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Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Dmitriyevna and the family name is Alexandrovskaya.

Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya
Alexandrovskaya in 2017
Full nameEkaterina Dmitriyevna Alexandrovskaya
Native nameЕкатери́на Дми́триевна Алекса́ндровская
Other namesKatya Aleksandrovskaya
Born(2000-01-01)1 January 2000
Moscow, Russia
Died18 July 2020(2020-07-18) (aged 20)
Moscow, Russia
Height1.54 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
Country Australia
CoachAndrei Khekalo
Skating clubSydney FSC
Began skating2004
Retired2020
Medal record
Representing  Australia
Figure skating: Pairs
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Taipei Pairs
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2017–18 Nagoya Pairs

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna Alexandrovskaya (Russian: Екатери́на Дми́триевна Алекса́ндровская; 1 January 2000 – 18[1] July 2020) was a Russian-Australian pair skater. With her skating partner, Harley Windsor, she was the 2017 CS Tallinn Trophy champion, the 2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy bronze medallist, the 2018 CS U.S. Classic bronze medallist, and a two-time Australian national champion (2017, 2019).

At the junior level, she was the 2017 World Junior champion, the 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, the 2016 JGP Estonia champion, and the 2017 JGP Poland champion.

The 2022 documentary Harley & Katya portrays her partnership with Windsor.

Early life

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Aleksandrovskaya was born on 1 January 2000 in Moscow.[2][3] Her father died in 2015.[4] She became an Australian citizen in October 2017.[5] Aleksandrovskaya struggled with depression and began treatment for epilepsy in January 2020.[6]

Career

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Early career

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Aleksandrovskaya started learning to skate in 2004 when she was four.[2] After competing as a single skater through 2011–2012, she began appearing in pairs with Vladislav Lysoy during the 2012–2013 season. She skated with Aleksandr Epifanov in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016.[7]

Teaming with Windsor

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Responding to a query from Australian-based coaches Andrei and Galina Pachin, her coach Nina Mozer suggested a tryout between Alexandrovskaya and Harley Windsor in Moscow.[8][3] The two began skating together in December 2015.[9] Observing the tryout, the coaches believed that the skaters would make a good match due to similar technique and body types.[10]

Alexandrovskaya was released by Russia after a request from the Australian skating association, with help from Mozer.[4]

2016–2017 season

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Alexandrovskaya/Windsor at the 2016–17 JGP Final

During the season, Alexandrovskaya/Windsor were coached by the Pachins in Sydney and by Andrei Hekalo and Nina Mozer in Moscow.[2] Their international debut came in early September 2016 at the Junior Grand Prix (JGP) in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Ranked 6th in the short program and 9th in the free skate, the pair finished 8th overall.[11] Later that month, the two competed at a JGP event in Tallinn, Estonia. They were awarded the gold medal ahead of three Russian pairs after placing third in the short and first in the free.[8][12] They finished as the first substitutes for the JGP Final in Marseille, France.[13]

Alexandrovskaya/Windsor made their senior debut in October 2016 at a Challenger Series event, the Finlandia Trophy; they placed sixth and obtained the minimum technical scores to compete at senior-level ISU Championships. In December, the pair placed 5th in France at the JGP Final, to which they were called up as replacements for Russia's Ekaterina Borisova / Dmitry Sopot. Windsor tore his patella tendon in January 2017.[14] The following month, the pair placed 11th at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, South Korea.[15]

In March the same year, Alexandrovskaya/Windsor competed at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. Ranked third in the short program and second in the free skate, they finished first overall, outscoring the silver medallists, Aleksandra Boikova / Dmitrii Kozlovskii of Russia, by 2.05 points. They became the first skaters representing Australia to win gold at one of the ISU Figure Skating Championships and the first to finish on a podium at Junior Worlds since 1976, when Elizabeth Cain / Peter Cain took the pairs' bronze medal.[16][17] A couple of weeks later, the pair competed at the senior-level World Championships, which took place in Helsinki, Finland. They qualified to the free skate and went on to finish 16th.[18]

2017–2018 season

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In early September, Alexandrovskaya/Windsor finished fourth at the 2017 JGP in Riga, Latvia. Later in the month, they competed at the 2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying opportunity for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Ranked fourth in the short program and third in the free skate, they won their first senior international medal, bronze. Their result also allowed them to become the first Australian pair skaters to compete at the Olympics since Danielle Carr / Stephen Carr's appearance at the 1998 Winter Olympics.[19]

In October, Alexandrovskaya/Windsor placed first in both segments at the JGP event in Gdańsk, Poland; they were awarded the gold medal and qualified for the JGP Final in Nagoya, Japan. In December, they won gold at the final, becoming the first Australian champions in the event's history.[20]

In January, Alexandrovskaya/Windsor finished 6th overall at the 2018 Four Continents Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. They were awarded a small silver medal for their performance in the short program. In February, the two represented Australia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[21] Ranked 18th in the short program, they were not among the 16 pairs who advanced to the free skate.[15] They were more successful at the 2018 World Championships in Milan, Italy, placing 15th in the short program and 16th overall.

