Alexei Krasnozhon Explained

Alexei Krasnozhon
Native Name Lang:ru
Fullname:Alexei Dmitriyevich Krasnozhon
Also Known As:Aleksei
Birth Date:April 11, 2000
Birth Place:Saint Petersburg, Russia
Residence:Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Formercoach:Alexei Letov
Olga Ganicheva
Peter Cain
Darlene Cain
Alexei Mishin
Tatiana Mishina
Oleg Tataurov
Olga Kartashov
Formerchoreographer:Alexander Johnson
Adam Blake
Evgeni Nemerovski
Tatiana Prokofieva
Scott Brown
Former Skating Club:SC of Boston
Dallas FSC
Stars FSC of Texas
Yubileyny
Formertraininglocations:Norwood, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
Plano, Texas
Euless, Texas
Saint Petersburg
Beganskating:2005
Retired:May 12, 2021
Worldranking:49 (2020–21)
30 (2019–20)
23 (2018–19)
37 (2017–18)
58 (2016–17)
120 (2015–16)
Combined Total:230.11
Combined Date:2019 CS U.S. Classic
Sp Score:79.98
Sp Date:2019 Junior Worlds
Fs Score:153.19
Fs Date:2019 CS U.S. Classic
Show-Medals:yes

Alexei Dmitriyevich Krasnozhon (Russian: Алексей Дмитриевич Красножон; born April 11, 2000) is a Russian-American former competitive figure skater. Competing for the United States, he is the 2017 CS Tallinn Trophy silver medalist, 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and 2017 U.S. national junior champion. Krasnozhon skated for Russia earlier in his career, making his last international appearance in December 2013.

Personal life

Krasnozhon was born on April 11, 2000, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. His mother, Natalia, is an endocrinologist and his father, Dmitri, is an oncologist. He has two younger sisters, named Dana and Sofia. In 2014, Krasnozhon moved to Dallas, Texas. While training in Texas, he lived with his coaches, Peter and Darlene Cain, for five years. He later moved to live on his own in Plano, where his parents often visited. After relocating with coaches Olga Ganicheva and Alexei Letov to Boston, Kranoszhon roomed with fellow skaters Jimmy Ma and Misha Mitrofanov in Norwood.[1]

In March 2018, Krasnozhon said that he planned to apply for U.S. citizenship and applied as an alien of extraordinary ability after turning 18. He received his green card in September 2020.[2] Krasnozhon retired prior to the 2021–22 season, as he noted he would have been unable to gain citizenship in time for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[3] Although he originally planned to retire after the Olympics in January 2022, he acknowledged that it would have been difficult for him to make the team regardless of his citizenship and chose to retire earlier and instead pursue a college degree.[4]

While skating, Krasnozhon enrolled in a private online high school and expressed interest in a business degree from Georgetown University or Southern Methodist University. In his May 2021 retirement announcement, he shared that he would be attending Texas Christian University's John V. Roach Honors College.[3] Krasnozhon has expressed interest in becoming an immigration lawyer, as he was thankful for the opportunities afforded to him and his family by moving to the United States.[4]

Career

In Russia

Krasnozhon began skating as a five-year-old. At age seven, he became a student of Alexei Mishin, as well as his wife Tatiana Mishina and their assistant coach Oleg Tataurov. He competed for Russia at the Volvo Open Cup in January 2013, winning gold on the advanced novice level, and placed twelfth at the 2013 Russian Junior Championships.

Krasnozhon won the junior silver medal at the Denkova-Staviski Cup in December 2013. He missed much of the season due to a back injury.

Switch to the United States

In March 2014, Krasnozhon announced that he planned to compete for the United States and would be coached by Peter Cain and Darlene Cain in Euless, Texas. He qualified for the 2015 US Championships on the junior level and won the pewter medal.

On July 1, 2015, the Russian Figure Skating Federation released Krasnozhon so that he could compete internationally for the United States. While training in Moscow, Krasnozhon performed full run-throughs of his programs about once a week, but he began doing them daily after moving to Texas.

2015–2016 season

Making his Junior Grand Prix (JGP) debut, Krasnozhon won the bronze medal in August 2015 in Riga, Latvia. He then placed fifth in Torun, Poland. After receiving the junior gold medal at the Midwestern Sectionals, he closed his season by winning the junior bronze medal at the 2016 U.S. Championships, finishing behind Tomoki Hiwatashi and Kevin Shum.

2016–2017 season

Competing in the 2016 JGP series, Krasnozhon won silver in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and then gold in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He qualified to the Junior Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France, where he finished fifth. At the 2017 U.S. Championships, he won the junior men's title. He qualified to the free skate at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.

2017–2018 season

Making his senior international debut, Krasnozhon placed fourth at the Philadelphia Summer International in early August 2017. Competing in the Junior Grand Prix series, Krasnozhon won gold medals in Brisbane, Australia, and Zagreb, Croatia, which qualified him for the Final for a second time. Competing at his first Challenger event, and he won a silver medal at the 2017 CS Tallinn Trophy. Krasnozhon then won gold at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. He outscored the silver medalist, Camden Pulkinen, by more than 19 points and set a new personal best total score, 236.35 points, at the competition.

