Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko

breathesgelatin · Sep 28, 2015

Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko, USA

Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (Russian: Антоний ПОНОМАРЕНКО) are Ice Dancers who represent the USA. Carreira was born on 3rd April 2000 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Ponomarenko was born on 5th January 2001 in San José, California, USA. They are the 2022 and 2024 Four Continents bronze medalists, four-time Grand Prix medalists, eleven-time medalists on the ISU Challenger Series, and five-time U.S. national medalists. The team represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

At the junior level, they are also two-time World Junior medalists (silver in 2018, bronze in 2017), the 2017 JGP Final silver medalists, and the 2018 U.S. national junior champions.

Anthony is the son of 5-time European, 3-time World and 1992 Olympic ice dancing champions Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko.

Biographical Information

Biographical Info – Partnership

ISU Team Bio

Ice-dance.com Team Bio

USFSA Fanzone Team.Bio

Ice Network Team Bio Archive (up to July 2018)

Tracings.net Team Bio

Biographical Info – Carreira

Christina's Wikipedia

Biographical Info – Ponomarenko

Anthony's Wikipedia

Find All Golden Skate Articles
About Christina & Anthony

Social Media

Christina's Instagram

Christina's Facebook

Team Facebook

Official website

2025-26 Season
RD: "Sweet Dreams"by La Bouche & Paolo Pellegrino, Robert Haynes, M. Sonmez, Gerd Amir Saraf, Melanie Thornton; "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters, Basement Boys
FD: "The Girl With The Plums" (from "Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer"); "Strictly Taboo" by Audiomachine, La Belle Époque; "Deceit And Betrayal"by Audiomachine, La Belle Époque; "Meeting Laura" (from "Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer"); choreo by Scott Moir, Madison Hubbell, Adrian Diaz, Marie-France Dubreuil

2024-25 Season
RD: "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" by Etta James; "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard
FD: Carmen Suite by Rodion Shchedrin; choreo by Madison Hubbell, Adrian Diaz, Scott Moir, Marie-France Dubreil

2023-24 Season
RD: Stevie Nicks medley: "Whole Lotta Trouble;" "Edge of Seventeen"
FD: "The Girl With The Plums" (from "Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer"); "Strictly Taboo" by Audiomachine, La Belle Époque; "Deceit And Betrayal"by Audiomachine, La Belle Époque; "Meeting Laura" (from "Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer"); choreo by Scott Moir, Madison Hubbell, Adrian Diaz, Marie-France Dubreuil

2022-23 Season
RD: Samba: "Kind Of Latin Rhythm" by The Juju Orchestra; Rhumba: "(Where do I begin) Love Story" by Shirley Bassey - Something Else (remastered); "Samba" by Gloria Estefan -BRAZIL305
FD: "Rainy Streets" (Backbone soundtrack) by Danshin & Arooj; "Public Disquiet" (Backbone soundtrack) by Danshin & Arooj; "Summertime" (from Porgy and Bess) by George Gershwin, perf. by Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald; "Summertime" by 101 Strings Orchestra; choreo by Marie-France Dubreuil, Madison Hubbell, Adrian Diaz

2021-22 Season
RD: "Batdance" by Prince
FD: 'Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak; choreo by Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer

2020-21 Season
RD: "Foxtrot: "Too Darn Hot" from the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack, performed by Corbin Bleu and cast; Swing: "Too Darn Hot" from the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack, performed by Corbin Bleu and cast
FD: "Main Title" (from "Doctor Zhivago") by Maurice Jarre; "Farewell To The Past" by Ludovico Einaudi; "Lara's Theme" (from "Doctor Zhivago") by Maurice Jarre; "Love Is A Mistery" by Ludovico Einaudi; "Lara's Theme" (from "Doctor Zhivago") by Maurice Jarre; choreo by Igor Shpilband, Pasquale Camerlengo

2019-20 Season
RD: Foxtrot: "Too Darn Hot" from the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack, performed by Corbin Bleu and cast; Swing: "Too Darn Hot" from the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack, performed by Corbin Bleu and cast
FD: Flamenco Medley: including "Farrucas" performed by Chano Lobato, Maria Magdalena and Paco Romero; choreo by Christopher Dean, Massimo Scali

2018-19 Season
RD: Tango: "Tango Jalousie" by Jacob Gade; Tango: "Yo Soy Maria" by Astor Piazzolla
FD: "Bloodstream" by Tokio Myers; "Angel" by Tokyo Myers; choreo by Igor Shpilband and Pasquale Camerlengo

