Sophia Shifrin Looks Ahead After a Breakthrough Year
Israel’s Sophia Shifrin continues to rise on the junior international figure skating scene. After placing 22nd and 17th at the ISU World Junior Championships in 2024 and 2025, the 16-year-old broke through with a fourth-place finish in 2026, where she also captured the small bronze medal in the Free Skate. The strong results established her as one of the rising junior women to watch heading into the 2026-27 season.
Hard Work Paying Off
“The past season showed that success is not a question of luck, although you need that as well, but it is the result of diligent and sometimes arduous day by day work,” Shifrin said. “Mostly the spectators at competitions are seeing what you’ve worked on in training. And when you do your job honestly, every day, when you prepare for each competition diligently and persistently, without slacking off, your hard work will most likely pay off.”
It did pay off for Shifrin, who also won two bronze medals at the ISU Junior Grand Prix events in Baku and Abu Dhabi. At the event in Baku, she became the first woman from Israel to medal in a JGP event.
“For me, the brightest moments of the season were my first bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix in Baku and the Junior World Championships,” Shifrin recalled. “In Baku, I didn’t expect to get on to the podium although I had worked a lot during the off-season and was well prepared. That was my very first medal on the Junior Grand Prix and my first in an ISU competition.”
“At Junior Worlds, I was happy about clean skates, good scores and the small bronze medal for the Free Skate. That means a lot to me. Overall, it was an exciting and enjoyable season,” she continued.
Improving Consistency and Quality
One of the biggest challenges over the past two seasons was maintaining consistency and quality in her elements while adjusting to growth and physical changes.
“It is not very nice when you are losing elements that you were doing when you were 10 or 11 years old,” she shared. “I have more endurance now and for that I was working a lot off-ice. I also was able to improve my component score, which makes me very happy. I want to thank my choreographers and coaches that are working with me.”
Her coach, Svetlana Panova, recalls Shifrin being “small, very thin, and quick on her feet” when she began working with Shifrin.
“Already in training it was obvious that she wants to show her best in her competitive programs,” said Panova. “What characterizes her is her ability to deliver under pressure. Plus, she’s eager to experiment with different characters in her programs, rather than being stuck to a single style.”
“She surprised me with her good spins and flexibility in her try-out and she is a quick learner,” the coach continued. “She has not the easiest character, like all of us. She’s just the right amount of reserved, self-reliant, and headstrong when she needs to be. Those are the words I’d use to describe her.”
Sophia Shifrin of Israel performs her Short Program at the 2026 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Back to Work
Although she represents Israel internationally, Shifrin was born in Moscow, Russia, and continues to train there. In addition to working with Panova, she also trains with Tatiana Moiseeva as well as choreographers Ilona Protasenya and Maria Kasumova.
Following a long and demanding season, the skater allowed herself a short break after Junior Worlds and visited her aunt in Switzerland.
“I think that after you did a good job, you need to take a break, relax, take in the positive emotions and then take on new tasks with fresh energy and a good mindset,” Shifrin noted.
With the new season approaching, Shifrin has already returned to training in Moscow.
“We are working on new programs and new elements,” she said. “At the same time, we improve the quality of the old elements and we work off-ice on the physical condition.”
New Programs Taking Shape
Like many top skaters entering a new season, Shifrin is looking for fresh artistic direction.
“I liked my old programs, but I want to grow and show a new character,” she said.
Kasumova choreographed the new Free Skate for next season after previously creating Shifrin’s successful Schindler’s List program, which the skater used over the past two seasons.
“Nadezhda Kanaeva will do my new Short Program,” the skater revealed. “The process of choosing the music and character is always hard for us and the coaches, choreographers and myself are taking part in it.”
For now she will keep the music and style a secret. “I hope that these programs again will become my favorites and that the spectators will like them.”
Panova said the team is focused on both artistic and technical development this offseason.
“We are working to perfect the choreographic aspects of the program, learn new spins and are trying to learn ultra-c elements, however that is a bit more challenging,” Panova explained. “Most importantly, Sophia has the desire to learn something new and difficult.”
Shifrin is also pushing herself toward more difficult technical content, including work on a triple Axel and quadruple jumps.
“Of course, there is a risk of injury and I want to avoid that,” Shifrin acknowledged. “For me, health is my priority and the quality of the existing elements. However, I do hope that I can do more. We’ll see.”
According to Panova, the coaching team is taking a long-term approach to the season while preparing for the Junior Grand Prix circuit.
“The goal is to have successful performances at the two Junior Grand Prix events, to prepare for Junior Worlds and show a good result,” said the coach.
Panova added that dance classes, acting lessons and additional off-ice preparation will also be part of Shifrin’s training.
Aiming High for 2026-27
For the 2026-27 season, Shifrin is aiming high again.
“I will try to improve my results and show clean and beautiful skating,” she said. “There is still a lot for me to improve.”
As the Israeli Junior Champion will only turn 17 in August, she is not yet age-eligible for the senior level unless the age requirements change. Therefore, she will continue to compete on the Junior circuit but does not know yet which events she will be assigned to.
“I try not to dwell on which events I want. The ones that will be picked are the best and I’ll be happy to go,” she pointed out. “I am learning to love each competition, even if there is something I don’t like.”
For Shifrin, the excitement surrounding next season is already building.
“I can’t wait for Junior Worlds,” she said. “I love this competition! The atmosphere there is really different. I’m also looking forward to Nationals in Israel. There is an atmosphere there that you can’t find anywhere else. I love going to Israel. I’ve been going several times a year since I was young and I have a lot of family there.”
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