Estonian Stars Selevko and Petrokina Sweep Singles Golds at 2026 Tallinn Open

The 2026-27 figure skating season is officially in gear, and the host nation laid down a massive marker this weekend at the Haabersti Ice Hall. Estonian stars Mihhail Selevko and Niina Petrokina swept the singles gold medals at the 2026 Tallinn Open, defending home ice with performances that blended technical ambition with early-season polish. The September 11-13 event served as a crucial testing ground before the grueling Grand Prix circuit begins, and the local favorites did not disappoint the Tallinn crowd.[2][5]

Selevko absolutely dismantled the men's field, posting a massive 251.91 points to take the gold. While the Tallinn Open is not a Challenger Series event—meaning the score will not count as an official International Skating Union (ISU) personal best—the number itself is the highest Selevko has ever recorded in international competition.[4]

The 21-year-old Estonian finished more than 30 points clear of his closest competitor, showcasing a level of form that immediately elevates his stock heading into next week's Lombardia Trophy. "Congrats to Mikhail for winning this event," noted one prominent analyst on the sport's largest community forum, highlighting that the score sets a high bar for the upcoming Challenger circuit.[4][5]

Behind Selevko's runaway victory, Ukrainian skater Kyrylo Marsak delivered a resilient performance to capture the silver medal. Skating a new short program to the song "Where's My Love," Marsak earned 75.51 points to sit in third place heading into the free skate.[3]

In the free program, the skater from Kherson rallied, pulling in 73.12 points for technical difficulty and 71.34 for program components. His combined total of 219.97 points was enough to vault him into second place, securing his first international medal of the 2026-27 season. Estonian Arlet Levandi rounded out the podium with the bronze, finishing roughly nine points behind Marsak.[3][5]

On the women's side, Niina Petrokina matched her compatriot's gold-medal finish, but it was her technical ambition that stole the headlines. Petrokina won the event with a combined score of 207.13 points, following a strong 72.67-point short program that gave her an early cushion over the rest of the field.[5][6]

In the free skate, Petrokina made a bold statement by attempting a quadruple Salchow. While the jump was deemed under-rotated and resulted in a fall, the decision to deploy it at the Tallinn Open was a calculated risk that signals her intent to challenge the world's elite this season.[4][5]

"You don't get a stable one without trying it in a program, and Tallinn Open is precisely the type of competition to try it," noted observers tracking the event. By testing the quad in a lower-stakes environment where she was already the heavy favorite, Petrokina is clearly preparing her technical arsenal for the Grand Prix series. She ultimately scored 134.46 in the free skate, easily securing the gold.[4][5]

The event also featured junior and senior pairs and ice dance competitions, with athletes using the September window to debut new choreography and test jump layouts before the ISU Challenger Series ramps up. The early-season timing allows skaters to make critical adjustments based on live judges' feedback rather than practice-rink assumptions.[2][5]

For Selevko and Petrokina, the Tallinn Open was a perfect launchpad. Both skaters leave their home arena with gold medals, massive confidence boosts, and clear data on what needs refining before they face the world's best later this fall.[1][5]