Aleksandr Selevko, Estonia's premier figure skater, demonstrated remarkable resilience at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, advancing to the free skate segment despite encountering a setback during his short program performance. The 24-year-old athlete, who earned silver at the 2024 European Championships, secured his position in the next round with a solid score of 82.02 points, proving that a single misstep doesn't define an Olympic journey.
The Tallinn-born skater's path to these Winter Games crystallized at the European Championships in Sheffield, England, last month, where his fifth-place finish earned him the coveted Olympic berth. His younger brother, Mihhail Selevko, narrowly missed joining him in Italy, finishing one position behind in sixth place and just shy of Olympic qualification. This sibling dynamic adds a compelling layer to Aleksandr's Olympic narrative, as he carries not only national hopes but also family pride onto the ice.
Selevko arrived in Milano Cortina with impressive credentials. In early November, he elevated his personal best in the short program to 91.28 points, showcasing his technical prowess and artistic growth. His crowning achievement came at a Canadian Grand Prix event last November, where he amassed 257.21 total points—the first Estonian man to ever reach the podium at that prestigious level. These milestones positioned him as a legitimate contender, not just a participant, at these Winter Games.
This marks Selevko's second appearance on Olympic ice. Four years ago in Beijing, the then-20-year-old finished 28th in the men's singles competition. That experience, while humbling, provided invaluable lessons about managing pressure on sport's biggest stage. Now, as a more mature and technically refined athlete, he returned with clearer expectations and enhanced capabilities.
During a practice session at the main arena Sunday evening, Selevko exuded confidence. "My toe loop went well, no problem at all," he told ERR. "The quadruple lutz was also okay. I did my short program and I think everything was good. There was one mistake, but the quads were very good. I like the ice here. I think I'm in good shape." This self-assessment revealed an athlete who understood his strengths while acknowledging areas needing attention—precisely the mindset required for Olympic success.
Tuesday evening's short program placed Selevko 19th among 29 competitors, skating in the penultimate group. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as he took the ice, facing not only international rivals but also the pressure of representing a small nation on a massive platform. The program began spectacularly, with Selevko nailing a quadruple toe loop that earned high marks for both technical execution and artistic interpretation. He followed with a pristine triple axel, the sport's most challenging jump due to its forward takeoff requirement.
Then came the pivotal moment. Attempting a triple lutz, Selevko lost his footing and fell, automatically forfeiting the combination sequence that would have boosted his score significantly. In figure skating, where margins are razor-thin, such errors can derail medal aspirations. Yet Selevko's response exemplified Olympic spirit—he immediately regained composure, finished his remaining elements with precision, and concluded his program with artistic flourish.
The judges awarded him 82.02 points, a respectable total that, without the fall, likely would have exceeded 90 points. While this placed him well behind the leaders, it comfortably secured advancement to Friday's free skate, where he will start from 18th position. In a sport where redemption stories are written in real-time, Selevko now has another opportunity to showcase his full capabilities.
The evening's competition featured several standout performances. Italy's Matteo Rizzo and Daniel Grassl enjoyed enthusiastic home crowd support, while the pre-event favorites delivered as expected. American sensation Ilia Malinin, who had already captured gold in the team event, dominated the short program with a jaw-dropping 108.16 points. His routine included a rare backflip—a move not awarded points but one that electrified the audience and harkened back to Olympic history, as the last such maneuver occurred in 1976. Malinin hardly needed the theatrical flourish, as his technical elements were nearly flawless.
Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, silver medalist from Beijing 2022, also impressed with 103.07 points, securing second place temporarily before Malinin's skate. France's Adam Siao Him Fa delivered a powerful personal best of 102.55 points, demonstrating the depth of talent in this Olympic field. These performances set a high bar, but also provided Selevko with a clear benchmark for what excellence looks like at this level.
For Selevko, the free skate represents more than just another competition segment—it's a chance to rewrite his Olympic story. The longer program allows skaters to accumulate points across more elements, meaning strong jump combinations and artistic presentation can dramatically alter standings. His proven ability on quadruple jumps, particularly the toe loop and lutz, suggests he has the technical arsenal to climb the leaderboard.
The Estonian skating community watches with pride as Selevko carries their flag in Milano Cortina. His journey from Beijing's 28th place to European silver medalist illustrates consistent improvement and dedication to craft. While medal contention may be a stretch from 18th position, figure skating history contains numerous examples of athletes making substantial leaps in the free skate segment.
Selevko's performance also highlights the unique pressures facing athletes from smaller nations. Without the extensive support systems available to competitors from traditional winter sports powerhouses, Estonian athletes often balance training, funding, and competition logistics independently. Selevko's success thus resonates beyond personal achievement—it inspires a generation of young Estonians who see that Olympic dreams are attainable regardless of nationality.
As Friday approaches, Selevko's focus will be on executing clean quadruple jumps, maximizing his technical score, and delivering an artistic performance that connects with judges and audience alike. The fall on Tuesday becomes merely a footnote if he can deliver the skate of his life when it matters most. His practice session confidence suggests the technical ability is there; now it's about translating that into competitive performance under Olympic pressure.
The men's singles competition at Milano Cortina showcases figure skating's evolution, with quadruple jumps becoming standard and athletes pushing boundaries of what's possible. Selevko stands at this intersection—capable of the sport's most difficult elements, yet still refining the consistency required for podium finishes. His 82.02 points reflect both his potential and the harsh reality of Olympic-level scrutiny.
In the broader narrative of these Winter Games, Selevko's story embodies resilience, national pride, and the pure love of sport. While medal counts often dominate headlines, athletes like Selevko remind us that Olympic participation itself represents years of sacrifice, training, and unwavering commitment. His ability to shrug off a fall and secure free skate qualification demonstrates mental toughness that defines champions.
As the world turns its attention to Friday's free skate, Aleksandr Selevko prepares to write the next chapter of his Olympic journey. Whether he climbs into the top ten or simply delivers his personal best, he has already proven that Estonian figure skating deserves recognition on winter sport's biggest stage. The ice awaits, and with it, another opportunity for Selevko to show why he belongs among the world's elite.