2017-18 Season
SD: Rhumba: "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" by Sarita Monitel, Cha Cha: "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" performed by The Pussycat Dolls; Samba: "Conga" by Gloria Estefan
FD: "Dance For Me Wallis" (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski, "Abdication" (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski; choreo by Igor Shpilband

2016–17 Season
SD Blues: “Why Don't You Do Right” from Roger Rabbit soundtrack; Swing: “A Cool Cat in Town” by Brenda Boykin, Tape Five; choreo by Igor Shpilband
FD “Exogenesis Symphony Pt. 3” by Muse; choreo by Igor Shpilband

2015–16 Season
SD Waltz: “City Lights” (soundtrack) by Charlie Chaplin, Polka: “City Lights” (soundtrack) by Charlie Chaplin
FD “Poursuit” b?¿Auscenicia” by Goran Bregović; “Black Cat White Cat” by Goran Bregović; choreo by Igor Shpilband

2014–15 Season
SD Samba: “Chica Boom” and Samba: “Let's Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez
FD: "Diabolic" (from "Les MicMac" soundtrack) by Raphael Beau, Max Steiner; “A Motley Crew" (from "Les MicMac" soundtrack) by Raphael Beau, Max Steiner; “It Is Rolling” (from "Les MicMac" soundtrack) ; choreo by Igor Shpilband

ISU Personal Best Scores for Christina Carreira / Anthony Ponomarenko

Personal Best Total Score	204.88	29.03.2025	ISU World Championships 2025
Personal Best Score Rhythm Dance	81.51	28.03.2025	ISU World Championships 2025
Personal Best Score Free Dance	123.37	29.03.2025	ISU World Championships 2025

.

