Wikipedia

Misha Mitrofanov

Misha Mitrofanov (born June 12, 1997) is an American pair skater. With his current partner, Alisa Efimova, he is the 2024 U.S. national silver medalist and 2024 Skate America bronze medalist.

Misha Mitrofanov
Mitrofanov at the 2018 Internationaux de France
Born (1997-06-12) June 12, 1997 (age 27)
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
HometownHouston, Texas
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Figure skating career
Country United States
DisciplinePair skating
PartnerAlisa Efimova (since 2023)
Audrey Lu (2016–22)
CoachAleksey Letov
Olga Ganicheva
Skating clubSkating Club of Boston
Began skating2001
Medal record
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Tallinn Pairs
U.S. Championships
Silver medal – second place 2024 Columbus Pairs
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Nashville Pairs

With his former skating partner, Audrey Lu, he is the 2022 Four Continents champion, 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb champion, 2018 CS U.S. International Classic silver medalist, and 2022 U.S. national bronze medalist.

Personal life

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Mitrofanov was born on June 12, 1997, in Madison, Wisconsin.[1] He is the eldest of two children born to Yelena, a real estate agent, and Gennadiy, a natural gas and oil marketer.[2] He has a sister, Nina.[2] After graduating (in May 2016) from Spring Creek Academy in Plano, Texas, he began studying sports medicine at the University of Texas at Dallas.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree in healthcare studies in 2023.[3] Mitrofanov has expressed interest in opening his own mechanic shop after finishing his competitive figure skating career.[3]

Career

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Early years

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Mitrofanov began learning to skate in 2001 at the age of four after doctors encouraged his parents to enter him into sports as a way to improve the weak immune system he had been born with.[1][3] He was coached by Alexei Mantsorov from 2005 to 2014.[2] Skating in the novice pairs' category, he placed 8th at the 2015 U.S. Championships with Emily Chan, and 6th at the 2016 U.S. Championships with Ashlee Raymond.

Partnership with Lu

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2016–2017 season

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Mitrofanov teamed up with Audrey Lu in May 2016.[4] Making their international debut, the pair placed 12th at an ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) event in the Czech Republic in September 2016. Their season came to an end in November, after Mitrofanov dislocated his shoulder at the Midwestern Sectional Championships.[4] He underwent shoulder surgery and resumed training after six months.[4]

2017–2018 season

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Lu/Mitrofanov placed 5th at both of their JGP assignments. In January, they won the junior pairs' title at the 2018 U.S. Championships; they ranked first in both segments and outscored the silver medalists by 17.74 points. In March, the pair placed 5th (6th in the short program, 4th in the free skate) at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

2018–2019 season

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Making their senior international debut, Lu/Mitrofanov won silver at the 2018 CS U.S. International Classic in mid-September, and then placed fifth at the 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. They were invited to two Grand Prix events, the 2018 NHK Trophy and 2018 Internationaux de France, where they placed seventh and sixth, respectively.[5] Debuting at senior Nationals at the 2019 U.S. Championships, they placed sixth.

2019–2020 season

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Lu/Mitrofanov began the season with a fifth-place finish at the 2019 CS U.S. Classic. On the Grand Prix, they were eighth at the 2019 Rostelecom Cup. They concluded the season at the 2020 U.S. Championships, where they finished sixth.[6]

2020–2021 season

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With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting international travel, Lu/Mitrofanov were assigned to attend the 2020 Skate America, the Grand Prix having been arranged primarily based on training location.[7] They placed third in the short program, 3.31 points ahead of national pewter medalists Cain-Gribble/LeDuc.[8] Coming fourth in the free skate, their lead from the short program was nevertheless enough to remain in third place overall, winning the bronze medal.[9]

Competing at the 2021 U.S. Championships, Lu/Mitrofanov placed third in the short program with a clean skate.[10] They were fourth in the free skate, dropping to fourth place overall and winning the pewter medal.[11]

2021–2022 season

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After beginning the season with some minor America competitions, Lu/Mitrofanov competed on the Grand Prix at the 2021 NHK Trophy, finishing in fifth place.[12] They went on to finish in fourth at the 2021 Rostelecom Cup, after which Lu said they were "satisfied" with the results on the Grand Prix that year.[13] They next competed at the 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, where they won the gold medal, their first Challenger title.[14]

Lu/Mitrofanov won the bronze medal at the 2022 U.S. Championships. Mitrofanov said they were "very happy and grateful" for the event and its large audience.[15] As a result of their placement, they were assigned to compete at the 2022 Four Continents Championships in Tallinn, and named second alternates to the American Olympic team. Lu/Mitrofanov won both segments of the Four Continents competition to take the gold medal.[16]