2018–2019 season

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Alexandrovskaya/Windsor moved to Montreal to train with coaches Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte. Despite beginning the season with a bronze medal at the 2018 CS U.S. Classic, the move was overall not a success, and both struggled with health and fitness concerns.[22] They finished sixth at the 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, and then made their senior Grand Prix debut, finishing seventh of eight teams at both 2018 Skate Canada International and 2018 Rostelecom Cup.[15]

Windsor developed a chronic foot inflammation that compelled them to miss both the Four Continents and World Championships.[23]

2019–2020 season

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After their unsuccessful season, Alexandrovskaya/Windsor moved back to Sydney, and were joined there by former coach Andrei Khekalo. After months of experimentation, a solution was found for Windsor's foot inflammation that allowed them to resume training on ice.[22] Alexandrovskaya/Windsor placed ninth at the 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, and then finished seventh at the 2019 Skate America, their lone Grand Prix assignment.[24]

They withdrew from the 2019 CS Warsaw Cup, and did not compete at 2019 Australian Figure Skating Championships, though they were still named to the 2020 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships team. They withdrew from that competition also, and Windsor announced that they had split due to Alexandrovskaya retiring because of health issues.[25] It was subsequently reported by coach Khekalo that Alexandrovskaya had an epileptic seizure in early January that prompted her retirement.[26][27]

Death

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On 18 July 2020, Alexandrovskaya died after jumping out of the 6th floor window of her Moscow home, in a suspected suicide, leaving behind a note that said "Lyublyu" (Russian: Люблю, lit. 'I love'). She was 20 years old.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

In film

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An ABC Television feature-length documentary film, Harley & Katya, detailing Alexandrovskaya/Windsor's relationship and partnership, was released in February 2022. The film, which was directed and co-written by Selina Miles (co-written by Blayke Hoffman)[35] and produced by Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury,[36] and production company Stranger Than Fiction, was nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 13th AACTA Awards in 2024.[37] It also won an International Emmy Award for Best Sports Documentary in 2024.[38][39]

Programs

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With Windsor

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2019–2020
[40]
2018–2019
[41]
2017–2018
[42]
2016–2017
[2]

Competitive highlights with Windsor

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Alexandrovskaya/Windsor at the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final

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

International[15]
Event 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20
Olympics 18th
Worlds 16th 16th
Four Continents 11th 6th WD WD
GP Rostelecom Cup 7th
GP Skate America 7th
GP Skate Canada 7th
CS Finlandia 6th 6th
CS Nebelhorn 3rd 9th
CS Tallinn Trophy 1st
CS U.S. Classic 3rd
CS Warsaw Cup WD WD
International: Junior[15]
Junior Worlds 1st
JGP Final 5th 1st
JGP Czech Republic 8th
JGP Estonia 1st
JGP Latvia 4th
JGP Poland 1st
National[15]
Australian Champ. 1st 1st
WD = Withdrew

