“SHE DIDN’T JUST SKATE FOR HER COACH. 🥹⛸️ — SHE THANKED THE MAN SHE CALLS HER ‘SECOND FATHER’ IN THE MOST HEARTFELT TRIBUTE OF THE NIGHT.” At Alexei Mishin’s 85th anniversary gala in St. Petersburg, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva delivered an emotional performance celebrating the legendary coach who has guided her for nearly two decades. After captivating the audience with her trademark artistry, the former world champion took the microphone to thank Mishin, calling him her “second father” and crediting him not only for her greatest victories on the ice, but for shaping the person she has become.

by

The Empress Honors the Professor: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Delivers Emotional Tribute at Alexei Mishin’s 85th Jubilee

If Pyotr Gumennik represents the soaring future of Alexei Mishin’s coaching legacy, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva represents its beating heart. At the grand March 2026 ice gala “Mishin – 85: A Celebration on Ice” at St. Petersburg’s Yubileyny Sports Palace, the figure skating world came together to honor the legendary “Professor.”

Yet, no tribute carried more emotional weight than that of “The Empress.” Having trained under Mishin for nearly two decades, Tuktamysheva took to the ice not just as an iconic champion, but as the living embodiment of Mishin’s revolutionary coaching philosophy.

Любовное письмо от Туктамышевой и Гуменник на рояле: Неожиданные сюрпризы на юбилее тренера по фигурному катанию Алексея Мишина - KP.RU

A Partnership That Redefined Figure Skating

In an era where women’s figure skating has often been dominated by rapid, short-lived careers, Tuktamysheva’s longevity is nothing short of miraculous. At 29 years old, she remains a beloved global icon—a testament to Mishin’s scientifically backed, health-first training methods.

[The Tuktamysheva-Mishin Legacy]
  ├── The Beginning: Lizalyn joined Mishin's camp as a young girl from Glazov
  ├── The Pinnacle: Winning the 2015 World and European Championships
  └── The Longevity: Mastering the Triple Axel well into her twenties, defying athletic norms

When she stepped onto the Yubileyny ice under a single, dramatic spotlight, the arena erupted. Performing a deeply expressive and mature routine, she flew across the ice with the effortless grace and commanding sensuality that earned her the title of “The Empress.”

“He Is My Second Father”

Following her flawless performance, the atmosphere shifted from awe to deep emotion. Tuktamysheva took the microphone to address her longtime mentor, who watched pridefully from the boards.

Holding back tears, she expressed what Mishin has meant to her life, both on and off the ice:

The Empress’s Tribute: “Alexei Nikolaevich is not just a coach to me; he is a second father, a mentor, and a guiding light. He taught me not only how to jump and spin, but how to navigate life with dignity, humor, and resilience. Happy 85th Birthday, Professor. My career, my victories, and the person I am today belong to you.”

The Highlight of a Historic Evening

Елизавета Туктамышева. Юбилей А.Н. Мишина.

The gala was a beautifully orchestrated journey through Mishin’s golden history, but the mutual respect between the Professor and the Empress was the undeniable soul of the night.

  • The Signature Musicality: Tuktamysheva’s program showcased her legendary adult musicality, proving that figure skating is an art form that only grows richer with age.

  • The Professor’s Pride: Cameras captured Alexei Mishin smiling warmly, applaudingly gently, and embracing his most loyal pupil as she stepped off the ice.

  • A Symbol of Longevity: For the young skaters in attendance, the bond between Mishin and Tuktamysheva served as the ultimate masterclass in trust, patience, and athletic longevity.

As the night concluded with all of Mishin’s legendary students surrounding him on the ice, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva stood right by his side—where she has proudly stood for the last twenty years, and where her legacy will forever be linked to the greatest coach in figure skating history.