:Nelli Zhiganshina

Nelli Zhiganshina was born on 31 March 1987 in Moscow. She is the elder sister of Ruslan Zhiganshin, who was a competitive ice dancer for Russia. Their mother is a children's skating coach.

Zhiganshina passed a German citizenship test in 2011 and filed documents to renounce her Russian citizenship, as required by Germany. In November 2013, it was announced that she had been released by Russia, allowing her to take German citizenship.

Zhiganshina began skating in 1990 at the age of three. She took up ice dancing at 12. Zhiganshina competed with Denis Bazdirev for Russia until the end of 2004, appearing four times on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series.

In June 2005, Zhiganshina had a tryout with Alexander Gazsi in Moscow and agreed to skate with him for Germany. At the start of their partnership, they trained mainly in Moscow with coaches Elena Kustarova and Svetlana Alexeeva and, during summers, in Berlin and Chemnitz due to Gazsi's army service. They later changed coaches to Alexander Zhulin and Oleg Volkov, also in Moscow.

Zhiganshina/Gazsi won bronze at their first German Championships in 2006, their only competition of the season. The next season they won their first national title, placed 16th at the 2007 Europeans and 18th at Worlds.

During the 2007–08 season, they made their debut on the Grand Prix circuit, placing 7th at Skate Canada and 8th at Cup of Russia. They won silver at German Nationals and again finished 18th at Worlds.

During the 2008–09 season, Zhiganshina/Gazsi did not compete on the Grand Prix circuit. Zhiganshina continued to visit Germany on a three-month tourist visa because the low income from the sport meant she did not qualify for residency and Germany did not have as high caliber ice dancers as Moscow to train alongside. Although favored to win 2009 German Nationals, they placed second and missed the European and World teams. They considered leaving competition to focus on show skating and worked with circus acrobats in Moscow but decided to continue their competitive career and moved to Oberstdorf, Germany in spring 2009 to work with coaches Rostislav Sinicyn and Martin Skotnicky. During the 2009–10 season, they placed third at German Nationals and were not sent to the European or World Championships. They were not eligible for the 2010 Winter Olympics due to Zhiganshina not having German citizenship.

File:Jielbeaumadier Zhiganshina Gazsi Bompard 2013.jpg

During the 2010–11 season, Zhiganshina/Gazsi again received no Grand Prix invitations but won three medals at senior B events. They won their second national title and were selected to compete at the European Championships for the first time in three years. At Europeans, they were 8th in the short dance, then edged past Nóra Hoffmann / Maxim Zavozin by 0.39 points into 7th place overall after the free dance. This was the first top-ten result for German ice dancers since 2003 (Kati Winkler / Rene Lohse). The result gave Germany two berths to the 2012 European ice dancing event. Zhiganshina/Gazsi finished 11th at the 2011 World Championships, earning invitations to two Grand Prix events the following season.

In preparation for the 2011–12 season, Zhiganshina/Gazsi went to Sofia, Bulgaria, to work with choreographer Maxim Staviski, with whom they also worked in previous years. They began their season at the 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy where they won the silver medal. After placing fourth at both of their Grand Prix events, the 2011 Skate America and 2011 NHK Trophy, the duo finished eighth at the 2012 European Championships and eleventh at the 2012 World Championships.

In 2012–13, Zhiganshina/Gazsi placed a career-best sixth at the 2013 European Championships and tenth at the 2013 World Championships. As a result of their Worlds placement, Germany qualified two spots in ice dancing at the 2014 Olympics.

In 2013–14, Zhiganshina/Gazsi won their fifth national title and were selected to represent Germany at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Germany assigned them to the team event short dance, where they placed sixth; Germany, however, did not qualify for the free dance. Zhiganshina/Gazsi finished 11th in the separate ice dancing event.

(with Gazsi)

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series (began in the 2014–15 season); JGP: Junior Grand Prix

File:Zhiganshina Gaszi NT2012 Kür 1.jpg ]]

File:2012 Rostelecom Cup 01d 857 Nelli ZHIGANSHINA Alexander GAZSI.JPG ]]

