Aleksandr Fegan
At just four years old, USA’s Aleksandr Fegan discovered his passion for figure skating after meeting 2014 Olympic champions, Maxim Trankov and Tatiana Volosozhar. Showing remarkable dedication from the start, he ventured into competitive skating at the tender age of five. Although victory eluded him in his first competition, the thrill of the sport captured his heart, affirming his determination to pursue it as his chosen path.
“My skating role models are Yuzuru Hanyu, Nathan Chen, and Ilia Malinin,” revealed the skater, who is now 14. “I love Hanyu’s skating style and try to move like him on the ice. I’m a big fan of Nathan Chen’s mental toughness, textbook-style jumps, and his consistency. I like Ilia because he had the guts to even try the quad Axel and was able to master it in competition. I loved watching his performance at World’s this year!”
Fegan first became of student of Roman Serov in Hackensack, N.J., when he was six, and when he turned eight, started working with Nina Petrenko as well.
Recapping the 2023-24 season
Fegan kicked off his season with a bronze-medal win at 2023 Cranberry Cup before he went on to compete at his first Junior Grand Prix (JGP) event in Armenia, where he finished fourth. He then placed third at Eastern Sectionals in the junior division.
In his second appearance as a junior at U.S. Nationals, the skater placed first in the short program with a solid performance that included a double Axel, triple Lutz and triple toe-triple loop. He singled a Lutz in his free skate to place fifth but was able to maintain third overall for the bronze—his first national medal.
“I definitely felt pressure at the nationals,” admitted Fegan. “Generally, because it is the biggest competition of the year. I had to work really hard to stay focused and locked in at the free skate so I could do my best to finish strong.”
This season, he skated his short program to Boléro and his free skate to Phantasia based on The Phantom of the Opera.
“Before we selected Boléro for my short program, we were having some trouble picking music for it,” Fegan admitted. “Nina gave us the idea of skating to it after she saw a live ballet performance of it at Paris Opera Ballet to Maurice Béjart’s choreography. Nina thought that it would fit me very well. I listened to the music, and it gave me goose bumps. From that point on, Nina choreographed my entire short program.”
“The free skate program was Roman’s idea,” he continued. “It was also choregraphed by Nina. It was inspired by Daisuke Takahashi’s free skate in 2008. In the performance I am portraying the ‘Phantom’ who is torn between feelings of good and evil.”
Bridging artistry in ballet and skating
Fegan has studied ballet since the age of four. He has performed in Swan Lake with the New York City Ballet at the Lincoln Center in New York City and The Nutcracker with the New Jersey Ballet at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
“I most likely will continue to perform in ballet,” he said. “I love doing it and it is a great help to my skating as well. I train ballet Monday through Friday, and Sunday, all adding up to nine hours a week. For skating, I train Monday through Friday, totaling up to around 16 hours, and a little bit more during the competitive season.”
While the 14-year-old said that skating is his favorite of the two, he admits that ballet really helps in terms of developing his artistry and boosting his skating components.
“It is also making me stronger,” said Fegan. “It’s giving me better posture as well as stage confidence through my ballet performances. So overall, ballet has been a big help for my figure skating career!”
Looking ahead to 2024-25
While not fully decided about his routines for the upcoming 2024-25 season, Fegan is looking at changing up the free skate.
“I’ve been skating ‘Phantom’ for two seasons now, and even though it’s a beautiful program, it’s time to try something new,” he shared. “I definitely have some ideas for this coming season!”
Next season, Fegan’s major goal is to master the triple Axel so he can have more opportunities to compete internationally.
“I really want to make it to the Junior Grand Prix Final,” he said. “Compete in two JGP events, and maybe be even win the next Junior U.S. National Championships if I can improve enough before then. I also want to surpass the 200-point mark.”
Coach Serov noted his growth, adding: “I think he definitely progressed with his skating skills and performance presentation and looks more mature. He also grew and got more powerful and stronger, and his triple Axel is coming soon.”
While Fegan hopes to incorporate the triple Axel in both the short and long program, he revealed that his favorite jump is the Salchow.
“My least favorite right now is the Lutz,” he laughed. “But as time goes by, it seems like the Lutz is liking me more!”
Fegan feels that he’s improved on his triple Lutz and triple flip the most since last season.
“I was even able to increase my component scores by a good margin,” he pointed out. “I am trying hard to improve this year and hopefully hit my triple Axel in competition next year.”
Roots and education
While Fegan’s father, Jeffrey, is from New York, his mother, Irina, grew up in Lithuania. Fegan is able to speak fluent Russian and is also in the process of learning German. His younger brother, Filip, is 12 and also skates at the juvenile level.
“We share the same coaches,” said Aleksandr, who is proud of his brother. “He really improved last year, mastering the double Axel and placing second at the 2024 U.S. Eastern Sectional Championships. He also does ballet just like me. It is great to train together!”
Fegan currently attends Little Falls Public School 1 in New Jersey and is in the seventh grade.
“The school is great, and all my teachers are wonderful,” said Fegan. “Aside from helping me learn, the school is also very supportive of my skating. My favorite subject is Creative Writing. This is because I can get creative and write about things I like, allowing me to leave all my emotions and feelings on the paper.”
“I try to be the best student that I can by reading many books and practicing my writing whenever I can,” he added. “I also like collecting cool slang and metaphors that take my writing to another level.”
Hobbies and pets
When not training or studying, Fegan likes to take walks, play videogames or be outside with his brother.
“Occasionally, I go to the Gotham Gym in New York and take boxing lessons,” he said. “It’s a great workout and it teaches me to be competitive. We also watch boxing on TV at home as well.”
“While I don’t have a lot of free time, I like to draw,” he added. “Especially cartoon characters and animals from the stories I read. It feels good to be creative!”
Fegan used to have a brown dachshund named ‘Archie.’
“He was really funny and an emotional supporter, so I would always do my best to find time to play with him,” he reminisced. “He lived with us for twelve years, but eventually passed away three years ago because of old age. I still miss him!”
Lessons learned from last season
One of the most important things the skater learned this season was to make sure he prepared his body and mind before an event in order to be at his best in competition.
“I also worked on staying focused during the competitions,” he summed up. “Even when things get tough, I learned that if you stay focused, everything will work out well!”
Fegan plans to compete at the 2024 Skate Milwaukee in July, which will host the U.S. Junior Team Cup, in hopes for a JGP assignment.
