Russian skating duo Shesheleva, Karnaukhov win final gold medal at ISU Juniors Grand Prix

SHANGHAI, August 22. /TASS/. Polina Shesheleva and Yegor Karnaukhov, a pair from Russia, won the junior pairs title at the ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix series that ended in China’s Xi’an on Saturday.

The Russian figure skaters scored a total of 191.84 points (65.54 in the short program and 126.30 in the free skate). They were followed by China’s Chen Yuxuan and Dong Yinbo with 157.52 points (53.88+103.64), while another Chinese pair, Wang Chen Ling and Chen Yong Zheng, finished third with 134.50 points (49.61+84.89).

The competition, held since August 20, wrapped with Russian athletes winning gold at all events.

The ISU allowed Russian skaters to take part in international competitions as neutral athletes in the 2026/27 season.

Russian figure skaters have largely been absent from international tournaments since February 2022. Adelia Petrosyan and Pyotr Gumennik, who took part in the Olympic Games in Italy and finished sixth, were the only Russian skaters to do so.