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00006433.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Denis BAZDIREV: 2004/2005 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131103092834/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00006433.htm |archive-date= 3 November 2013 |url-status= live }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00009177.htm |title= Competition Results: Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI |publisher= International Skating Union }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2006/2007 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070818180749/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00009177.htm |archive-date= 18 August 2007 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2007/2008 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080607214758/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00009177.htm |archive-date= 7 June 2008 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2010/2011 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718164446/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |archive-date= 18 July 2011 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2011/2012 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120609112054/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |archive-date= 9 June 2012 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2012/2013 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130312062257/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |archive-date= 12 March 2013 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2013/2014 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140528124804/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |archive-date= 28 May 2014 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009177.htm |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI: 2014/2015 |publisher= International Skating Union }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.sochi2014.com/en/athlete-nelli-zhiganshina |title= Nelli ZHIGANSHINA |website= Sochi2014.com |publisher= Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140320055752/http://www.sochi2014.com/en/athlete-nelli-zhiganshina |archive-date= 20 March 2014 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.skatetoday.com/2007/12/17/german-dancers-make-good-start/ |title= German Dancers Make Good Start |first= Barry |last= Mittan |publisher= SkateToday |date= 17 December 2007 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/08/zhiganshina-and-gazsi-turn-disappointment-into-strength/ |title= Zhiganshina and Gazsi turn disappointment into strength |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= GoldenSkate |date= 14 August 2011 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/01/pechalat-and-bourzat-grab-lead-in-the-short-dance/ |title= Pechalat and Bourzat grab lead in the Short Dance |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= GoldenSkate.com |date= 26 January 2011 |access-date= 6 February 2011 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/01/pechalat-and-bourzat-dance-to-first-european-title/ |title= Pechalat and Bourzat dance to first European title |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= GoldenSkate.com |date= 29 January 2011 |access-date= 6 February 2011 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.zeit.de/sport-newsticker/2011/1/28/264312xml/komplettansicht |title= Hecken von Rang neun enttäuscht |language= de |date= 28 January 2011 |work= SID Newsticker |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120219003151/http://www.zeit.de/sport-newsticker/2011/1/28/264312xml/komplettansicht |archive-date= 19 February 2012 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.24chasa.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=926123 |title= Двойка от Германия иска на олимпиада с Максим |language= bg |trans-title= Pair from Germany consults Maxim |first= Yavor |last= Gerontiev |date= 13 June 2011 |publisher= 24 Chasa |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120219003350/http://www.24chasa.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=926123 |archive-date= 19 February 2012 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.taz.de/regional/nord/hamburg/artikel/?dig=2008%2F12%2F15%2Fa0175&cHash=f6364b092f |title= "Wir passen zueinander wie zwei Puzzleteile" |language= de |trans-title=We fit together like two pieces of a puzzle |first= Marina |last= Mai |publisher= Die Tageszeitung |date= 15 December 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120219002506/http://www.taz.de/1/nord/hamburg/artikel/?dig=2008%2F12%2F15%2Fa0175&cHash=f6364b092f |archive-date= 19 February 2012 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/09/zhiganshina-and-gazsi-dance-to-lead-at-nebelhorn/ |title= Zhiganshina and Gazsi dance to lead at Nebelhorn |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= GoldenSkate |date= 22 September 2011 |access-date= 22 September 2011 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/09/hubbell-and-donohue-capture-gold-at-nebelhorn-trophy/ |title= Hubbell and Donohue capture gold at Nebelhorn Trophy |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= GoldenSkate |date= 24 September 2011 |access-date= 24 September 2011 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2012/07/zhiganshina-and-gazsi-prepare-to-up-the-ante/ |title= Zhiganshina and Gazsi prepare to up the ante |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= Golden Skate |date= 8 July 2012 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2013/07/zhiganshina-and-gazsi-looking-to-entertain-again/ |title= Zhiganshina and Gazsi looking to entertain again |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= Golden Skate |date= 25 July 2013 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.sport1.de/de/mehrsport/newspage_801988.html |title= Eistanzen: Zhiganshina eingebürgert |language= de |trans-title=Ice dancing: Zhiganshina naturalized |work= SID |publisher= sport1.de |date= 2 November 2013 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.mdz-moskau.eu/eineeiskaltekarriere/ |title= Eine eiskalte Karriere |language= de |trans-title=An ice-cold career |work= Moskauer Deutsche Zeitung |date= 11 November 2007 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.goldenskate.com/2014/08/nelli-zhiganshina-alexander-gazsi/ |title= Zhiganshina and Gazsi dance into new directions |first= Tatjana |last= Flade |work= Golden Skate |date= 16 August 2014 }}

Music composed by Salem Al Fakir, Moneybrother, Lune, Adiam Dymott, PH3 and Skizz, Mario Perez Amigo, and Simsoak.{{cite web |url= http://svansjonswanlakereloaded.bandcamp.com/ |title= Fredrik Rydman´s Swan Lake Reloaded |publisher= Bandcamp |access-date= February 8, 2015}}

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{{commons category-inline|Nelli Zhiganshina}}

• {{isu name | id=00009177 | name=Nelli Zhiganshina / Alexander Gazsi}}
• {{isu name | id=00006433 | name=Nelli Zhiganshina / Denis Bazdirev}}

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Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:German female ice dancers

Category:German people of Russian descent

Category:Russian expatriate sportspeople in Germany

Category:Figure skaters from Moscow

Category:Figure skaters at the 2014 Winter Olympics

Category:Olympic figure skaters for Germany

Category:Naturalized citizens of Germany

Category:21st-century German sportswomen