Date	Competition	Placement
2025-26 Season
24 - 29 Mar. 2026	2026 World Championships	8 (200.56)
06 - 22 Feb. 2026	2026 Winter Olympics	11 (197.62)
04 - 11 Jan. 2026	2026 US Nationals	3 (206.95)
13 - 16 Nov 2025	2025 Skate America	5 (186.03)
31 Oct. - 02 Nov. 2025	2025 Skate Canada	4 (191.23)
18 - 21 Sep.2024	2025 Nebelhorn Trophy	2 (192.35)
2024-25 Season
25 - 30 Mar. 2025	2025 World Championships	5 (204.88)
19 - 23 Feb. 2025	2025 Four Continents	4 (197.08)
19 - 26 Jan. 2025	2025 US Nationals	2 (210.79)
22 - 24 Nov 2024	2024 Cup of China	3 (198.18)
08 - 10 Nov 2024	2024 NHK Trophy	2 (198.97)
11 - 13 Oct. 2024	2024 Budapest Trophy	1 (194.69)
18 - 21 Sep. 2024	2024 Nebelhorn Trophy	2 (197.51)
2023-24 Season
18 - 24 Mar 2024	2024 World Championships	7 (200.32)
29 Jan - 04 Feb. 2024	2024 Four Continents	3 (194.14)
22 - 28 Jan. 2024	2024 US Nationals	2 (210.04)
17 - 19 Nov. 2023	2023 Grand Prix Espoo	4 (188.76)
03 - 05 Nov 2023	2023 Grand Prix de France	4 (186.70)
04 - 08 Oct. 2023	2023 Finlandia Trophy	2 (191.14)
20 - 23 Sep. 2023	2023 Nebelhorn Trophy	4 (177.91)
10 - 13 Aug. 2023	2023 Quebec Summer Championships	1 (183.60)
2022-23 Season
07 - 12 Feb. 2023	2023 Four Continents	4 (189.78)
21 - 29 Jan 2023	2023 US Nationals	3 (198.45)
06 - 10 Dec. 2022	2022 Golden Spin	1 (191.31)
25 - 27 Nov. 2022	2022 Grand Prix Espoo	4 (188.80)
11- 13 Nov. 2022	2022 MK John Wilson Trophy	4 (187.42)
2021-22 Season
18 - 23 Jan. 2022	2022 Four Continents	3 (175.67)
02 - 09 Jan.2022	2022 US Nationals	7 (185.82)
18 - 21 Nov. 2021	Internationaux de France 2021	5 (175.91)
28 - 31 Oct. 2021	Skate Canada 2021	8 (168.76)
07- 10 Oct. 2021	Finlandia Trophy 2021	8 (178.27)
09- 12 Sep. 2021	Lombardia Trophy 2021	4 (172.78)
2020-21 Season
23-24 Oct. 2020	2020 Skate America	3 (185.78)
2019–20 Season
22-27 Jan. 2020	U.S. Championships 2020	4 (194.16)
22-24 Nov. 2019	NHK Trophy 2019	6 (182.26)
02-03 Nov. 2019	Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy 2019 ISU	1 (191.55)
17-20 Oct. 2019	Skate America 2019	6 (180.55)
25 - 28 Sep. 2019	Nebelhorn Trophy 2019	3 (190.35)
19-21 Sep. 2019	U.S. International Figure Skating Classic 2019	2 (188.47)
30 Jul. - 2 Aug. 2019	2019 Lake Placid Ice Dance International	2 (177.72)
2018–19 Season
18-27 Jan. 2019	2019 U.S. Championships	5 (190.01)
26-29 Nov. 2018	2018 Tallinn Trophy	1 (180.22)
2-4 Nov. 2018	2018 Grand Prix Helsinki	5 (167.28)
16-18 Nov. 2018	2018 Rostelecom Cup	3 (174.21)
26-29 Sep. 2018	2018 Nebelhorn Trophy	3 (177.49)
12-16 Sep. 2018	2018 U.S. International Classic	2 (174.04)
2017–18 Season
5-11 Mar. 2018	2018 World Junior Championships	2 (147.68)
28 Dec. 2017 - 7 Jan. 2018	2018 U.S. Championships, Junior	1 (159.18)
7-10 Dec. 2017	2018 Junior Grand Prix Final	2 (151.76)
20–23 Sep. 2017	2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Minsk Arena Cup	1 (150.05)
30 Aug. – 02 Sep. 2017	2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Cup Of Austria	1 (145.39)
27-29 Jul. 2017	2017 Lake Placid Ice Dance International	1 (149.76)
2016–17 Season
15–19 Mar. 2017	2017 ISU Junior World Championships	3 (154.68)
14–22 Jan. 2017	2017 U.S. Junior Championships	2 (165.06)
08–11 Dec. 2016	2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final	4 (149.98)
14–17 Sep. 2016	2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Cup Of Mordovia	2 (157.19)
24–27 Aug. 2016	2016 ISU Junior Grand Prix St. Gervais	2 (148.38)
27–30 Jul. 2016	2016 Lake Placid Junior Ice Dance Championships	2 (141.53)
2015–16 Season
16–24 Jan. 2016	2016 U.S. Junior Championships	4 (152.79)
17–21 Nov. 2015	2016 Pacific Coast Sectional Junior Championships	1 (141.72)
23–26 Sep. 2015	2015 ISU Junior Grand Prix Copernicus Stars	2 (146.15)
26–29 Aug. 2015	2015 ISU Junior Grand Prix Riga Cup	4 (131.25)
29 Jul. – 01 Aug. 2015	2015 Lake Placid Ice Dance International (Jr)	2 (135.90)
24–27 Jun. 2015	2015 Chesapeake Open (Junior)	SD 1 (57.52) FD 1 (75.01)
2014–15 Season
17–25 Jan. 2015	2015 U.S. Junior Championships	5 (131.91)
19–22 Nov. 2014	2015 Pacific Coast Junior Sectional Championships	3 (127.00)
24–27 Sep. 2014	2014 ISU Junior Grand Prix Tallinn Cup	4 (127.60)
03–06 Sep. 2014	2014 ISU Junior Grand Prix Czech Skate	5 (126.98)
30 Jul. – 02 CT. 2014	2014 Lake Placid Junior Ice Dance Championships Jr.	109.68 A SD 2 C FD 4

Feb. 2019 - Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko skating on a frozen lake (ft. Min/Eaton)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_SYKeB29pE

2018 Nebelhorn Gala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTwg0AdUSLQ

2017 JGP Minsk Gala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9UDoJ7uVs0

2008 Christmas Tale on San Jose Sharks (hockey) Ice. Anthony is Pinocchio, his mom Marina is the Christmas Fairy (16 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrFwa8PPkqY

Published on Feb 23, 2013. Olympic Champion Marina Klimova as fairy, Anthony Ponomarenko as Pinnochio, Daniel Edmunds as Santa Claus, Polina Edmunds as Pick Pocket, Elliana Pogrebinsky as Harlequin, Marina Capatina as Little Pirate, and Alyona Bilash as Pink Panther (; ENJOY!

