 4T and 3A—and first in the free skate, in which he landed a 4S, 4S-2T, 3A-2T and 3A. Kovtun won the silver medal overall behind China's Han Yan. He won another silver medal at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup. The results qualified him to his first senior Grand Prix Final. He finished fifth at the event in Fukuoka, Japan.

At the 2014 Russian Championships, Kovtun placed second in the short program and first in the free skate. He was awarded the gold medal ahead of three-time Olympic medalist Evgeni Plushenko. After Kovtun again placed fifth at the European Championships, Russia received a sole spot in the men's event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, which was assigned to Plushenko despite Kovtun placing higher. Plushenko skated earlier in the Olympics in helping win gold in the team competition. On Thursday 13 February 2014, Plushenko decided to withdraw from the men’s singles competition following his pre-short program warm up after sustaining a back injury. However, Plushenko's withdrawal was after the Sunday deadline where he could have been replaced with Kovtun which left Russia without an entry in men's singles. [3] [4]

Kovtun was sent to the 2014 World Championships in Saitama, Japan. He placed seventh in the short program, fifth in the free skate, and finished fourth overall behind Spain's Javier Fernández.

2014–15 season: Silver at Europeans

For the 2014–15 Grand Prix season, Kovtun was assigned to compete at the Cup of China and Trophée Bompard. He placed first in both segments to win the gold medal in China, ahead of the Olympic champion, Yuzuru Hanyu, and Richard Dornbush. He then won the gold medal in France ahead of Tatsuki Machida and Denis Ten. Kovtun qualified to the Grand Prix Final as the only skater that won both of his assignments. He placed third in the short program, skating last, and then fifth in the free skate, finishing fourth overall behind his teammate Sergei Voronov.

At the 2015 Russian Championships, Kovtun won his second national title. At the 2015 European Championships, he ranked fourth in the short program and second in the free skate, ending in second place overall, behind Javier Fernández. He then finished seventh at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, China.

2015–16 season

Kovtun started the 2015–16 season with gold at the 2015 CS Mordovian Ornament. Turning to the Grand Prix series, he placed second in the short program (SP) at the 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard. Due to the November 2015 Paris attacks, the free skate was cancelled and the SP standings were deemed the final results.[5] Kovtun finished tenth at his second GP event, the 2015 NHK Trophy, which meant he did not qualify for the Final. In December, he won his third consecutive national title, at the 2016 Russian Championships in his home city of Yekaterinburg.

In late January, Kovtun was awarded the bronze medal at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, having placed second in the short and sixth in the free. He finished 18th at the 2016 World Championships in Boston. On 16 May 2016, Buyanova announced that Kovtun had left her group and joined Inna Goncharenko.

2016–17 season

After taking the bronze medal at the 2016 CS Finlandia Trophy, Kovtun finished seventh at both of his Grand Prix assignments, the 2016 Skate America and 2016 Cup of China. At the 2017 Russian Championships, he received the bronze medal, having finished third to Mikhail Kolyada and Alexander Samarin. He said that he had begun consulting a psychologist. He won the silver medal at the 2017 European Championships, earning new personal bests in the short program, free skate and overall. He placed eleventh at the 2017 World Championships.

2017–18 season

Kovtun withdrew from the 2017 Finlandia Trophy and his first Grand Prix assignment, 2017 Skate Canada, due to a back injury.[6] Kovtun competed in the short program at 2017 Skate America, placing twelfth, and withdrew as a result of continued back and knee problems. At the 2018 Russian Championships, he placed sixteenth in the short program, and again withdrew. Commenting afterward on his disappointing result, Kovtun said it was a "novel experience" and that he "was physically unable to train, simply because I could not bend down to tie my laces and then straighten up again." He resumed training in February 2018.

2018–19 season

Coached by Elena Buianova and Alexander Uspenski at CSKA Moscow, Kovtun began his season by winning the gold medal at the 2018 CS Tallinn Trophy. Competing at the 2019 Russian Championships, he placed first in both the short program and the free skate to claim his fourth Russian national title.

At the 2019 European Championships, Kovtun placed fifth in the short program. He had serious problems in the free skate, popping several of his planned quad and triple jumps, and as a result placed sixteenth in the free and dropped to fourteenth overall.

In March 2019, he took silver at the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Kovtun withdrew from the 2019 World Championships, citing medical reasons.[7]

On 23 April 2019, Kovtun announced his retirement from competitive skating.

