Background
Aljona Savchenko was born on January 19, 1984 in Obukhiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine (Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union at the time). She is a daughter of Valentyn Savchenko, former weightlifter, and Nina Savchenko. Aljona has three brothers.
2007
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Aljona Savchenko (center) and Robin Szolkowy (right) who won the bronze, pose with coach Ingo Steuer for photographers after the medals ceremony for pairs free program during the World Figure Skating Championships at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
1 Chome-4-1 Tomizawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0032, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose for photographers after winning the pairs competition at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy at Sendai City Gymnasium, Sendai, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2014
8 Shintoshin, Chuo Ward, Saitama, 330-9111, Japan
(From left to right) Gold medalists Mao Asada of Japan, Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, Robin Szolkowy and Aljona Savchenko pose for photographs after the gala exhibition of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Saitama Super Arena, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
(From left to right) Silver medal winners Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, gold medal winners Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot and bronze medal winners Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Pair Skating Free Skating at Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2019
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
(From left to right) Aljona Savchenko, young figure skater Hanna Keiß, figure skater and model Christina Bokma and Colin Grafton are on the ice during a press event for the figure skating show "Holiday on Ice." Photo by Lino Mirgeler/picture alliance.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot celebrate winning the gold medal following the Figure Skating Pair Skating Free Program on day six of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali.
2007
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
(From left to right) Silver medalists Jian Tong and Qing Pang of China, gold medalists Hongbo Zhao and Xue Shen of China, and bronze medalists Robin Szolkowy and Aljona Savchenko pose with their medals after the Pairs Free Skating program during the World Figure Skating Championships at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
Łazienkowska 6A, 00-449 Warszawa, Poland
(From left to right) Silver medalists Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy and bronze medalists Dorota Siudek and Mariusz Siudek of Poland at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships, the Torwar Ice Arena, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2009
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
(From left to right) Silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy and bronze medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia pose together on the medal stand after the Pairs Free Skate during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevork Djansezian.
2010
Turin, Italy
Silver medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, gold medalists Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China and bronze medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia pose on the podium at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Turin, Italy. Photo by Valerio Pennicino.
2010
Spreeweg 1, 10557 Berlin, Germany
Then-President of Germany Horst Koehler (left) and then-Defense Minister of Germany Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (right) pose with Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt Award ceremony (Silver Bay Leaf) at Bellevue Palace, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2016
Bratislava, Slovakia
(From left to right) Gold medalists Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia, silver medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot and bronze medalists Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia pose during the medal ceremony of Pairs Skating on day four of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Bratislava, Slovakia. Photo by Daniel Kopatsch – International Skating Union/International Skating Union.
2002
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Aljona Savchenko and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine compete in the pairs free program during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Salt Lake Ice Center, Utah. Photo by Robert Laberge.
2002
Aljona Savchenko and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine in action during the pairs short program. Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS.
2002
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Aljona Savchenko and Stanislav Morozov in action in the pairs free program at the Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City. Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS.
2002
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Aljona Savchenko and Stanislav Morozov in action in the pairs free program at the Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City. Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS.
2004
Berlin, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy in action, Berlin. Photo by Andreas Rentz/Bongarts.
2004
Berlin, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy in action, Berlin. Photo by Andreas Rentz/Bongarts.
2005
Via Ventimiglia, 145, 10127 Torino TO, Italy
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy in action during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at the Palavela, Torino, Italy. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2005
Luzhniki st., 24с2, Moscow, Russia, 119270
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete in the Ice Dance during the Gala Exhibition at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Lunzhiki Sports Palace in Moscow, Russia. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2005
2 Chome-1-1 Jinnan, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy skate during the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final at Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Junko Kimura.
2005
Weißenseer Weg 53, 13053 Berlin, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose with their gold medals during the German National Figure Skating Championships at the Sportforum Hohenschoenhausen, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongart.
2005
Oberstdorf, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at the German championship, Oberstdorf. Photo by Alexander Heimann/Bongarts.
2006
Weißenseer Weg 53, 13053 Berlin, Germany
Aljona Savchenko in action during the pairs short program at the German National Figure Skating Championships held at the Sportforum Hohenschoenhausen, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2006
350 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 69007 Lyon, France
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy in action during the pairs free skate at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at the Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France. Photo by Clive Rose.
