OAS ("Obscure" 4CC skaters) news & articles

[Kelvster]

cannot believe it. Shirene was an extremely elegant skater who skated with such joy. She made history by qualifying for the free skate at both the Olympics and at Worlds in 2000. RIP.

 

[nlloyd]

Shocking news. She was so young. My condolences to her family, friends and the figure skating community in South Africa.

 

[tony]

Just seeing the news. Shirene was training in my area with Carol Heiss Jenkins when I was a kid and many years later in my 'blog era' we had some wonderful conversations. She had been posting on social media about finally getting tattoos as her newest hobby because she was only going to live once. RIP

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I don’t care what anyone has to say ….this free program music for Mikhail from Kazakhstan is all sorts of Looney Tunes and I am living for it.

This music is awesome. Much better than I just fell in love with a girl named Maria.

 

[Sylvia]

Shirene Human from South Africa, who competed at the 1998 Olympics, passed away yesterday. She was only 45 years old.

Shirene Human – Nagano, Japan – 1998 - SAFSA

Shirene Human (09/01/1980 - 08/10/2025) The South African Figure Skating Association (SAFSA) mourns the passing of Shirene Human, South Africa’s last female figure skater to represent our nation at the Olympic Games. Shirene was a trailblazer who carried the South African flag with grace...

safsa.org.za

I only just saw this very sad news and found this local article dated Oct. 11, 2025:

Bryanston parkrun place of honour for late Olympian and parkrunner | Sandton Chronicle

The run in Bryanston carried deep emotion as the Sisonke Sisters group ran in memory of their late teammate, Shirene Human, a beloved parkrunner and Olympian.

www.citizen.co.za

The Bryanston parkrun carried special significance this morning, as members of the Sisonke Sisters, a breast cancer awareness group, took part in honour of their late sister Shirene Human.
Human, a passionate parkrunner and accomplished figure skater, passed away on October 7 after a courageous battle with breast cancer that had metastasised to her lungs.

ETA links - Shirene's ISU bio: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00000019.htm

Shirene Human - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Debrah]

So sad to hear of her passing; Shirene was one of the 1st international skaters I met, while attending 4CC in Halifax, way, way, back in the day. She was so thrilled to be skating in the 4CC event, and she was such a charming representative of her country, who took the time to sign autographs, chat, and take pictures with fans. One of my most favourite skating memories!

 

[TAHbKA]

Shaidorov went back to his last year's Dune programme (SP)

 

[Karen-W]

Shaidorov went back to his last year's Dune programme (SP)

Another skater/team choosing the wrong program to change. He needs to go back to last year's FS.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Shaidorov went back to his last year's Dune programme (SP)

Bummer. I liked his programs, they were exciting. No warhorses for him.

 

[TAHbKA]

According to the Russian press a new team - Geynish/Zandron to participate some local competition in Tashkent.

 

[farahfan]

The Philippine pair Gamez/Korovin is registered for Golden Spin. Their first competition since failing to qualify for the Olympics back in September. I was hoping they'd be still in the game, since they have the mins for 4CC. And I would expect 4CC to be less competitive this year due to being close in date to the Olympics.

 

[Aceon6]

The Philippine pair Gamez/Korovin is registered for Golden Spin. Their first competition since failing to qualify for the Olympics back in September. I was hoping they'd be still in the game, since they have the mins for 4CC. And I would expect 4CC to be less competitive this year due to being close in date to the Olympics.

Do they still hate each other? Gotta be some $$$ keeping them in the game.

 

[clairecloutier]

We have a short interview with Mikhail Shaidorov up on our web site:

Mikhail Shaidorov: "I want to do five quads in the free program" - A divine sport

2025 World silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan is looking to upgrade his technical content this season, as he prepares for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games.

adivinesport.com

Written by Victoria Burdman

 

[karmena]

Any news how Loena is doing? she had health issues

 

[Sylvia]

@karmena I think you meant to post in this GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2025-26-oes-news.112940/

 

[karmena]

@karmena I think you meant to post in this GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2025-26-oes-news.112940/

Yes! thank you

 

[denise3lz]

Phattaratida KANESHIGE of Thailand trains under Mihoko Higuchi (LYS) in Niigata, Japan.

𝐋𝐘𝐒 - Instagram: "Welcome to LYS 💫Anri 🇹🇭🇯🇵 We’re so happy to work with you 🤍 Thank you from all of us."