References

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  1. ^ "Медведева: фигуристка Александровская была добрым и порядочным человеком - ТАСС".
  2. ^ a b c d "Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA / Harley WINDSOR: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya, Olympic figure skater dies". Olympic Talk. NBC Sports. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020 – via Yahoo!.
  4. ^ a b Noonan, Belinda (3 September 2016). "Aboriginal figure skater and his unlikely partner take on the world". Burwood Scene. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Harley Windsor to become first indigenous Winter Olympian". The Australian. 20 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Olympic figure skater Alexandrovskaya dies aged 20". Yahoo Sports. AFP. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  7. ^ Екатерина Дмитриевна Александровская [Ekaterina Dmitriyevna Aleksandrovskaya]. fskate.ru (in Russian).
  8. ^ a b Noonan, Belinda (1 October 2016). "Historic gold medal for indigenous figure skater". Burwood Scene. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  9. ^ Armstrong, Kerrie (15 May 2017). "Breaking the ice". Special Broadcasting Service.
  10. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (18 October 2017). "Andrei and Galina Pachin guide Australian figure skating stars to the next level". Hills News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  11. ^ Braithwaite, Alyssa (12 September 2016). "Meet the Indigenous figure skater who has his sights set on the Olympics". Special Broadcasting Service.
  12. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Tallinn Cup 2016: Junior Pairs Result". International Skating Union. 30 September 2016.
  13. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2016 / 2017 Junior Pairs". International Skating Union. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  14. ^ "From Russia and Rooty Hill to a place at Winter Olympics". The Australian. 14 February 2017.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Competition Results: Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA / Harley WINDSOR". International Skating Union.
  16. ^ Flade, Tatjana (17 March 2017). "Alexandrovskaya and Windsor earn first Junior World gold for Australia". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ Jeffery, Nicole (18 March 2017). "Olympics: Harley Windsor and Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya win junior title". The Australian.
  18. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2017 - Pairs Results". International Skating Union. 30 March 2017.
  19. ^ Jeffery, Nicole (2 October 2017). "Australian skating pair qualify for the Winter Olympics". The Australian.
  20. ^ Flade, Tatjana (30 April 2018). "Australia's Alexandrovskaya and Windsor keep writing history". goldenskate.com.
  21. ^ "Athlete Profile – Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA". PyeongChang2018.com. PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018.
  22. ^ a b Бывший тренер Волосожар и Транькова: звали в Китай, уехал в Австралию [Former trainer of Volosozhar and Trankov: called to China, left for Australia]. rsport.ria.ru (in Russian). 21 October 2019.
  23. ^ Cloutier, Claire (20 February 2019). "Coach Richard Gauthier handicaps pairs field for Worlds, analyzes rules changes". Figure Skaters Online.
  24. ^ Slater, Paula (20 October 2019). "China's Peng and Jin win first Grand Prix gold at 2019 Skate America". Golden Skate.
  25. ^ Riordan, Joey (18 July 2020). "The health issues behind Aussie Olympian's 'sudden passing'". 7 News.
  26. ^ Satdinov, Ildar (18 July 2020). Тренер погибшей фигуристки Александровской рассказал о ее болезни [The coach of the deceased figure skater Aleksandrovskaya spoke about her illness]. RIA Novosti (in Russian).
  27. ^ Погибшая фигуристка Александровская с января лечилась от эпилепсии [The deceased skater Aleksandrovskaya was treated for epilepsy in January]. TASS (in Russian). 18 July 2020.
  28. ^ Jiwani, Rori (18 July 2020). "Former world junior champion Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya dies aged 20". Olympic Channel.
  29. ^ Markova, Alisa (18 July 2020). Известная фигуристка Екатерина Александровская выпала из окна [Famous skater Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya fell out of a window]. 5TV (in Russian).
  30. ^ Ryazov, Igor (18 July 2020). В квартире погибшей фигуристки Александровской нашли записку [A note was found in the apartment of the deceased skater Alexandrovskaya]. 5TV (in Russian).
  31. ^ Источник: фигуристка Екатерина Александровская покончила с собой [Source: skater Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya has committed suicide]. TASS (in Russian). 18 July 2020.
  32. ^ Стало известно о бедах трагически погибшей Екатерины Александровской [The troubles of the tragically deceased Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya]. Vesti (in Russian). 18 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Heartbreaking details emerge around Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya's death". New York Post. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  34. ^ Тренер погибшей фигуристки Александровской: "Она страдала лунатизмом" [Deceased skater Aleksandrovskaya's coach: "She suffered from sleepwalking"]. Moskovskiy Komsomolets (in Russian). 20 July 2020.
  35. ^ Harley & Katya (2022) - IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2024 – via www.imdb.com.
  36. ^ "Larrakia-Erub filmmaker Aaliyah-Jade grew up in Sydney but her Torres Strait Islander culture remains her 'life force'". ABC News. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Winners & Nominees". AACTA. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  38. ^ Keast, Jackie (21 November 2023). "'Heartbreak High', 'Built to Survive', 'Harley & Katya' win International Emmys". IF Magazine. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  39. ^ "The ABC wins two International Emmy Awards". About the ABC. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA / Harley WINDSOR: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019.
  41. ^ "Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA / Harley WINDSOR: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019.
  42. ^ "Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA / Harley WINDSOR: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018.
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