2007
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
(From left to right) Silver medalists Jian Tong and Qing Pang of China, gold medalists Hongbo Zhao and Xue Shen of China, and bronze medalists Robin Szolkowy and Aljona Savchenko pose with their medals after the Pairs Free Skating program during the World Figure Skating Championships at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
Łazienkowska 6A, 00-449 Warszawa, Poland
(From left to right) Silver medalists Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy and bronze medalists Dorota Siudek and Mariusz Siudek of Poland at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships, the Torwar Ice Arena, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2007
Łazienkowska 6A, 00-449 Warszawa, Poland
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy skate to win gold during the Pairs Free Skate of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at the Torwar Ice Arena, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2007
Łazienkowska 6A, 00-449 Warszawa, Poland
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy skate to win gold during the Pairs Free Skate of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at the Torwar Ice Arena, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2007
Łazienkowska 6A, 00-449 Warszawa, Poland
Alоona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy skate during the Exhibition Gala during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at the Torwar Ice Arena, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2007
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete in the pairs short program during the World Figure Skating Championships at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete in the pairs short program during the World Figure Skating Championships at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
1 Chome-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Aljona Savchenko (center) and Robin Szolkowy (right) who won the bronze, pose with coach Ingo Steuer for photographers after the medals ceremony for pairs free program during the World Figure Skating Championships at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
1 Chome-4-1 Tomizawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0032, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete in the pairs short program of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy at Sendai City Gymnasium, Sendai, Japan. Photo by Junko Kimura.
2007
1 Chome-4-1 Tomizawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0032, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete in the pairs short program of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy at Sendai City Gymnasium, Sendai, Japan. Photo by Junko Kimura.
2007
1 Chome-4-1 Tomizawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0032, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose for photographers after winning the pairs competition at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy at Sendai City Gymnasium, Sendai, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2007
1 Chome-4-1 Tomizawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0032, Japan
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose for photographers after winning the pairs competition at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy at Sendai City Gymnasium, Sendai, Japan. Photo by Koichi Kamoshida.
2008
Valhallagatan 1, 412 51 Göteborg, Sweden
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose with their gold medals after winning the Pairs Free Skate during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Scandinavium Arena, Gothenburg, Sweden. Photo by Jamie McDonald.
2008
Friedrichstraße 107, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy receive the Goldene Henne Award in the sport category at the Friedrichstadt-Palast, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2008
2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201, United States
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy skate in the pairs short program during the Skate America at the Comcast Arena (later known as Angel of the Winds Arena), Everett, Washington. Photo by Jonathan Ferrey.
2008
2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201, United States
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose with their gold medals at the awards ceremony of the Skate America at the Comcast Arena (later known as Angel of the Winds Arena), Everett, Washington. Photo by Jonathan Ferrey.
2009
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
(From left to right) Silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy and bronze medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia pose together on the medal stand after the Pairs Free Skate during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevork Djansezian.
2010
Turin, Italy
Silver medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, gold medalists Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China and bronze medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia pose on the podium at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Turin, Italy. Photo by Valerio Pennicino.
2010
100 N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC V5K 4W3, Canada
(From left to right) Jian Tong and Qing Pang of China win the silver medal, Hongbo Zhao and Xue Shen of China win the gold medal and Robin Szolkowy and Aljona Savchenko win the bronze medal in the Figure Skating Pairs Free Program of the Vancouver Winter Olympics at the Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Matthew Stockman.
2010
100 N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC V5K 4W3, Canada
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete in the free program at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Pacific Coliseum, Canada. Photo by Cameron Spencer.
2010
100 N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC V5K 4W3, Canada
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy sit in the kiss and cry after they competed in the free program at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Pacific Coliseum, Canada. Photo by Matthew Stockman.
2010
100 N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC V5K 4W3, Canada
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy perform at the Exhibition Gala following the Olympic figure skating competition at Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Matthew Stockman.
2010
Via Ventimiglia, 145, 10127 Torino TO, Italy
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose with their silver medals after competing at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Palevela in Turin, Italy. Photo by Clive Rose.
2010
Spreeweg 1, 10557 Berlin, Germany
Then-President of Germany Horst Koehler (left) and then-Defense Minister of Germany Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (right) pose with Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt Award ceremony (Silver Bay Leaf) at Bellevue Palace, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2010
Magdeburger Str. 10, 01067 Dresden, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy perform in the show program after the ISU Junior Grand Prix at Freiberger Arena (later known as EnergieVerbund Arena), Dresden, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel.
