Anastasiia Nikolaevna Metelkina was born on March 23, 2005, in the historic Russian city of Vladimir. Little did her family know that this child, whose first steps on ice would come at the tender age of four, would one day not only represent a country different from her birth nation but also redefine the very idea of what’s possible for athletes from that nation in the elite world of pair figure skating.
Today, at just 20 years old, Metelkina stands as one of the most remarkable and rapidly ascendant athletes in international figure skating – a pioneer, a national symbol, and a role model whose personal and competitive journey intertwines with broader themes of identity, perseverance, and sporting evolution.
Early Life and the Start of a Skating Career
Anastasiia Metelkina’s story begins like that of many young skaters – with early exposure to ice and a passion for movement, music, and artistry. She started skating in 2009, building her foundations in single skating before transitioning into pair skating, a discipline that requires not only personal skill but profound synergy with a partner.
Pair skating – with its lifts, throws, and orchestrated movement – demands trust, precision, and emotional communication. For Metelkina, this transition marked the first real step toward her singular path in the sport: a path that would see her compete internationally, switch national representation, and eventually become a symbol of athletic and cultural ambition.
The Decision to Represent Georgia
Though born and trained in Russia, Metelkina began representing Georgia in international competition in 2020 – a decision that would shape both her athletic development and the trajectory of Georgian figure skating.
This change was motivated by multiple factors, not least of which was the intense depth of Russian pair skating. The Russian system, long a dominant force in the sport, produces a surplus of talent – making competition for international assignments fierce and opportunities limited. Representing Georgia afforded Metelkina a clearer path to international championship stages and Olympic qualification.
While the choice inevitably drew attention – and sometimes controversy – it also generated a curious narrative of dual identity: a Russian-born athlete elevating Georgian presence on the international figure skating scene. This background would make her later achievements all the more historic.
Early Competitive Milestones
Before the meteoric rise of her partnership with Luka Berulava (which began in 2023), Metelkina made her mark with earlier partners. Brief competitive stints with skaters like Daniil Parkman yielded important results — including a bronze medal at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo and a silver at the Golden Spin of Zagreb — and her pair with Parkman became the first Georgian duo to compete at a World Championships in 2021.
These early achievements laid important groundwork. They exposed Metelkina to the highest levels of competition, taught her resilience, and helped establish Georgia — a nation with little history in the sport — as a contender on the figure skating map.
2023–2024: The Partnership with Luka Berulava
Metelkina’s career reached a turning point in spring 2023 with the formation of her partnership with fellow Russian-born Georgian skater Luka Berulava. The two began training together under coaches including Pavel Sliusarenko and Egor Zukroev, and almost immediately they forged a competitive chemistry that would translate to success.
In their first season together, they not only medaled on the Junior Grand Prix circuit but also claimed victories that hinted at their potential:
- Gold at the Junior Grand Prix events in Turkey and Hungary
- Gold at the Junior Grand Prix Final
- Gold at the Warsaw Cup, their senior international debut
- Silver at the European Championships in 2024
- Gold at the World Junior Championships
These results were striking not just for their competitiveness but for the way they heralded a pair ready to blend artistry, technical prowess, and psychological resilience on the ice.
2024–2025: Rising Through the Ranks
The 2024–25 season marked a period of transition for Metelkina and Berulava as they balanced the shift from junior dominance to senior-level contention. Perhaps the most dramatic moments of this period came through both setbacks and triumphs.
At Grand Prix events, the pair showcased flashes of brilliance:
- Bronze at the 2024 NHK Trophy, a historic first Grand Prix gold for a Georgian pair
- Bronze at the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final
- Silver at the 2025 European Championships
Their two World Junior Championships titles (2024 and 2025) confirmed their sustained superiority at the junior level — but their return to junior competition in 2025 also generated discussion within skating circles about strategic planning and long-term development.
Nevertheless, they responded to all challenges with grace, balancing expectations and achieving strong results — often in long, grueling competitive seasons. At the 2025 World Championships, they finished a commendable fourth place, underscoring that their potential on the senior world stage was real and growing.
2025-26: Historic Achievements and the Olympic Breakthrough
The 2025–26 season was nothing short of a breakthrough for Metelkina and her partner:
European Championships Triumph
In January 2026, at the 2026 European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, the pair delivered an extraordinary performance – winning Georgia’s first ever European title in pair skating. After taking the lead in the short program, they skated to victory in the free skate, combining technical precision with compelling artistry and earning top honors over seasoned competitors.
This gold medal was more than a personal milestone; it signaled that Georgia had officially arrived on the elite pair skating scene.
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Perhaps even more historic were their accomplishments at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. Metelkina and Berulava delivered an exceptional series of performances, navigating the intense pressure of both the team event and the pairs event. Their combined efforts culminated in a silver medal in pairs figure skating, securing Georgia’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal in the nation’s history.
It was a moment of triumph not only for them but for the broader Georgian sporting community – a demonstration that perseverance, talent, and strategic vision can overturn decades of underdog status on the global stage.
On the ice in Milan, Metelkina showed extraordinary composure, notably holding a crucial landing on a throw triple loop – a moment many commentators suggested helped clinch the podium position.
The Skating Style, Persona, and Impact
Anastasiia Metelkina’s skating combines athletic precision with artistic expression – elements that are critical in pair skating. Her programs often feature demanding lifts, twists, and side-by-side elements, balanced with choreography that communicates emotion and intentionality on the ice.
Beyond technique, her presence reflects a broader evolution within the sport: young athletes are no longer constrained by national training norms, and their identities can be shaped by international experiences, multinational affiliations, and diverse coaching philosophies.
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