December 15, 2025、1,018 likes, 0 comments - lysfigureskatingclub: "Welcome to LYS 💫Anri 🇹🇭🇯🇵 We’re so happy to work with you 🤍 Thank you from all of us.".

www.instagram.com

It is unclear whether this is long-term or temporary.

 

[Sylvia]

2026 4CC preliminary entries were published today - here are all the skaters from countries that don't have their own news threads in GSD:

MEN
Chiu Hei CHEUNG HKG
Jarvis HO HKG
Dias JIRENBAYEV KAZ
Oleg MELNIKOV KAZ
Mikhail SHAIDOROV KAZ
Nikita KRIVOSHEYEV KAZ [Sub.]
Artur SMAGULOV KAZ [Sub.]
Ze Zeng FANG MAS
Donovan CARRILLO MEX
Paolo BORROMEO PHI
Kwang Bom HAN PRK
Yu-Hsiang LI TPE

WOMEN
Tsz Ching CHAN HKG
Tara PRASAD IND
Amira IRMATOVA KAZ
Sofia SAMODELKINA KAZ
Andrea MONTESINOS CANTU MEX
Petra LAHTI NZL (not yet posted in AUS/NZL news thread)
Maxine BAUTISTA PHI
Gian-Quen ISAACS RSA

PAIRS
Isabella GAMEZ / Aleksandr KOROVIN PHI
Tae Ok RYOM / Kum Chol HAN PRK

ICE DANCE
Natalia PALLU-NEVES / Jayin PANESAR BRA
Gaukhar NAURYZOVA / Boyisangur DATIEV KAZ
Harlow Lynella STANLEY / Seiji URANO MEX

4CC Entries thread in Kiss & Cry section: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/entries-4cc-2026-in-beijing.113469/

 

[Sylvia]

Phattaratida KANESHIGE of Thailand trains under Mihoko Higuchi (LYS) in Niigata, Japan.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSUFswykoFL/
It is unclear whether this is long-term or temporary.

I came across this 1/1/26 article - "I love watching the athletes grow," says figure skating coach Mihoko Higuchi:

「選手の成長する姿を見るのが好き」　フィギュアスケートコーチ、樋口美穂子さん（56）　地域で輝く　新潟

令和8年が幕を開けた。多岐にわたる分野で地域に根を張った活動を続ける人々、地域から広い世界へと飛躍しようとしている人々が、東日本の各地にいる。新たな年にかける…

www.sankei.com

She is known for coaching top figure skaters such as Olympic silver medalists Shoma Uno and Mao Asada. In 2022, she founded the LYS Figure Skating Club in Nagoya and has been coaching athletes ever since, but in July 2025, she moved to Niigata City and established her base of operations there. The club operates as a branch in Nagoya.

Currently, six players are receiving instruction from Higuchi in Niigata City: four elementary and junior high school students who moved from Nagoya to follow him, one player who commutes from Kanagawa Prefecture, and one 16-year-old player [Kaneshige] who moved from Thailand.

Copying over (from the Kiss & Cry thread) the medalists/results from the Southeast Asian Games [SEA] last month in Bangkok:

Men:
Ze Zeng FANG MAS 157.22 (100.49 FS) - his photos from the medal ceremony: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSM24ETk12s/
Aaron KULVATUNYOU THA 137.98 - his SP: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSL6T4vDT37/
Paolo BORROMEO PHI 128.39 - Team Philippines photos from the medal ceremony: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSMzBkGj2il/

Women:
Phattaratida KANESHIGE THA 150.74 (100.56 FS) - video of her SP (3Lz+2T, 2A, 3Lo): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSKrdTYDf-h/
Maxine Marie BAUTISTA PHI 129.33 https://www.instagram.com/p/DSd4mv5AMyw/ (her 4CC debut is next)
Pimmpida LERDPRAIWAN THA 122.11 - her SP: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSKtmRZD_r0/

@Karen-W had posted in the competition thread that the ISU age eligibility rules were modified for this competition:

To ensure an adequate number of competitors required by the SEA Games Federation, an open category will be used for this competition to allow skaters from 15 years old participate in the competition.
“Open category” in this competition consists of
1. Senior (age 17 and above) and
2. Junior (age 15-19).
Skaters will compete according to their respective age categories and will be judged within their own category—Senior or Junior—based on the ISU Technical Rules. However, for the purpose of final results, all skaters will be combined into a single Open Category. The overall ranking will be determined by the total scores of each skater, regardless of category.