2010
Vancouver, Canada
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy with their bronze medals at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Photo by sampics/Corbis.
2010
1 N Center Ct St #150, Portland, OR 97227, United States
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy acknowledge the crowd from the medals podium after the competition during Skate America at Rose Garden Arena (later known as Moda Center), Portland, Oregon. Photo by Matthew Stockman.
2011
1-1 Makomanaikoen, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0017, Japan
(From left to right) Silver medalists Narumi Takahashi and Mervin Tran of Japan, gold medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia, and bronze medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy pose for photographs in the pair during day two of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy at Makomanai Sekisui Heim Arena, Sapporo, Japan. Photo by Koki Nagahama.
2012
8787 McHugh St, Windsor, ON N8S 0A1, Canada
(From left to right) Silver medalists Megan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, and bronze medalists Stefania Berton and Ondrej Hotarek of Italy stand together holding their medals during the Skate Canada International, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating at WFCU Centre, Windsor, Canada. Photo by Dave Reginek.
2014
Sochi, Russia
Bronze medalists Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Figure Skating Pairs Free Skating on day six of the Sochi Winter Olympics at Medals Plaza, Sochi, Russia. Photo by Julian Finney.
2014
Sochi, Russia
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete during their bronze medal performance in the pairs free skate at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Photo by Chuck Myers/Tribune News Service.
2014
Sochi, Russia
Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy compete during their bronze medal performance in the pairs free skate at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Photo by Chuck Myers/Tribune News Service.
2014
8 Shintoshin, Chuo Ward, Saitama, 330-9111, Japan
(From left to right) Gold medalists Mao Asada of Japan, Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, Robin Szolkowy and Aljona Savchenko pose for photographs after the gala exhibition of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Saitama Super Arena, Japan. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun.
2016
Bratislava, Slovakia
(From left to right) Gold medalists Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia, silver medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot and bronze medalists Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia pose during the medal ceremony of Pairs Skating on day four of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Bratislava, Slovakia. Photo by Daniel Kopatsch – International Skating Union/International Skating Union.
2016
100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Gold medalists Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada, silver medalists Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, and bronze medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot at a medal ceremony of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Billie Weiss – International Skating Union/International Skating Union.
2017
Areenankuja 1, 00240 Helsinki, Finland
(From left to right) Silver medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot, gold medalists Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China, and bronze medalists Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia pose at a victory ceremony for the pairs skating event at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Hartwall Arena. Photo by Alexander Demianchuk/TASS.
2017
2634 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946, United States
(From left to right) Silver medalists Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang of China, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot and bronze medalists Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada stand for the pairs medal ceremony of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating at the Herb Brooks Arena, Lake Placid, United States. Photo by Maddie Meyer – International Skating Union/International Skating Union.
2018
Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea
Gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Pair Skating Free Skating on day six of the Pyeongсhang Winter Olympic Games at Medal Plaza, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Clive Mason.
2018
Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea
(From left to right) Silver medalists Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot and bronze medalists Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Pair Skating Free Skating of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Medal Plaza, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Clive Mason.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Gold medal winners Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Pair Skating Free Skating at Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
(From left to right) Silver medal winners Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, gold medal winners Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot and bronze medal winners Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Pair Skating Free Skating at Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Gold medal winners Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Pair Skating Free Skating at Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Harry How.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot celebrate winning the gold medal following the Figure Skating Pair Skating Free Program on day six of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali.
2018
Hamburg, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and her husband Liam Cross attend the Sport Bild Awards in Hamburg, Germany. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot compete in a short program during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by Harry How.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot compete in a short program during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by Harry How.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot compete in a short program during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by Ronald Martinez.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot during the free program on day six of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by XIN LI.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot during the free program on day six of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by Jean Catuffe.
2019
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
(From left to right) Aljona Savchenko, young figure skater Hanna Keiß, figure skater and model Christina Bokma and Colin Grafton are on the ice during a press event for the figure skating show "Holiday on Ice." Photo by Lino Mirgeler/picture alliance.
2019
Cologne, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot skate at the Dancing on Ice show, Cologne, Germany. Photo by Tristar Media.
2019
Cologne, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot skate at the Dancing on Ice show, Cologne, Germany. Photo by Tristar Media.
2019
Cologne, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot at the Dancing on Ice show, Cologne, Germany. Photo by Tristar Media.