Krasnozhon competed in the senior ranks at the 2018 U.S. Championships, placing eighth in the short program, thirteenth in the free skate, and tenth overall. In March, he placed first in the short program at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. While attempting a quad salchow during his free skate, he sustained a Grade 2 sprain of all three major ligaments in his right ankle, causing him to withdraw.

Krasnozhon changed coaches during the off-season, deciding to train under Olga Ganicheva and Alexei Letov at the Dr. Pepper Starcenter in Plano, Texas.

2018–2019 season

Krasnozhon started his season off at the 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, where he placed fifth overall. Krasnozhon was invited to two senior Grand Prix events, the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki and 2018 Rostelecom Cup. Making his Grand Prix debut, Krasnozhon placed sixth at the Grand Prix of Helsinki and eighth at the Rostelecom Cup. Krasnozhon withdrew from the 2018 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb in December 2018.

At the 2019 U.S. Championships, Krasnozhon placed fifth. Assigned to compete at the 2019 World Junior Championships, he placed fifth in the short program, making a minor error on his Lutz-loop combination. In March 2019, he won gold medal at the Egna Spring Trophy.

2019–2020 season

In early August, Krasnozhon received the bronze medal at the Philadelphia Summer International. Krasnozhon next placed fourth at the 2019 CS U.S. Classic. In the free skate, he landed the quad loop for the first time. At his first Grand Prix of the year, 2019 Skate America, he placed tenth in the short program after underrotating and falling on an attempted quad flip, a new jump for him. In the free skate, he had a "hard, painful" fall on his quad flip attempt, but executed the rest of his planned triple jumps successfully, and rose to ninth place overall. He was tenth at the 2019 Rostelecom Cup. three week later he finished ninth at the 2019 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.

Competing at the 2020 U.S. Championships, Krasnozhon placed sixth in the short program, attempting only triple jumps. In the free skate he underrotated an attempted quad loop and put a hand down on a triple Axel, but remained in sixth place.

2020–2021 season

With the coronavirus pandemic raging, the ISU chose to assign the Grand Prix based largely on training location, leading to Krasnozhon attending the 2020 Skate America. Krasnozhon landed another quad loop in the short program, placing fifth, but struggled in the free skate and fell to seventh place overall.

Krasnozhon competed at the 2021 U.S. Championships, placing sixteenth out of seventeen skaters in the short program after falling on every jump. He rallied in the free skate, placing seventh in that segment, rising to eleventh place overall.

On May 12, he announced his retirement from competitive skating, saying that he would be attending Texas Christian University starting in the Fall of 2021.[3]

Programs

SeasonShort programFree skatingExhibition
2020–2021
  • Je dors sur les roses

----

Dracula
  • Prelude
  • Louis' Revenge
  • Santiago's Waltz
  • The Hunter's Prelude
  • Archangel
2019–2020
Dracula
  • Prelude
  • Louis' Revenge
  • Santiago's Waltz
  • The Hunter's Prelude
  • Archangel
2018–2019

----

2017–2018
  • Now We Are Free
2016–2017
  • Etude Op. 10, No. 3 in E
  • Rodeo
    • 50. Four Dance Episodes:
      III. Saturday Night Waltz
    • 51. Four Dance Episodes:
      IV. Hoedown
2015–2016
2014–2015
  • Love Story
  • Tango Amore
2013–2014
  • Love Story
  • Tango Amore
2012–2013
  • Russian folk music

Competitive highlights

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

For the United States

International
Event14–1515–1616–1717–1818–1919–2020–21
align=left 7th
align=left 8th 10th
align=left 9th 7th
align=left WD 9th
align=left 5th
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd
align=left 4th
align=left WD
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left 4th bgcolor=cc9966 3rd
International: Junior
align=left 8th WD 11th
align=left 5th bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd
align=left bgcolor=cc9966 3rd
align=left 5th
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st
National
align=left bgcolor=d1c571 4th J bgcolor=cc9966 3rd J bgcolor=gold 1st J 10th 5th 6th 11th
J = Junior level; TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew

For Russia

International
Event11–1212–1313–14
align=left bgcolor=silver 2nd J
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st N 4th J
National
align=left 14th 12th
Levels: N = Advanced novice; J = Junior

Detailed results

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. ISU Personal best highlighted in bold.

