Latvian figure skater Deniss Vasiļjevs faces a challenging path to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan [[1]], arriving after a season marked by setbacks ranging from copyright disputes and coaching changes to injury and inconsistent judging. Despite these hurdles, Vasiļjevs is preparing to compete, and his recent performance at the European Championships offered a glimpse of resilience as he battles to solidify his place on the Olympic stage. The article details Vasiļjevs’ struggles and determination as the Games draw near.
Deniss Vasiļjevs’ road to the Olympics has been anything but smooth. After beginning work on his short program in the spring and his free skate in the summer, the Latvian figure skater faced a setback when he had to scrap his chosen music due to copyright issues. That was followed by a dispute with the Latvian Skating Federation over funding, which ultimately led him to leave his coach, Stefan Lambiel, and the Swiss city of Champéry, where he had lived and trained for nearly a decade. A difficult start to the season, overtraining as he attempted to correct flaws in his technique, an injury, and a return to Champéry all complicated his preparations.
The past six months have been a trial for the Latvian skater, a struggle to gain traction on the ice. Despite the challenges, many believe that each hurdle is making him stronger. Vasiļjevs appears to be following a similar trajectory, preparing for the debut of his free skate just three weeks before the Olympic Games in Sheffield, England.
The new free skate was choreographed in December, and Vasiļjevs performed it in full for the first time at the European Championships in Sheffield. However, even this progress was in question for a time, as he wasn’t sure he’d be able to compete if his leg pain prevented him from executing more difficult elements.
Vasiļjevs estimates his readiness for the short program was at 62% a week before the European Championships, while his free skate was only 20%. By the time the competition arrived, he had improved to 65% and 30-35% respectively.
Physiotherapist Mārtiņš Kadarozols played a crucial role in Vasiļjevs’ recovery, working what he called a “small miracle” with specialized exercises and multiple massage sessions each day, both in Switzerland and at the European Championships. Kadarozols described Vasiļjevs as a unique athlete, “a combination of a footballer and a gymnast, with tremendous power in his legs, but also very elastic and mobile.”
Despite the difficulties, Vasiļjevs delivered a strong performance in Sheffield. While he didn’t attempt any quadruple jumps or land perfect spins, his score surprised both commentators and his team.
“We need to simplify the rules. It gets worse with each passing year. The rules are more complex and less understandable. Viewers don’t understand how these points are calculated. Yes, it’s not easy to create something…
“No, it has to be easy, to create something simple,” said Vasiļjevs’ coach, Stefan Lambiel, a sentiment echoed by his manager, Kristofers Trevisians.
Trevisians pointed to inconsistent judging as a major issue: “We have elements that should be evaluated in a certain way, but in different competitions, for no reason, they are evaluated differently. A clear example was the step sequence in Deniss’ short program, which was given a level one. It was an incomprehensible decision, and reviewing the step sequence, which was very well executed, it’s hard to understand why?”
“Just a month ago, he performed the exact same element and received a level four. The same element, but what has changed?”
“And it’s hard to understand in this opaque system, and it’s discouraging.”
There was also concern during the free skate debut whether Vasiļjevs’ leg could withstand the four-minute program. It did. A slow-motion replay showed him rising after the final spin, pushing off with his injured leg.
“With everything that has happened, I have taken a huge step in my personal life. The way this season started, everything that happened… I have already won. That’s why I returned to Champéry, but I am not the same boy anymore. Maybe a little more of a grown man. And I’m waiting for the time when I will be able to fly out of the stork’s nest again and find my own way,” Vasiļjevs said.
With just three weeks remaining until the start of the Olympic Games, Vasiļjevs heads back to Champéry with a surge of fan energy, but also with the lingering question of whether the blame lies with him, or elsewhere, if he continues to finish ninth after his performances.
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