2019
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 1, 65185 Wiesbaden, Germany
Aljona Savchenko attends Ball des Sports Gala at RheinMain CongressCenter, Wiesbaden, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2019
Hamburg, Germany
A singer Sarah Lombardi (center) is accompanied by Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot during a press conference on the new Holiday on Ice season. Photo by Daniel Bockwoldt/picture alliance.
2019
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 1, 65185 Wiesbaden, Germany
Aljona Savchenko is together with German politician Wolfgang Kubicki at the 49th Ball des Sports in Wiesbaden, Germany. Photo by Andreas Arnold/picture alliance.
2020
Hamburg, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot are on the ice during rehearsals for the "Holiday on Ice" show. Photo by Axel Heimken/picture alliance.
2020
Hamburg, Germany
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot are on the ice during rehearsals for the "Holiday on Ice" show. Photo by Axel Heimken/picture alliance.
2020
Aljona Savchenko with her daughter Amilia. Photo from the official Instagram account of Savchenko.
2020
Aljona Savchenko with her husband Liam Cross and their daughter Amilia. Photo from the official Instagram account of Savchenko.
2020
Aljona Savchenko holding her biography written by Alexandra Ilina and released in 2020. Photo from the official Instagram of Savchenko.
Aljona Savchenko in childhood
Aljona Savchenko in youth
Алёна Савченко
Aljona Savchenko was born on January 19, 1984 in Obukhiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine (Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union at the time). She is a daughter of Valentyn Savchenko, former weightlifter, and Nina Savchenko. Aljona has three brothers.
Aljona Savchenko was raised in a large family in Obukhiv city, 45 km away from Kiev. Aljona developed a passion for figure skating when she saw the athletes performing on TV at the age of three. Shortly after, the little girl received skates as a gift from her parents who both served as teachers. It was Aljona's father who taught her to make the first steps and moves on the ice, on a lake not far from home.
By 1989, Savchenko had been admitted to the figure skating section in Kiev. Aljona, as well as her parents, had to wake up at four o'clock in the morning every day, for about 9 years, to get to skating lessons which started at seven o'clock. She was usually driven to the lessons by her father or other relatives as her mother had to look after her sick brother.
Aljona's parents supported their daughter in her aspiration for the sport by all means. All the costumes as well as other necessary stuff were purchased with their own money. It was a kind of a feat on their part as the teachers' salary could barely be called high at the time. After several months of training sessions, Savchenko switched to pair skating, on her own wish.
Aljona Savchenko started her career at the junior level with partner Dmytro Boyenko. The pair coached by a Ukrainian, Olexander Artychenko, skated for the Dynamo Kyiv club. Boyenko and Savchenko separated after finishing 13th at the 1998 World Junior Championships.
Savchenko was then paired with another skater from the club, Stanislav Morozov. Coached by the USSR Champion Halyna Kukhar, the representatives of the Dynamo Kyiv glorified the club by excelling at a number of international competitions, including winning gold medals at the 2000 World Junior Championships and two victories at the Ukrainian Figure Skating Championships. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, the pair came to be the last in the top 15.
Stanislav Morozov was seriously injured that same year and thought of leaving the sport. Searching for a new partner, Savchenko came across Anton Nimenko of St. Petersburg, Russia, but the Ukrainian skating federation refused to finance Nimenko's relocation to Kiev. Through a German journalist Arthur Werner, Aljona met former World champion Ingo Steuer who served as a coach by the time. One of Steuer's wards, pair skater Robin Szolkowy, was looking for a partner right at that moment.
At first, Savchenko didn't want to move to Germany and to compete for the country. In 2003, she eventually agreed to a tryout in Chemnitz, which turned to be successful for both. Savchenko later confessed that she realized intuitively that Szolkowy was made for her as a partner as immediately as they started tryouts. Soon, Savchenko relocated to Germany and they began training seriously as a pair under Steuer who was also their choreographer, skate sharpener, and music cutter.
The 2003-2004 season, the first one for Savchenko and Szolkowy as a team, turned out to be quite successful for them. They won a gold medal of the German Figure Skating Championships, finished fourth and sixth at the 2005 European Championships and the World Championships, respectively. At the Winter Olympics held in Turin, Italy the next year, the first Olympic Games for Savchenko as for a German citizen, the pair placed only sixth. In 2007, they grabbed the gold at the European Championships and the bronze at the World Championships, being surpassed by the event's gold winners Shen/Zhao. The European title proved a year later was supplemented by the World's one in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The duet of Savchenko/Szolkowy continued to progress in the post-Olympic season and by 2011 they had collected three World titles and 4 European ones. Before the start of the European Championships in 2012, the pair announced that they had to simplify intended elements of their programs because of Savchenko's muscle fiber injury received in the middle of January. Savchenko and Szolkowy eventually withdrew from the event completely before the short program.
