 |
Deniss VasiļjevsLatvian figure skater
Date of Birth: 09.08.1999
Country:  Latvia |
Content:
Denis Vasiļjevs
Denis Vasiļjevs is a Latvian figure skater competing in men's singles. He is a two-time bronze medalist at the Junior Grand Prix Final (2015–2016 and 2016–2017), the 2016 Youth Olympic silver medalist, and a three-time Latvian national champion (2016–2018).
Early Life and Career
Vasiļjevs was born in Daugavpils, Latvia, in 1999. He began skating in 2002 and quickly demonstrated his talent. He debuted in the junior ranks during the 2013–2014 season, becoming the second Latvian skater to qualify for the World Junior Championships.
Junior Career
Vasiļjevs made his Junior Grand Prix debut in 2013. He placed in the top ten at two events and won the Latvian junior national title. The following season, he became a two-time Latvian junior champion and competed at the Junior World Championships, where he achieved the highest placement for a Latvian skater.
Senior Career
Vasiļjevs transitioned to the senior ranks in 2015–2016. He won the Latvian national championship and qualified for the European Championships, where he narrowly missed the top ten. At the Youth Olympic Games, he won a bronze medal in the mixed-team event and placed second overall.
In the 2016–2017 season, Vasiļjevs switched coaches to Stéphane Lambiel. He placed in the middle of the pack at two Grand Prix events and achieved a career-high ranking of seventh at the European Championships. He qualified for the World Championships and improved his personal bests.
Olympic Season
Vasiļjevs started the 2017–2018 Olympic season strongly, placing fourth at the Japan Grand Prix. At the European Championships, he performed a clean short program and was in medal contention, but dropped to fourth in the free skate. He set personal bests in all aspects of the competition and qualified for the Pyeongchang Olympics.