Programs

SeasonShort programFree skatingExhibition
2018–19
2017–18
  • Flamenco selection
2016–17
2015–16
  • Kiss
2014–15

  • Kiss
2013–14
  • Farruca
  • Summertime
2012–13
  • Casablanca
  • Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
2011–12
  • Murka

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International
Event10–1111–1212–1313–1414–1515–1616–1717–1818–19
align=left 17th 4th 7th 18th 11th WD
align=left 5th 5th bgcolor=silver 2nd bgcolor=cc9966 3rd bgcolor=silver 2nd 14th
align=left 5th 4th
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st bgcolor=silver 2nd
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd bgcolor=gold 1st 7th
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd
align=left 10th
align=left 7th WD
align=left WD
align=left WD
align=left bgcolor=cc9966 3rd WD
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd
International: Junior
align=left 4th bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd J
National
align=left 11th 12th 5th bgcolor=gold 1st bgcolor=gold 1st bgcolor=gold 1st bgcolor=cc9966 3rd WD bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left 5th bgcolor=cc9966 3rd
Team events
align=left 5th T
12th P
4th T
8th P
bgcolor=silver 2nd T
7th P
bgcolor=silver 2nd T
9th P
J = Junior level; TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

Senior level

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

2018–19 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
7–9 March 20192019 Winter Universiadealign=center 1
91.74
align=center 3
167.75
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
259.49
21–27 January 20192019 European Championshipsalign=center 5
87.70
align=center 16
128.48
align=center 14
216.18
19–23 December 20182019 Russian Championshipsalign=center 1
95.14
align=center 1
186.45
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
281.59
26 November – 2 December 20182018 CS Tallinn Trophyalign=center 1
80.91
align=center 1
166.64
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
247.55
2017–18 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
21–24 December 20172018 Russian Championshipsalign=center 16
64.72
align=center WDalign=center WD
24–26 November 20172017 Skate Americaalign=center 12
64.98
align=center WDalign=center WD
2016–17 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
20–23 April 20172017 World Team Trophyalign=center 11
64.62
align=center 10
148.29
align=center bgcolor=silver 2T/9P
29 March – 2 April 20172017 World Championshipsalign=center 10
89.38
align=center 14
156.46
align=center 11
245.84
25–29 January 20172017 European Championshipsalign=center bgcolor=silver2
94.53
align=center bgcolor=silver2
172.27
align=center bgcolor=silver2
266.80
20–26 December 20162017 Russian Championshipsalign=center 7
76.65
align=center 2
172.72
align=center bgcolor=cc99663
249.37
18–20 November 20162016 Cup of Chinaalign=center 10
70.10
align=center 7
151.33
align=center 7
221.43
21–23 October 20162016 Skate Americaalign=center 10
67.43
align=center 6
163.32
align=center 7
230.75
6–10 October 20162016 CS Finlandia Trophyalign=center 1
88.26
align=center 3
141.31
align=center bgcolor=cc9966 3
229.57
2015–16 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
28 March – 3 April 20162016 World Championshipsalign=center 13
78.46
align=center 21
131.68
align=center 18
210.14
26–31 January 20162016 European Championshipsalign=center bgcolor=silver2
88.09
align=center 6
154.12
align=center bgcolor=cc99663
242.21
24–27 December 20152016 Russian Championshipsalign=center 1
93.05
align=center 1
173.08
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
266.13
27–29 November 20152015 NHK Trophyalign=center 4
82.27
align=center 11
130.36
align=center 10
212.63
13–15 November 20152015 Trophée Éric Bompardalign=center 2
86.82
align=center cancelledalign=center bgcolor=silver2
86.82
16–19 October 20152015 CS Mordovian Ornament4
73.14
1
163.24
align=center bgcolor=gold1
236.38
2014–15 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
16–19 April 20152015 World Team Trophy8
74.83
6
158.91
align=center bgcolor=silver2T/7P
233.74
23–29 March 20152015 World Championshipsalign=center 16
70.82
align=center 6
159.88
align=center 7
230.70
26 January – 1 February 20152015 European Championshipsalign=center 4
78.21
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
157.47
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
235.68
24–27 December 20142015 Russian Championshipsalign=center 1
98.14
align=center 2
173.38
align=center bgcolor=gold1
271.52
11–14 December 20142014–15 Grand Prix Finalalign=center 3
87.02
align=center 5
155.25
align=center 4
242.27
20–23 November 20142014 Trophée Éric Bompardalign=center 6
77.11
align=center 1
166.24
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
243.35
7–9 November 20142014 Cup of Chinaalign=center 1
85.96
align=center 1
157.38
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
243.34
2013–14 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
24–30 March 20142014 World Championshipsalign=center 7
84.66
align=center 5
162.71
align=center 4
247.37
15–19 January 20142014 European Championshipsalign=center 4
83.15
align=center 5
149.22
align=center 5
232.37
24–27 December 20132014 Russian Championshipsalign=center 2
93.08
align=center 1
174.05
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
267.13
5–8 December 20132013–14 Grand Prix Finalalign=center 5
68.92
align=center 5
164.32
align=center 5
233.24
21–23 November 20132013 Rostelecom Cupalign=center 1
92.53
align=center 2
147.81
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
240.34
1–2 November 20132013 Cup of Chinaalign=center 2
81.84
align=center 1
156.81
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
238.65