2012 Anthony and Elizabeth Ding do side by side double flips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0F9IFZAlzc

Feng and Ponomarenko - 2013 Skate San Francisco, both dances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iefTYf6ltx4

Feng and Ponamarenko - 2012 Junior Nationals Intermediate FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qoo5ZVmU5oI

Feng and Ponamarenko - 2011 Junior Nationals Intermediate FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_iOJsrs-WA

Golden Skate Articles And Threads

Jan. 2018 - Hubbell and Donohue defend U.S. ice dance title
https://goldenskate.com/2019/01/hubbell-and-donohue-defend-u-s-ice-dance-title/

Jan. 2018 - Hubbell and Donohue lead ice dancers at U.S. nationals
https://goldenskate.com/2019/01/hubbell-and-donohue-lead-ice-dancers-at-u-s-nationals/

Nov. 2018 - Stepanova and Bukin win second consecutive Grand Prix Gold at Rostelecom Cup
https://goldenskate.com/2018/11/ste...onsecutive-grand-prix-gold-at-rostelecom-cup/

Nov. 2018 - Stepanova and Bukin at Rostelecom Cup: ‘Tomorrow we want to perform better’
https://goldenskate.com/2018/11/ste...lecom-cup-tomorrow-we-want-to-perform-better/

Nov. 2018 - Stepanova and Bukin win first Grand Prix gold in Helsinki
https://goldenskate.com/2018/11/ste...onsecutive-grand-prix-gold-at-rostelecom-cup/

Nov. 2018 - Stepanova and Bukin first after Rhythm Dance at GP Helsinki
https://goldenskate.com/2018/11/stepanova-and-bukin-first-after-rhythm-dance-at-gp-helsinki/

Mar. 2018 - Skoptcova and Aleshin win Junior World ice dance title
https://goldenskate.com/2018/03/skoptcova-and-aleshin-win-junior-world-ice-dance-title/

Dec. 2017 - Russia’s Skoptcova and Aleshin land gold in Nagoya
https://goldenskate.com/2017/12/2017-jgpf-ice-dance/

Sep. 2017 - Carreira and Ponomarenko eye 2018 Junior World podium
https://goldenskate.com/2017/09/carreira-ponomarenko/

Mar. 2017 - USA’s Rachel and Michael Parsons clinch Junior World title
https://goldenskate.com/2017/03/2017-world-junior-dance/

Dec. 2016 - Parsons and Parsons capture gold in Marseille
https://goldenskate.com/2016/12/2016-17-junior-grand-prix-final-dance/

Jan. 2013 – Wu and Soo win novice dance title at 2013 Canadian Nationals; Christina Carreira and Simon-Pierre Malette-Paquette finish a disappointing fifth.
http://www.goldenskate.com/2013/01/wu-and-soo-win-canadian-novice-dance-title/

Other Articles, Interviews, and Fluff Videos

Original Post by breathesgelatin on 28[SUP]th[/SUP] September 2019

With their great performance at the latest JGP, I thought it was time to start a thread for these two.

I have been following Anthony for a while now. I was a big fan of his parents, Olympic Champions Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko. They settled in northern California and Anthony grew up skating there. He was partnered for quite some time with Sarah Feng. You can check out their adorableness here:

FD at 2013 Pacific Coast Sectional – “Cats” soundtrack

(That YouTube account has a number of uploads of old programs of Feng/Ponomarenko.)

In 2014, Anthony switched partners. He became eligible for the JGP, and switched to coaching with Igor Shpilband full time. Sarah Feng opted to pursue her singles career, so Anthony was partnered with Christina Carreira at that time. Christina is Canadian by nationality I believe - born in Montreal, and previously trained under Marie France-Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon. (This actually gives me some pause for their future – will she be eligible to compete for the US at the Olympics eventually?)

In season 2014–2015, they got 4th and 5th on the JGP circuit, and in 2015-2016 were already 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 4[SUP]th[/SUP]. I think they would've placed higher at Latvia if not for the unfortunate fall.

It is remarkable to think how young they are and they're already getting such good placements. He was born January 5 2001, and she March 4 2000. I see really bright things for this pair. I think they have excellent skating skills and good expression. My wish for them is that they continue to improve and eventually get some more mature/artistic programs.

It's also worth mentioning that Anthony grew up skating with US singles skater Polina Edmonds, and they seem to be quite good friends. They have some fun rap/hip hop dance videos on YouTube. This one is quite hilarious:

2012 US Challenge Skate Backstage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuALpuX8ZjA

3 Pacific Coast Sectionals backstage - Pound the Alarm by Nicki Minaj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfcAfbHBO0w

tvuckic16 · Sep 29, 2015

Not familiar with this team at all. Obviously Anthony has well qualified parents. Who coaches them?

LisaM · Sep 29, 2015

From what I've seen, Anthony is very charismatic on the ice - Christina however, she seems very plain. I hope they can grow, I believe it's only their second season together or something? And they're very young, so I am excited to see where they're going.

dorispulaski · Sep 29, 2015

tvuckic16 said:
Not familiar with this team at all. Obviously Anthony has well qualified parents. Who coaches them?