As a result, the SEA Games is classified as a "Regional International Competition" and does not count for the ISU World Standings/Season’s World Ranking.

Edited to correct my poor wording above.

 

[Karen-W]

@Karen-W had posted in the competition thread that the ISU age eligibility rules were modified for this competition:

As a result, the SEA Games is classified as a "Regional International Competition" and does not count for the ISU World Standings/Season’s World Ranking.

So, the reason it doesn't count for ISU WS/WR points is because it's a Regional Int'l Competition, not because the ISU age eligibility rules were modified. It's not classified as a "Regional Int'l Competition" because of the modification of the ISU age eligibility rules. Apart from Euros and 4CCs, which are ISU Championships, any other regional international competitions that only allow skaters from specific countries/regions/continents such as the Asian Winter Games, the Nordics (back when entry was limited to just Denmark, Iceland, Norway & Sweden), or Four Nationals, do not earn ISU WS/WR points and never have.

 

[Karen-W]

Donovan Carrillo has been named one of Mexico's flag bearers for Milano-Cortina!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009804898909741546

 

[Sylvia]

Bumping this thread back up since 4CC is underway...

4CC SP photo of India’s Tara Prasad by veritphoto:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014288370684326323

 

[Sylvia]

Copying over (from the Kiss & Cry thread) the medalists/results from the Southeast Asian Games [SEA] last month in Bangkok:
Men:
Ze Zeng FANG MAS 157.22 (100.49 FS) - his photos from the medal ceremony: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSM24ETk12s/

Ze Zeng FANG, 21, is featured as the January 2026 digital cover story (with fashion photos) in the Malaysia edition of Men's Folio (Jan. 19):

On The Cover: Breaking The Ice with Fang Ze Zeng - Men's Folio Malaysia

What does it take to bring home a gold medal from the SEA Games? Men's Folio speaks to the Malaysian figure skater.

www.mens-folio.com.my

Excerpts:

Fang’s driving factor is the desire for constant growth. Describing his experience of winning gold at the SEA Games as surreal, he recognises the turbulent journey it took to win. “At the start, there were injuries and days when motivation was hard to find, but every setback taught me something. Standing on the podium wasn’t just about that one performance; it represents years of discipline, sacrifices and self-belief, even when results didn’t immediately reflect them,” he confesses. To him, growth was about cultivating a hobby, progressing stage by stage until he could compete at an elite level. “I was first introduced to the sport at eight years old, when my mum brought my sister and me to the rink for lessons during a school break. I fell in love with the sport from the moment I stepped onto the ice,” he recalls. Drawn to the expressiveness of the sport that seamlessly blends athleticism with artistry — allowing him to skate, jump and spin without restrictions — he saw skating as a way to communicate emotions without words.

Stating that the sport is a mix of preparation and execution, he explains that most of the work happens before the competition. “Skaters train off-ice for jumps, stamina and strength; on-ice for artistry, jumps and spins. When everything comes together, we rely heavily on muscle memory and trust the training we’ve done to deliver the final performance. During the competition, we stay focused by keeping in time with the music, executing jump entries and elements cleanly, along with recovering quickly if something goes wrong.” While recognising that each skater prepares differently, he opts to stay calm as it helps him perform better. “We can easily overtrain. Repeating jumps places significant stress on the body, and too much training without proper rest can lead to injuries or mental burnout. Effective training balances both hard work and adequate recovery to keep us sharp mentally and physically.”

Having skated throughout his teens, I asked if there was a phase of rebellion that challenged him to quit, given all the work required to succeed? “Absolutely. My teenage years also coincided with the pandemic, so there were moments I constantly questioned myself and wondered why I didn’t feel good enough, especially when I compared myself to skaters from other countries,” he confesses. Fang felt left behind as he observed foreign peers who had access to better training facilities and stronger internal competitions for bigger stages. Admitting that the rebellion felt natural, he adopted a shift in mindset. “Rather than seeing skating as something that confined me, I began to see it as something that empowered me. Once I understood why I did it, the pressure eased, and the joy slowly found its way back.”

Fang skates #7 of 26 in the 4CC Men's SP that starts in 6 hours.

 

[Sylvia]

Posted by Jarvis Ho - at 4CC with Paolo Borromeo, Ze Zeng Fang & Yu-Hsiang Li:

𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨 on Instagram: "The Asian Dreamers🫂"

41 likes, 1 comments - ho.jarvis on January 25, 2026: "The Asian Dreamers🫂".

www.instagram.com