Natalia Zabiiako

Natalia Aleksandrovna Zabiiako (Russian: Наталья Александровна Забияко, born 15 August 1994) is a Russian-Estonian pair skater. Competing for Russia with Alexander Enbert, she is the 2015 CS Mordovian Ornament silver medalist.

Zabijako competed for Estonia until 2014, partnered with Sergei Muhhin, Sergei Kulbach, and Alexandr Zaboev. With Zaboev, she placed tenth at the 2014 European Championships. Although they qualified a spot for Estonia in the pairs' event at the 2014 Winter Olympics, they did not compete in Sochi because Zaboev's fast-track citizenship application was declined.

Personal life

Zabijako was born in Tallinn, Estonia.^[1] Her mother is an Estonian citizen, her father holds an Estonian alien's passport, and her grandparents are Russian citizens living in Novorossiysk.^[2]

From 2010 to 2014, Zabijako lived in the United States with a Russian emigrant family.^[2] In April 2014, she said she planned to move to Moscow and apply for Russian citizenship.^[3][2] She became a Russian citizen on 19 December 2014.^[4]

Career for Estonia

Zabijako began skating when she was four years old. At age 15, she switched from singles to pairs, partnering with Sergei Muhhin.^[2] They made their international debut at the 2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Belarus and placed 16th at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

Partnership with Kulbach

Later in 2010, Zabijako teamed up with Ukrainian skater Sergei Kulbach to represent Estonia. After debuting at the 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, the pair placed 13th at the 2011 European Championships and 16th at the 2011 World Championships. Zabijako injured her back as a result of a fall at the NRW Trophy in December 2011, preventing them from competing at the 2012 European Championships.^[5] On 15 February 2012, it was reported that Zabijako and Kulbach had parted ways.^[5]

Partnership with Zaboev

In October 2012, Zabijako teamed up with Russian-born skater Alexandr Zaboev to compete for Estonia.^[6] By finishing ninth at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy, they earned a spot for Estonia in pair skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Zaboev applied for Estonian citizenship, required to represent the country at the Olympics,^[6] but in November 2013, Estonia denied his fast-track application.^[7] Zabijako/Zaboev placed tenth at the 2014 European Championships and 19th at the 2014 World Championships. In late March 2014, Zabijako ended their partnership, saying he was too difficult to work with^[8] and the Estonian Skating Federation did not provide them with equal financial support.^[9] In early April 2014, the Secretary General of the Estonian Skating Union submitted an official rebuttal to Zabijako's statements. The Secretary General called Zabijako's statements concerning the Skating Union and her partner slanderous and untrue; "Sport - is voluntary, and each person has a right to make decisions, but to justify their actions do not have to lie and defame their partners."^[10]

Move to Russia

In April 2014, Zabijako said she would move to Moscow to work with Nina Mozer and try out with different skaters,^[8] intending to compete for Russia.^[2] ISU rules require skaters to sit out a certain period of time after a country change.^[11]

In summer 2014 Zabijako and Yuri Larionov decided to skate together. In June 2015, she said that their partnership had ended.

2015–16 season: Beginning of partnership with Enbert

In July 2015, the Russian media reported that Zabijako had teamed up with Alexander Enbert and that she had been released to represent Russia internationally.^[12]

Zabijako/Enbert's international debut came in October 2015 at the 2015 Mordovian Ornament, a Challenger Series (CS) event at which they won a silver medal. In November, the pair appeared for the first time on the Grand Prix series, placing 5th at the 2015 Rostelecom Cup. In early December, they finished fourth at the 2015 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb and third in the CS standings. At the 2016 Russian Championships, the pair placed fifth in both segments and overall.

2016–17 season

Zabijako/Enbert started the 2016–17 season on the Challenger Series, obtaining the bronze medal at the 2016 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial. Turning to the Grand Prix series, the pair won the silver medal at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup, having placed first in the short and second in the free behind Germany's Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot.

Programs

With Enbert

With Larionov

With Zaboev

With Kulbach

With Muhhin

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Enbert for Russia

With Larionov for Russia

With Zaboev for Estonia

With Kulbach for Estonia

Zabijako competes with Sergei Kulbach at the 2011 World Championships

With Muhhin for Estonia

Detailed results

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

Zabijako and Enbert at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup

With Enbert

References

External links

Media related to Natalja Zabijako at Wikimedia Commons

• Natalja Zabijako / Alexander Enbert at the International Skating Union
• Natalja Zabijako / Alexandr Zaboev at the International Skating Union