Senior results

2020–21 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
January 11–21, 20212021 U.S. Championshipsalign=center 16
54.53
align=center 7
152.23
align=center 11
206.76
October 23–24, 20202020 Skate Americaalign=center 5
78.06
align=center 9
136.55
align=center 7
214.61
2019–20 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
January 20–26, 20202020 U.S. Championshipsalign=center 6
80.71
align=center 6
160.61
align=center 6
241.32
December 4–7, 20192019 CS Golden Spin of Zagrebalign=center 7
73.26
align=center 8
139.25
align=center 9
212.51
November 15–17, 20192019 Rostelecom Cupalign=center 10
75.46
align=center 11
140.82
align=center 10
216.28
October 25–27, 20192019 Skate Americaalign=center 10
72.30
align=center 6
144.29
align=center 9
216.59
September 17–22, 20192019 CS U.S. International Classicalign=center 5
76.92
align=center 3
153.19
align=center 4
230.11
Jul. 31 – Aug. 3, 20192019 Philadelphia Summer Internationalalign=center 3
65.78
align=center 3
127.84
align=center bgcolor=cc9966 3
193.62
2018–19 season
DateEventSPFSTotal
March 28–31, 20192019 Egna Spring Trophyalign=center 1
74.17
align=center 2
145.95
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
220.12
January 19–27, 20192019 U.S. Championshipsalign=center 5
82.53
align=center 5
151.99
align=center 5
234.52
November 16–18, 20182018 Rostelecom Cupalign=center 6
75.32
align=center 8
132.69
align=center 8
208.01
November 2–4, 20182018 Grand Prix of Helsinkialign=center 8
74.05
align=center 6
136.98
align=center 7
211.03
September 26–29, 20182018 CS Nebelhorn Trophyalign=center 6
67.32
align=center 5
126.78
align=center 5
194.10

Junior results

2018–19 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
March 4–10, 20192019 World Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 5
79.98
align=center 12
131.49
align=center 11
211.47
2017–18 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
March 5–11, 20182018 World Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center bgcolor=gold 1
80.28
align=center WD align=center WD
Dec. 29 – Jan. 8, 20172018 U.S. ChampionshipsSenioralign=center 8
82.58
align=center 13
141.00
align=center 10
223.58
December 7–10, 20172017−18 Junior Grand Prix FinalJunioralign=center 1
81.33
align=center 1
155.02
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
236.35
November 21–26, 20172017 CS Tallinn TrophySenioralign=center 3
80.20
align=center 2
142.19
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
222.39
September 27–30, 20172017 JGP CroatiaJunioralign=center 1
80.26
align=center 2
145.22
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
225.48
August 23–26, 20172017 JGP AustraliaJunioralign=center 1
75.04
align=center 1
134.33
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
209.37
August 3–5, 20172017 Philadelphia Summer InternationalSenioralign=center 1
76.37
align=center 7
129.88
align=center 4
206.25
2016–17 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
March 15–19, 20172017 World Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 8
76.50
align=center 10
134.97
align=center 8
211.47
January 14–22, 20172017 U.S. Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 2
66.89
align=center 1
144.16
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
211.05
December 8–11, 20162016–17 Junior Grand Prix FinalJunioralign=center 5
71.48
align=center 6
137.37
align=center 5
208.85
September 21–25, 20162016 JGP SloveniaJunioralign=center 2
71.98
align=center 1
139.20
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
211.18
Aug. 31 – Sept. 3, 20162016 JGP Czech RepublicJunioralign=center 2
75.10
align=center 2
148.50
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
223.60
2015–16 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
January 15–24, 20162016 U.S. Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 7
53.96
align=center 3
122.25
align=center bgcolor=cc9966 3
176.21
September 23–27, 20152015 JGP PolandJunior align=center 5
62.44
align=center 3
132.14
align=center 5
194.58
August 26–30, 20152015 JGP LatviaJunioralign=center 3
67.53
align=center 3
127.15
align=center bgcolor=cc9966 3
194.68
August 3–5, 20152015 Philadelphia Summer InternationalJunior align=center 1
65.56
align=center 1
114.11
align=center bgcolor=gold 1
179.67
2014–15 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
January 18–25, 20152015 U.S. Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 6
60.52
align=center 2
129.70
align=center bgcolor=#d1c571 4
190.22
2013–14 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 20132013 Denkova-Staviski CupJunioralign=center 2
51.72
align=center 2
116.55
align=center bgcolor=silver 2
168.27
2012–13 season
DateEventLevelSPFSTotal
February 1–3, 20132013 Russian Junior ChampionshipsJunioralign=center 5
67.21
align=center 17
110.85
align=center 12
178.06

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Krasnozhon, Ma and Mitrofanov: Cracking Jokes and Pulling Pranks in Boston. Thomas. Touchstone. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. U.S. Figure Skating. December 15, 2020.
  2. Web site: Alex Krasnozhon One Stroke Closer to American Citizenship. Paige. Feigenbaum. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. U.S. Figure Skating. October 7, 2020.
  3. COx5BnhpboX. akrasnozhon. Hey everyone! Bigs news. After last season I decided to retire from competitive skating. It has been an amazing journey, and I am so grateful for everything. Alex. Krasnozhon. May 12, 2021.
  4. Web site: Трамп постоянно врет, а его фанаты атаковали демократию». Русско-американский фигурист о политике и чемпионате США. "Trump is constantly lying and his fans are attacking democracy." Russian-American figure skater on politics and the US Championship. ru. Konstantin. Lesik. Sport24.ru. January 20, 2021.