Winter Olympics 2026: Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava aim to turn figure skating world upside down like Mikhail Shaidorov
In the thrilling world of professional figure skating, unparalleled stories continue to emerge, and none is quite as captivating as that of Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava. The dynamic pair is sculpting their own narrative at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, drawing inspiration from none other than their friend and Olympic champion, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan. After navigating recent injuries that had them skating “with tears in their eyes,” they returned to the rink with renewed determination just a week later, and the impact was remarkable.
Despite a short program score of 75.46—slightly lower than their previous performance—they’ve positioned themselves firmly as medal contenders. Sitting in second place, just 4.55 points behind Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, and 0.86 points ahead of Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“Rest and massage were key for us,” Berulava stated. “Having Mikhail clinch that gold strengthened our resolve.” The atmosphere in the Milano Ice Skating Arena transformed as the audience witnessed their dramatic matador-inspired short program, which features a stunning headstand maneuver. “It’s gratifying to surprise the audience again and again,” expressed Metelkina. Their routine featured a triple Salchow and a flawless triple twist lift, further conveying their desire to innovate.
Although Metelkina touched the ice slightly during the throw triple flip, it stood as their only slip in an overall strong skate. Both athletes described their performance as improved from the team event, setting a new tone as they forward into the free skate lingering just hours away.
This competition is particularly significant for Georgia, a country yet to earn a figure skating medal. As Berulava shared post-performance, he eagerly anticipates changing that narrative alongside Metelkina in Monday’s free skate event.
In the vast world of professional figure skating, Metelkina and Berulava are determined to inspire, infusing each performance with creativity and courage. In an unpredictable Olympics, they prove that the impossible is often just a passion away.
