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Oksana Domnina and Maxim ShabalinFigure skaters
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin: Ice Dance Champions
- Breakthrough and Injury
- Coaching Change and Triumph
- Oksana Domnina
- Maxim Shabalin
- World Championship Medalists
Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin: Ice Dance Champions
Early Career and SuccessOksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin joined forces in May 2002 under the guidance of coach Alexei Gorshkov and choreographer Sergei Petukhov. Their first season together was a resounding success, earning them victories at all junior competitions they entered, including the Grand Prix Final and World Junior Championships.
Breakthrough and Injury
After the 2006 Turin Olympics, their career gained momentum. In the 2006-07 season, they established themselves among the world's elite ice dance teams. However, the 2007-08 season brought both triumphs and challenges. They triumphed at the Grand Prix Final and European Championships, but Максим underwent three knee surgeries, pushing through pain and injections to secure their victories. Ultimately, their injuries forced them to withdraw from the World Championships.
Coaching Change and Triumph
During the off-season, the pair made the difficult decision to change coaches, joining Natalia Linichuk and Gennady Karponosov. They relocated to Aston, USA, where they trained alongside Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto. Their hard work and perseverance paid off with a victory at the 2009 World Championships.
Oksana Domnina
Early Years and PartnershipsBorn on August 17, 1984, in Kirov, Oksana began skating at age six. She took up ice dance after transitioning to artificial ice. After partnering with Anton Ryabov and Ivan Lobanov, she joined Maxim Bolotin in Moscow. Their partnership, however, proved unfruitful.
Maxim Shabalin
Early Career and BreakthroughBorn on January 25, 1982, in Samara, Maxim began skating at age four. Initially, he resisted training, preferring play. However, at age 11, he was invited into ice dance by Coach Oleg Ivanovich Sudakov. After several unsuccessful partnerships, he moved to Sofia, Bulgaria, and teamed up with Margarita Toteva. Returning to Russia, he skated with Elena Khalyavina from 1999 to 2002, achieving success at the junior level.
World Championship Medalists
Shabalin and Khalyavina earned a bronze medal at the 2001 World Junior Championships and placed second at the 2002 Grand Prix Final Junior. However, their partnership faced difficulties, leading Shabalin to search for a new partner, which ultimately brought him to Oksana Domnina. Their collaboration has yielded numerous accolades and cemented their place in ice dance history.