By that year's World Championships in Nice, France, Savchenko cured her trauma, and the duet earned their fourth World trophy. The performance at the Grand Prix Final was successful as well since Savchenko/Szolkowy surpassed the silver medalists Volosozhar/Trankov of Russia by just 0.18 points. The latter pair, however, turned to be better on both the World and European levels the next season.
The next goal of the German figure skaters Savchenko/Szolkowy was to conquer the gold medal at the upcoming Winter Olympics held this time in Sochi, Russia. Unfortunately, the dream remained unfulfilled because of several bad mistakes made in a free (long) program. As a result, the pair had to settle for a bronze medal only. That same year, Szolkowy announced his retirement from the sport, and Savchenko was paired with a French figure skater, Brune Massot. The coach was also changed to Alexander König of Germany.
Savchenko and Massot debuted as a team at that year's All That Skate shows in South Korea. However, their debut in competitive figure skating occurred only in November 2015 at the Tallinn Trophy, after Massot, a French citizen, had finally been permitted to compete for Germany by the French Figure Skating Federation on 26 October.
At the World Championships of the next season, Savchenko and Massot were second only to Sui Wenjing/Han Cong of China. Right after the competition, the German athletes concentrated on the preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The pair even missed out on the European Figure Skating Championships for the purpose.
The approach surely paid off since Savchenko and Massot won the gold medal of the major sport event of the four years by surpassing Chinese skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong and refreshing the world record score in the free skate with their 159.31 along the way. So, Savchenko finally realized her long-held dream to become an Olympic Champion, at the fifth Olympics for her. The triumph was crowned by a gold medal at the World Championships in Milan, Italy, the sixth World title for Savchenko. The pair then announced that they wouldn't take part in competitions for an indefinite time.
Following the announced pause in her competitive career, Savchenko got involved in a variety of activities somehow related to sport. Aljona came back to coaching, the task in which she had already tried her hand in the off-season, between her own competitions. Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim of the United States, Chinese pair Xiaoyu Yu/Hao Zhang and Xiangyi An (in the framework of the cooperation with Century Star Club Beijing), and Aya Hatakawa of Germany were among her wards at different times. Savchenko, along with her athletic partner, has also collaborated with the Holiday in Ice Academy as an ambassador by choosing talents and giving seminars.
Performing in a variety of ice skating shows is also a large part of Savchenko's off-ice activity. During her competitive career, Aljona participated in Art on Ice in Switzerland. She has then appeared in such projects as All That Skate in South Korea, Emotions on Ice in Germany, Music on Ice in Switzerland, Plushenko and Friends, Opera on Ice and Hit on Ice in Italy, among others. Along with Bruno Massot, Savchenko was the star guest of Holiday on Ice in its 2018/19 and 2019/2020 seasons.
Aljona Savchenko took part in the 2014 German Red Cross's project aimed to support eastern Ukraine.
Quotations:
"I saw the other skaters doing it and I wanted to do it myself. I liked all the acrobatic things like lifts and twists and throws."
"If you were alone you might just throw in the towel, but there is that other half of the pair, who is also competing."
"I never give up. All my life I've been fighting."
Aljona Savchenko has shown herself as a highly-motivated and extremely stubborn person in sports since the beginning of her athletic path. Whatever the difficulties she faced – the lack of support from the sports authorities or the pressure from their side, injuries and changes of the partners and coaches, Aljona always believed in herself and kept the incredible will to win. She competed at five Olympics before grabbing the gold medal at last.
Savchenko has often designed costumes for herself and her partners and acted as a choreographer of some programs as well. She has many times named Soviet former pair skater and Russian figure skating coach Tatiana Tarasova as one of her authorities.
Physical Characteristics: Aljona Savchenko is 1.53 meters tall.
Aljona Savchenko met her husband-to-be, artist Liam Cross, at a poker game in Oberstdorf, Germany. The wedding ceremony took place on August 18, 2016. Three years later, Savchenko gave birth to a daughter, Amilia.
The daughter of Ukrainian former figure skater Galina Efremenko is Savchenko's goddaughter.