Background
Nikolay Aleksandrovich Kolomenkin was born on (1872-1801-08)8 January 1872 in Khrenovoye, Voronezh Governorate, Russian Empire.
Nikolay Aleksandrovich Kolomenkin was born on (1872-1801-08)8 January 1872 in Khrenovoye, Voronezh Governorate, Russian Empire.
Saint St. Petersburg State University.
He competed in figure skating under the name "Nikolay Panin", though most Russian sources now hyphenate his surname to "Panin-Kolomenkin". Despite having a weak constitution, Panin was very active and took part in rowing, cycling, athletics and gymnastics. While studying mathematics at Saint St. Petersburg University in 1897, he took part in a figure skating competition, albeit unsuccessfully.
To improve, he developed a technique of wrapping towels around his feet to weigh them down and improve his balance, thus preventing falls.
lieutenant was at this time that he took the nickname "Panin" on to evade the mockery of his fellow students, at a time when many athletes were adopting nicknames. Two men"s skating events were contested at the 1908 Summer Olympics: single skating and special figures.
1908 was the only year in which special figures was an Olympic event. Panin also competed in the 1903 World Championships, placing second behind Salchow.
He even helped train his rivals during his own competitive career.
He wrote several biographical and reference books, the first of which appeared in 1910. He was also a judge at international competitions. Panin also competed as a shooter.
At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm he placed 8th in 50 metre pistol competition.
Panin was also one of the first to be ranked in a sport classification system, a precursor to the Unified Sports Classification System of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. Panin died on 19 January 1956(1956-1901-19) (aged 83) in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. In 1993 Russia issued a 50 ruble gold coin commemorating Russia"s first gold medal.
Panin appears alongside the Olympic rings and flame, a laurel branch, and a winged ice skate. He was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009.
He won the gold medal in special figures in the 1908 Summer Olympics. Panin was Russia"s first Olympic champion. Panin won the special figures event and competed, but did not finish, in the singles event. Panin was a prominent figure skating coach both before and after his win at the Olympics. Several of his students also won ratings.
