Early Life and Beginnings on Ice
Nikita Andreyevich Volodin was born on June 29, 1999, in Saint Petersburg, Russia – a city known for its rich figure skating tradition and history of producing technically skilled skaters. Introduced to the sport at a very young age, Volodin first stepped onto the ice in 2003 at age four, showing early promise that would eventually define his athletic identity and future career. Growing up in a country where figure skating is deeply revered but fiercely competitive, Volodin faced the same stark reality that confronts many Russian athletes: talent alone was not always enough to secure a long-term path to elite success.
Early Partnerships and Competitive Foundations
Volodin’s competitive journey began with several partnerships in Russia. His first notable pairing was with Alina Ustimkina beginning in 2014. Together, the duo competed internationally on the Junior Grand Prix circuit and achieved notable placements, such as a bronze at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Norway. This early success offered a glimpse into Volodin’s abilities on the world stage and laid the foundation for future endeavors.
Subsequent partnerships with Amina Atakhanova and later Taisiia Sobinina provided further competitive experience, but none offered the breakthrough that would propel him to global prominence. Though these early years were formative, they were marked by the challenge of finding the right partner and environment to fully develop his talent.
A Pivotal Turn: Meeting Minerva Fabienne Hase
Volodin’s career underwent a transformative turn in June 2022, when he was introduced to German pair skater Minerva Fabienne Hase by coach Dmitri Savin. Hase herself was a seasoned international competitor: she had represented Germany at the 2022 Winter Olympics, but that experience had ended prematurely due to her partner testing positive for COVID-19. The pairing with Volodin became possible through a combination of opportunity, timing, and the shared ambition to reach the top echelons of pair skating.
The collaboration was not without its immediate challenges. At the outset, the pair struggled with basic communication: Volodin spoke neither German nor English fluently, and the linguistic divide was bridged initially by coach Dmitri Savin acting as translator while Volodin learned English. These early struggles symbolized the broader personal and professional sacrifices Volodin was prepared to make in pursuit of excellence.
The duo began training in Berlin under coaches Rico Rex and Knut Schubert, and Volodin was formally released by the Russian Figure Skating Federation in May 2022, allowing him to compete internationally with Hase.
Adapting to Germany and Pursuing Citizenship
One of the most significant milestones in Volodin’s story was his transition from Russian competitor to German representative — a decision requiring not only athletic performance but also legal and linguistic integration. To be eligible for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Volodin needed German citizenship, a process that he tackled with dedication by studying the language, passing exams, and fulfilling other requirements. He successfully obtained his German passport in August 2025, a critical moment that enabled his Olympic ambitions to be realized.
In interviews leading up to his naturalization, Volodin described how he balanced the demands of language study, training, and international competition — a testament to his discipline and his commitment to representing his adopted country. Despite the broader geopolitical complexities surrounding Russian athletes competing abroad, Volodin consistently refrained from making political statements, emphasizing that his focus was on sport and performance.
Rise to the Top: European and World Success in 2025
With German citizenship secured in 2025, Volodin and Hase entered a breakthrough season that would define their competitive legacy. That year, they captured the European Championship title in Tallinn, Estonia, marking Germany’s first continental gold in pair skating in 14 years — a revival of a proud tradition that had been dormant since the era of champions like Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy. Their performance showcased technical precision and artistic expression, and it signaled the pair’s readiness to challenge the elite teams on the world stage.
In addition to their European success, the pair also achieved noteworthy results in the ISU Grand Prix series, winning multiple events and consolidating their position as medal contenders for the season’s premier events. Their consistent performances throughout the international circuit reflected both athletic growth and competitive resilience.
2025 World Championships and Leading World Rankings
The 2025 season saw Volodin and Hase ascend even higher. At the World Championships — held in Boston, USA — the German duo captured the silver medal, a milestone that further solidified their standing among the world’s best pair teams. In scoring highly technical elements and evoking strong artistic interpretations, they proved themselves a formidable pairing capable of competing against traditional powerhouses.
Their results propelled them up the world rankings, positioning them at or near No. 1 in the ISU World Standings for the 2025-26 season – a validation of their consistency and excellence.
These achievements in 2025 set the stage for the most anticipated chapter of their careers: the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Olympic Dreams: Milan-Cortina 2026
The Olympic Winter Games represent the crowning moment for most figure skaters, and for Nikita Volodin, this stage became both a test and a triumph.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics pair skating competition, Volodin and Hase delivered one of the most memorable performances of their careers so far. After a strong short program, they found themselves in first place, having scored 80.01 points for a compelling and nuanced routine that captivated judges and audience alike. Their performance – a blend of athleticism and artistry – demonstrated the peak of their competitive chemistry.
However, in the free skate, despite a valiant effort, they were unable to maintain their lead. Errors and minor technical setbacks – particularly by Hase – saw them slip to third place overall with a total score of 219.09 points. This nonetheless earned them the Olympic bronze medal, a monumental accomplishment that marked Germany’s first Olympic figure skating medal in eight years and the highest achievement of Volodin’s career to date.
For Volodin, this Olympic medal was vindication: not just of his athletic prowess but of his journey of adaptation, sacrifice, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
Life Beyond Competition: Media, Shows, and Influence
Following their Olympic success, Volodin and Hase continued to captivate audiences beyond competitive arenas. They were invited as guest stars to perform in the celebrated ice show Holiday on Ice: Cinema of Dreams – in major German cities including Berlin, Hannover, and Düsseldorf. These appearances underscored their appeal not only as elite athletes but as performers who bring emotion and spectacle to audiences worldwide.
Their presence on both competitive and exhibition ice underscores an important aspect of modern figure skating: the ability to transcend sport and connect with broader cultural and artistic communities. In doing so, Volodin has helped to elevate the profile of pair skating in Germany and inspire young skaters in both his homeland and his adopted nation.
The Knowledge Base 
Leave a comment