Junior level

2012–13 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
11–14 April 20132013 World Team TrophySenioralign=center 7
76.67
align=center 8
145.12
align=center 4T/8P
221.79
10–17 March 20132013 World ChampionshipsSenioralign=center 19
65.85
align=center 14
141.55
align=center 17
207.40
23–27 January 20132013 European ChampionshipsSenioralign=center 7
74.46
align=center 4
152.11
align=center 5
226.57
25–28 December 20122013 Russian ChampionshipsSenioralign=center 3
75.38
align=center 5
149.64
align=center 5
225.02
6–8 December 20122012–13 Junior Grand Prix FinalJunioralign=center 2
72.53
align=center 1
149.78
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
222.31
10–13 October 20122012 JGP GermanyJunioralign=center 1
68.13
align=center 2
124.91
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
193.04
4–7 October 20122012 JGP CroatiaJunioralign=center 2
69.47
align=center 1
149.72
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
219.19
2011–12 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
18–22 April 20122012 ISU World Team TrophySenioralign=center 11
60.93
align=center 12
111.53
align=center 5T/12P
172.46
5–7 February 20122012 Russian Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 5
65.21
align=center 2
128.74
align=center bgcolor=cc9966 3
193.95
5–7 February 20122012 Russian ChampionshipsSenioralign=center 12
66.11
align=center 11
127.82
align=center 12
193.93
8–11 December 20112011–12 Junior Grand Prix FinalJunioralign=center 4
63.68
align=center 4
130.08
align=center 4
193.76
13–15 October 20112011 JGP EstoniaJunioralign=center 2
58.47
align=center 2
128.40
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
186.87
22–24 September 20112011 JGP RomaniaJunioralign=center 2
61.14
align=center 1
121.77
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
182.91
2010–11 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
12–19 February 20112011 European Youth Olympic FestivalJunioralign=center 1
60.93
align=center 2
100.82
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
161.75
2–4 February 20112011 Russian Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 4
63.32
align=center 6
119.25
align=center 5
182.57
26–29 December 20102011 Russian ChampionshipsSenioralign=center 6
67.63
align=center 12
120.87
align=center 11
188.50

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maxim Kovtun Максим Ковтун on Instagram: "Писал, стирал и снова писал, снова стирал... Самое сложное письмо в моей Жизни... Этот день должен был настать. Пришла пора прощаться... Не…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BwmKlhmleTn . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram. en. 2019-04-23.
  2. Web site: С кем из гимнасток сейчас встречается Максим Ковтун?. 2020-08-13. Яндекс Дзен Платформа для авторов, издателей и брендов. en.
  3. Web site: Backlash Swells over Plushenko's Last-Minute Withdrawal from Olympic Figure Skating . 14 February 2014 .
  4. Web site: Evgeni Plushenko Makes a Painful Exit Amid Controversy at Sochi . .
  5. Web site: ISU Communication 1980 . 2015-12-30 . 2015-11-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151124004557/http://static.isu.org/media/1012/1980-isu-gp-fra-2015-partial-cancelation-info-to-members-public.pdf . dead .
  6. Web site: Рецидив травмы спины не позволит фигуристу Ковтуну выступить в Канаде - Гончаренко . 30 September 2017 .
  7. 1105865386157854722 . Maxim Kovtun has withdrawn from the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2019 in Saitama, JPN. He will be replaced by Andrei Lazukin. http://ow.ly/UL4o30o1K9o #WorldFigure #FigureSkatingpic.twitter.com/78cMArqVJV. Skating. ISU Figure. 2019-03-13. isu_figure. en. 2019-04-23.