The Olympic stage has long been a platform where athletic excellence meets artistic expression, but few performances have bridged cultural divides as vividly as Georgian figure skater Anastasiia Gubanova’s recent routine. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the 23-year-old champion traded classical compositions for the pulsating rhythms of Indian cinema, delivering a program that resonated far beyond the ice rink. Her bold choice to skate to a Bollywood mashup transformed a traditional figure skating event into a celebration of global cultural exchange.
A Champion's Unconventional Choice
Anastasiia Gubanova is no stranger to the upper echelons of figure skating. The 2023 European Championship winner has built her reputation on technical precision and graceful artistry. Yet her performance on February 8 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena marked a deliberate departure from convention. Rather than selecting Tchaikovsky or Debussy—as many skaters do—Gubanova curated a dynamic soundtrack drawn from two iconic Indian films.
The routine opened with the ethereal melody of “San Sananana Sana” from the historical epic ‘Ashoka’, starring Shah Rukh Khan. This track, with its haunting vocals and orchestral depth, provided a dramatic entrance that showcased Gubanova’s ability to interpret nuanced emotional landscapes. The program then exploded into the high-energy title track of ‘Dhurandhar’, the blockbuster featuring Ranveer Singh. This transition demonstrated not only musical versatility but also athletic stamina, as the composition’s rapid tempo demanded powerful jumps and intricate footwork.
Choreography That Tells a Story
What elevated Gubanova’s performance beyond mere music selection was her commitment to authentic cultural representation through movement. The choreography incorporated a Punjabi folk-inspired step meticulously synchronized with the ‘Dhurandhar’ soundtrack’s driving beat. This wasn’t simply skating to a song; it was translating the spirit of Bollywood dance onto the ice.
Her technical elements included sharp spins that mirrored the percussive intensity of the music and jump sequences timed to crescendos in the composition. The program’s structure allowed her to display both her artistic interpretation and her athletic credentials—every element served the narrative of cultural fusion she was crafting.
Visual Storytelling Through Costume
Gubanova’s presentation extended beyond her blades. She competed in a striking red-and-gold costume that evoked traditional Indian festive attire, complete with a red bindi on her forehead. These visual choices weren’t arbitrary fashion statements; they were deliberate elements of storytelling that honored the cultural origins of her music.
The bindi, a significant symbol in South Asian culture, added a layer of authenticity that audiences and critics alike noticed immediately. Her costume’s color palette—rich crimson and shimmering gold—captured the vibrancy associated with Bollywood cinema and Indian celebrations. This attention to detail transformed her appearance into a moving canvas that complemented her choreography.
Digital Applause and Global Conversation
The performance’s impact was amplified exponentially through social media and digital platforms. Within hours, clips of Gubanova’s routine circulated globally, generating widespread attention and sparking conversations about cultural representation in sports. Fans of both figure skating and Bollywood found common ground, united by appreciation for this unexpected fusion.
Commentators noted how the performance challenged the often Eurocentric traditions of figure skating music selection. By bringing Bollywood to one of sport’s most prestigious stages, Gubanova opened doors for future athletes to explore diverse musical traditions without fear of penalty from traditionalist judges.
A Routine with History
While the Olympic appearance represented the program’s most prominent platform, it wasn’t its debut. Media reports confirm Gubanova had previously performed this exact Bollywood mashup at an international competition in Beijing in September 2025. This prior outing suggests the routine was carefully refined over months, not a last-minute artistic gamble.
The Beijing performance likely served as a testing ground, allowing Gubanova and her coaching team to gauge both technical execution and audience reception before unveiling it at the Olympics. The fact that she maintained the program for such a high-stakes event speaks to her confidence in its artistic merit and competitive viability.
Implications for Figure Skating’s Future
Gubanova’s Bollywood program represents more than a personal artistic statement—it signals a potential shift in figure skating’s cultural landscape. The sport, which has historically rewarded classical music selections, may be evolving to embrace global soundtracks. This evolution reflects both the increasing diversity of athletes and the expanding tastes of international audiences.
Her success could inspire other skaters to explore world music traditions, from K-pop to Afrobeat to Latin American rhythms. The key lesson is that authentic cultural homage, when executed with respect and technical excellence, can enhance rather than detract from a performance’s competitive strength.
The Athlete Behind the Artistry
Beyond this viral routine, Gubanova’s career trajectory deserves recognition. Winning the European Championship at 21 established her as Georgia’s figure skating standard-bearer. Her decision to pursue such an unconventional program demonstrates the confidence of an athlete secure in her abilities and unafraid to take risks.
Training for an Olympic program requires thousands of hours of practice, and adapting Bollywood’s complex rhythms to skating’s technical demands represents a formidable challenge. Gubanova’s execution proved she had invested that time, mastering not just the athletic elements but the musical nuances that made the performance authentic.
A Moment of Global Unity
In an era where sports often reflect cultural divisions, Gubanova’s routine offered a moment of joyful convergence. Indian audiences saw their cinematic traditions honored on a global stage, while skating purists witnessed the sport’s artistic boundaries expand. The performance reminded viewers that athletic excellence transcends cultural origins, and that the Olympic spirit embraces diversity in all its forms.
The red bindi, the gold embroidery, the Punjabi folk steps—all these elements combined to create something greater than the sum of their parts. It was a Georgian athlete celebrating Indian culture at an Italian Olympics, embodying the internationalism that defines the modern Games.
Looking Forward
As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue, Gubanova’s Bollywood routine will likely be remembered as a defining moment of these Games. It challenges future Olympians to think beyond traditional boundaries and consider how their performances can reflect our interconnected world. The ice rink, like cinema, is a space where stories are told—Gubanova simply chose to tell a story that spanned continents.
Her legacy may well be measured not in medals alone, but in the conversations she started about cultural courage in athletic artistry. For a generation of young skaters from diverse backgrounds, she has shown that their heritage belongs on the Olympic ice just as much as any classical symphony.