Sofia Vladimirovna Samodelkina (Russian: Софья Владимировна Самоделкина), born 18 February 2007 in Moscow, Russia, is a world-class figure skater whose competitive spirit, technical ambition, and resilience have brought her from junior success in Russia to international acclaim representing Kazakhstan.
Her early life was marked by an early attraction to the ice. Starting to skate in 2011 at the age of four, she quickly displayed a rare combination of athletic power and artistic sensibility that would define her skating career. While she initially competed for Russia, significant changes in affiliation, training, and national representation have shaped her path – leading her to become a key figure in Kazakhstani figure skating in the mid-2020s.
Technical Skills and Competitive Identity
Samodelkina’s career is often discussed in tandem with her technical ambitions. She is among the rare female skaters capable of executing quadruple jumps, making her one of the few women in the world to land such elements in competition.
Her style blends powerful jumps, expressive choreography, and a sense of emotional investment that resonates with audiences. That combination contributed to her early success in junior events – medaling at Junior Grand Prix events and winning the Denis Ten Memorial. However, like many technically driven skaters, she has also faced challenges in consistency and competitive scoring due to the strict judging standards of the senior level.
Samodelkina’s short program and free skate music selections also reveal thoughtful artistic choices. In the 2025–2026 season, she performed to “Czardas Caprice” and selections from Sunset Boulevard – pieces that demand both stylistic strength and emotional nuance.
Transition of National Representation
Perhaps one of the most consequential decisions in Samodelkina’s career was her switch from representing Russia to representing Kazakhstan. Though she rose through the Russian ranks as a promising young skater, intense competition and limited opportunities at the senior level prompted her to pursue a new path.
Her eligibility to compete for Kazakhstan was officially granted in 2024, after she obtained Kazakhstani citizenship—a decision partly rooted in her family background, as her mother was born in Kazakhstan.
This transition carried both opportunity and scrutiny. Some in the figure skating world viewed her move as controversial, while others regarded it as a necessary step for her to secure international competition time and continue growing as a senior skater. Regardless, it allowed her to become a leading figure within Kazakhstan’s national team and showcase her skating on major international stages.
Rise in the 2024–2025 Season
Once eligible to represent Kazakhstan, Samodelkina wasted little time establishing herself on the senior circuit.
Domestic Success
At the 2025 Kazakhstan Championships, she won her country’s national title—her first major domestic achievement under the Kazakhstani flag.
International Breakthroughs
1. Challenger Series Success
Samodelkina began her 2025–26 season strongly at the ISU Challenger Series Cranberry Cup International in August 2025, where she won a silver medal, achieving a total score of 203.15 points—her highest senior total at that point.
2. Grand Prix Success — NHK Trophy
Her most notable 2025 result came at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan, where she won the silver medal, scoring a personal best and making history as the first woman from Kazakhstan to medal at a Grand Prix event. Her combined total of 200.00 points placed her behind Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and ahead of other strong competitors.
This achievement was a watershed moment for Samodelkina and for figure skating in Kazakhstan. It signaled her arrival as a serious competitor on the senior stage and raised expectations for her future in elite competition—including the 2026 Winter Olympics.
World Stage: Qualification for the Winter Olympics
At the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, Samodelkina finished 14th overall, a result that secured a qualification spot for Kazakhstan at the 2026 Winter Olympics. This achievement marked a major career milestone, as it affirmed not only her technical ability but her consistency under pressure on one of the largest stages in sports.
Injuries and Resilience
Like many athletes navigating a heavy competition schedule, Samodelkina encountered setbacks. In late September 2025, she withdrew from the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge due to a minor knee injury sustained during practice. This setback temporarily paused her competitive rhythm but did not derail her overall season progression.
In interviews, she discussed how injuries taught her about patience, recovery, and the importance of mental endurance—traits essential to a long skating career. Her ability to rebound and return to competition ultimately reflected her resilience.
Four Continents and Ongoing Growth
At the 2026 Four Continents Championships in Beijing, Samodelkina placed 9th, providing a benchmark for her development against some of the world’s top skaters from Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Though not a podium result, it demonstrated her ability to compete consistently and stay competitive in a deep field.
This placement, while modest on paper, was significant as it provided crucial competitive experience in the Olympic season and helped shape expectations for her performance in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo later that winter.
2026 Winter Olympics: Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo
Arguably the most defining event of her young career, Samodelkina competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics representing Kazakhstan. On 18 February 2026, coinciding with her 19th birthday, she delivered a strong performance in the short program, skating to a vibrant and emotionally charged interpretation of Czardas – earning 68.47 points and achieving a personal best.
Her placement in the short program positioned her well, ultimately placing 12th at that stage and allowing her to advance to the free skate.
International reaction to her Olympic performance was overwhelmingly positive. Many media outlets highlighted her expressive execution, technical clarity, and emotional presence on the ice – praising her as a standout performer in the Olympic field.
While she did not ultimately win a medal at the Olympics, her performance represented a high point in her career up to that date, illustrating her growth from junior sensation to mature Olympian.
Artistry, Technique, and Competitive Identity
Samodelkina’s skating stands out for several key qualities.
1. Technical Ambition
Her willingness to incorporate complex elements – quadruple jumps and ambitious sequences – sets her apart from many peers. Her technical ceiling remains one of the highest among women in the sport, and if consistency continues to improve, her competitive prospects could expand further.
2. Emotional Delivery
Her performances often communicate a dramatic arc, connecting with audiences beyond mere technical appreciation. Whether through expressive musical interpretation or dramatic costume and movement choices, her skating speaks to both judges and spectators alike.
3. Adaptability and Resilience
Transitioning countries, adapting to new coaching environments, overcoming injuries, and maintaining competitive form through the most consequential season of her career are testaments to her personal resilience.
The Knowledge Base 
Leave a comment