Mitrofanov briefly skated with Hazel Collier for the ice show, An Evening with Champions.[17]

Partnership with Efimova

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2023–2024 season

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Upon learning about her split with previous partner, Ruben Blommaert, Mitrofanov, messaged Finnish-Russian pair skater, Alisa Efimova on Instagram, asking if she would be interested in having a pair skating tryout with him. Efimova went on to contact Mitrofanov's longtime coaches, Aleksey Letov and Olga Ganicheva, asking if they would be interested in coaching her, which they agreed to. Following a successful tryout, Efimova moved to Norwood, Massachusetts to train at the Skating Club of Boston with Mitrofanov. It was announced in June 2023 that the pair team would be representing the United States.[18][19]

Following a silver medal win at the domestic U.S. Pairs Final, behind Katie McBeath/Daniil Parkman, Efimova/Mitrofanov qualified for the 2024 U.S. National Championships.[20] At the event, the pair placed fifth in the short program but won the free skate, allowing them to move up to second place overall.[21]

2024–2025 season

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Efimova/Mitrofanov began their season by competing on the 2024–25 ISU Challenger Series. They won the silver medal at the 2024 CS John Nicks Pairs Competition, before going on to finish fourth at the 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy.[22][23]

Debuting together on the 2024–25 Grand Prix series, the pair took the bronze medal at 2024 Skate America.[22]

Programs

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(with Efimova)

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2024–2025
[24]
  • Ameksa (District 78 Remix)
    by Taalbi Brothers & District 78
  • Uccen (DWTS Remix)
    by Taalbi Brothers
    choreo. by Renée Roca
2023–2024
[25][26]
  • Vladimir's Blues
    by Max Richter
  • Tourner dans le vide
    by Indila
    choreo. by Olga Ganicheva

(with Lu)

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2021–2022
[27]
2020–2021
[28]
2019–2020
[29]
2018–2019
[1]
2017–2018
[30]
2016–2017
[31]
  • Memory
    (from Cats)
    by Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • The Music of the Night
    (from The Phantom of the Opera)
    by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Competitive highlights

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Pair skating with Alisa Efimova

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Competition placements at senior level [22]
Season 2023–24 2024–25
U.S. Championships 2nd
GP France 4th
GP Skate America 3rd
CS John Nicks Pairs 2nd
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 4th

Pair skating with Audrey Lu

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Competition placements at senior level [32]
Season 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Four Continents Championships 1st
U.S. Championships 6th 6th 4th 3rd
GP France 6th
GP NHK Trophy 7th 5th
GP Rostelecom Cup 8th 4th
GP Skate America 3rd
CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 1st
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 5th
CS U.S. Classic 2nd 5th
Challenge Cup 2nd
Cranberry Cup 6th
John Nicks Pairs 3rd
Competition placements at junior level [32]
Season 2016–17 2017–18
World Junior Championships 5th
U.S. Championships 1st
JGP Belarus 5th
JGP Czech Republic 12th
JGP Poland 5th

Detailed results

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Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.

With Efimova

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ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [22]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 191.51 2024 Skate America
Short program TSS 63.44 2024 CS John Nicks Pairs Competition
TES 34.51 2024 CS John Nicks Pairs Competition
PCS 28.93 2024 CS John Nicks Pairs Competition
Free skating TSS 128.46 2024 Skate America
TES 67.50 2024 Skate America
PCS 60.96 2024 Skate America
2023–2024 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 22–28, 2024 2024 U.S. Championships 5
60.48 		1
126.43 		2
186.91
2024–2025 season
Date Event SP FS Total
September 3–4, 2024 2024 CS John Nicks International Pairs Competition 4
63.44 		1
125.44 		2
188.88
September 18–21, 2024 2024 Nebelhorn Trophy 4
65.03 		6
113.00 		4
178.03
October 18–20, 2024 2024 Skate America 5
63.05 		3
128.46 		3
191.51
October 31–November 3, 2024 2024 Grand Prix de France 4
64.08 		4
107.84 		4
171.92