Igor Shpilband and Anthony's parents, Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko.

anyanka · Sep 29, 2015

dorispulaski said:
Igor Shpilband and Anthony's parents, Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko.

Cool!!!

tvuckic16 · Sep 29, 2015

Ah, that sounds like an excellent coaching staff!

Looking forward to seeing them.

dorispulaski · Oct 4, 2015

I saw their programs at the Lake Placid International Junior competition! They were excellent, and won the silver medal there.

Their FD from Lake Placid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJjN1vzFo4

s_parks · Oct 4, 2015

I admit I don't really follow ice dance, but I was so impressed by how good they were, and doubly so considering their age. Anthony certainly got his parents' skating genes.

aromaticchicken · Oct 4, 2015

If they didn't fall at their first grand prix they would have had a real chance for the junior grand prix final, which is a real shame. They will be a team to look out for in a few years - they're still young.

breathesgelatin · Oct 4, 2015

LisaM said:
From what I've seen, Anthony is very charismatic on the ice - Christina however, she seems very plain. I hope they can grow, I believe it's only their second season together or something? And they're very young, so I am excited to see where they're going.

Yes, prior to the 2014-15 season, Anthony skated with Sarah Feng. Sarah & Anthony skated together since at least 2011, and maybe even before that. In 2014-15, Anthony started training more full-time with Igor (I believe he lives part of the year in Michigan now) and got paired with Christina. I actually think Christina is expressive, but a lot of times during footwork it looks like she's concentrating and the expression leaves a little bit. I feel like that's something that can be worked on as she matures.

aromaticchicken said:
If they didn't fall at their first grand prix they would have had a real chance for the junior grand prix final, which is a real shame. They will be a team to look out for in a few years - they're still young.

Totally. I think we expect several teams to move up to seniors next year, so they will really have a strong chance for the JGPF next year.

brushalley · Oct 5, 2015

I really like these two.They remind me of a young V/M .I hope they have the same success!

tvuckic16 · Oct 5, 2015

dorispulaski said:
I saw their programs at the Lake Placid International Junior competition! They were excellent, and won the silver medal there.

Their FD from Lake Placid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJjN1vzFo4

Oh, I had not seen them skate before. They are good especially considering how young they are. We'll see how they develop, a pair to keep in the back of our minds for the future.

dorispulaski · May 31, 2016

Just ran into this:

2008 Christmas Tale on San Jose Sharks (hockey) Ice. Anthony is Pinocchio, his mom Marina is the Cristmas Fairy (16 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrFwa8PPkqY

Published on Feb 23, 2013
Olympic Champion Marina Klimova as fairy, Anthony Ponomarenko as Pinnochio, Daniel Edmunds as Santa Claus, Polina Edmunds as Pick Pocket, Elliana Pogrebensky as Harlequin, Marina Capatina as Little Pirate, and Alyona Bilash as pink Panther (; ENJOY!

dorispulaski · May 31, 2016

I just updated their Op. I hope you like it.

Axelsk8r · Jul 15, 2016

My friend saw them in Chesapeake 2-3 weeks ago.... Free dance is not Moonlight sonata...they're skating the free dance to Exogeneris symphony from Muse

Axelsk8r · Jul 18, 2016

Anthony's parents are not coaching the team
They're Shpilband only

dorispulaski · Jul 18, 2016

Their icenetwork bio says that Greg Zuerlein, who, with Madison Chock, was a junior world champion, assists Shpilband in coaching them.

http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/team/carreira_ponomarenko

Axelsk8r · Jul 18, 2016

So is Fabian Bourzat
People were mentioning Anthony's parents but they're not part of their coaching staff

topaz emerald · Jul 20, 2016

Axelsk8r said:
My friend saw them in Chesapeake 2-3 weeks ago.... Free dance is not Moonlight sonata...they're skating the free dance to Exogeneris symphony from Muse

I saw some pictures they posted on their facebook page and Christina wore a red dress and Anthony was in black. When someone said they were skating to Moonlight Sonata, I thought, really? In that red sexy dress? lol. Although I think it would be interesting to see them try and pull it off. Now I will look up Exogeneris symphony from Muse. Do you know what their SD music is? Does anyone have any videos of their recent programs. I can't wait to see it

topaz emerald · Jul 20, 2016

dorispulaski said:
Their icenetwork bio says that Greg Zuerlein, who, with Madison Chock, was a junior world champion, assists Shpilband in coaching them.

http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/team/carreira_ponomarenko

Can anyone post their cheseapeake skate? I can't wait to see it

Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko

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breathesgelatin