With Lu

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Senior results

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2018–2019 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 19–27, 2019 2019 U.S. Championships 5
66.21 		6
116.21 		6
182.42
November 23–25, 2019 2018 Internationaux de France 6
56.71 		7
100.57 		6
157.28
November 9–11, 2018 2018 NHK Trophy 7
52.35 		7
96.90 		7
149.25
September 26–29, 2018 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 6
49.47 		4
107.75 		5
157.22
September 12–16, 2018 2018 CS U.S. Classic 2
57.25 		2
86.68 		2
143.93
2019–2020 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 20–23, 2020 2020 International Challenge Cup 2
62.94 		2
110.54 		2
173.48
January 20–26, 2020 2020 U.S. Championships 5
65.06 		6
116.43 		6
181.49
November 15–17, 2019 2019 Rostelecom Cup 8
54.03 		8
99.58 		8
153.61
September 17–22, 2019 2019 CS U.S. Classic 5
63.87 		5
104.63 		5
168.50
2020–2021 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 11–21, 2021 2021 U.S. Championships 3
69.56 		4
128.41 		4
197.97
October 23–24, 2020 2020 Skate America 3
67.52 		4
122.13 		3
189.65
2021–2022 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 18–23, 2022 2022 Four Continents Championships 1
68.35 		1
120.75 		1
189.10
January 3–9, 2022 2022 U.S. Championships 3
68.11 		3
123.43 		3
191.54
December 7–11, 2021 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 3
66.41 		2
128.91 		1
195.32
November 12–14, 2021 2021 NHK Trophy 5
64.95 		5
125.08 		5
190.03
November 26–28, 2021 2021 Rostelecom Cup 4
64.97 		4
121.19 		4
186.16
September 9–10, 2021 2021 John Nicks Pairs Challenge 4
66.16 		3
129.04 		3
195.20
August 11–15, 2021 2021 Cranberry Cup International 5
60.75 		9
98.06 		6
158.81

Junior results

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2016–2017 season
Date Event SP FS Total
August 31–September 3, 2016 2016 JGP Czech Republic 12
44.71 		12
78.48 		12
123.19
2017–2018 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 5–11, 2018 2018 World Junior Championships 6
54.38 		4
105.71 		5
160.09
December 29–January 8, 2018 2018 U.S. Junior Championships 1
60.80 		1
112.51 		1
173.31
October 4–7, 2017 2017 JGP Poland 6
51.53 		5
99.12 		5
150.65
September 20–23, 2017 2017 JGP Belarus 4
52.94 		6
79.19 		5
132.13

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018.
    "Earlier versions". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Alisa Efimova / Misha Mitrofanov". U.S. Figure Skating Zone. U.S. Figure Skating Zone. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Stigall, Kama (September 19, 2018). "Coaches See Champion Qualities in Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov". U.S. Figure Skating.
  5. ^ "Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov Added to Internationaux de France". U.S. Figure Skating. September 28, 2018.
  6. ^ Slater, Paula (January 25, 2020). "Knierim and Knierim reclaim U.S. National title in Pairs". Golden Skate.
  7. ^ "2020 Skate America". International Figure Skating. October 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Slater, Paula (October 24, 2020). "Scimeca Knierim and Frazier take lead in pairs at 2020 Skate America". Golden Skate.
  9. ^ Slater, Paula (October 26, 2020). "Golden debut for Scimeca Knierim and Frazier at 2020 Skate America". Golden Skate.
  10. ^ Slater, Paula (January 14, 2021). "Scimeca Knierim and Frazier lead Pairs in debut at U.S. Nationals". Golden Skate.
  11. ^ Slater, Paula (January 17, 2021). "Knierim and Frazier take title in US Nationals debut". Golden Skate.
  12. ^ Slater, Paula (November 13, 2021). "Mishina and Galliamov storm to gold at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate.
  13. ^ Slater, Paula (November 27, 2021). "Mishina and Galliamov lead Russian sweep at Rostelecom Cup". Golden Skate.
  14. ^ "Competition Results: Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018.
  15. ^ Slater, Paula (January 9, 2022). "Cain-Gribble and LeDuc reclaim U.S. Pairs title". Golden Skate.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (January 22, 2022). "USA's Lu and Mitrofanov: 'It means everything'". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ "Cast List - An Evening with Championships". An Evening with Champions. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  18. ^ "Championship Pairs Free Skate - Press Conference - 2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships". YouTube. YouT- e. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Figure skater Alisa Efimova will compete for the United States". Athletistic. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  20. ^ "2024 Pacific Coast Sectional Singles and U.S. Pair". U.S. Figure Skating. U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  21. ^ "2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Pairs Results". U.S. Figure Skating. U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d "USA-Elisa Efimova / Misha Mitrofanov". SkatingScores.com.
  23. ^ "2024 John Nicks Pairs Challenge - Senior Results". U.S. Figure Skating. U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Alisa EFIMOVA / Misha MITROFANOV: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Alisa Efimova / Misha Mitrofanov 2024 US Nationals Short Program". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  26. ^ "2024 US Pairs Free Alisa Efimova & Misha Mitrofano". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021.
  28. ^ "Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020.
  29. ^ "Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019.
  30. ^ "Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018.
  31. ^ "Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017.
  32. ^ a b "USA-Audrey Lu / Misha Mitrofanov". SkatingScores.com.
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