Galina Arsenkina Explained

Galina Arsenkina
Гали́на Арсе́нькина
Birth Name:Galina Petrovna Arsenkina
Birth Date:6 June 1991
Birth Place:Zelenograd, Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Curling Club:CC Krasnodarsky Kray, Sochi
World Championship Appearances:3
European Championship Appearances:4
Olympic Appearances:2 (2018, 2022)

Galina Petrovna Arsenkina (Russian: Гали́на Петро́вна Арсе́нькина; born June 6, 1991, in Zelenograd) is a retired[1] Russian curler from Moscow.[2] She competed at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics as the second on the Olympic Athletes from Russia and Russian Olympic Committee women's curling teams, skipped by Victoria Moiseeva and Alina Kovaleva respectively. She won two medals at the World Women's Curling Championship: a silver in and a bronze in . She was also the second on Team Moiseeva when they won the 2016 European Curling Championships.

Career

During her junior career, Arsenkina competed in four straight World Junior Curling Championships from 2009 to 2012. After failing to win a medal in their first two appearances, the Russian team was successful in 2011. The team, consisting of Arsenkina, Anna Sidorova, Olga Zyablikova, Ekaterina Antonova and Victoria Moiseeva defeated Sweden's Sara McManus 9–3 in the bronze medal game to win Russia's second ever medal at the world junior championship.[3] The following year at the 2012 World Junior Curling Championships, they again won the bronze, once again defeating Sweden's McManus in the bronze medal game.[4] Also during her junior career, Arsenkina represented Russia at the 2008 European Mixed Curling Championship and the 2009 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, placing fourth at both events.

During the 2011–12 season, Arsenkina found success on tour as the lead for the Olga Zyablikova rink. The team reached the final of the Kamloops Crown of Curling, where they were defeated by Switzerland's Michèle Jäggi.[5] They also reached the quarterfinals of the Twin Anchors Invitational, the Stockholm Ladies Cup and the Glynhill Ladies International. The following season, she and her team of Victoria Moiseeva, Ekaterina Antonova and Alexandra Saitova competed in their first ever Grand Slam of Curling event at the 2012 Colonial Square Ladies Classic. The team went 3–3 through the qualifying stage, not making the playoffs.

The 2016–17 season was a breakthrough year for the Moiseeva rink, first representing Russia at the 2016 European Curling Championships. The team qualified for the event by defeating the two-time world bronze medallist Anna Sidorova rink in the Russian Supercup.[6] Despite entering the event as rookies, the team qualified for the playoffs with a 6–3 record. They then upset Scotland's Eve Muirhead 11–6 in the semifinal to qualify for the final, where they faced Sweden's Anna Hasselborg. Tied 4–4 in the final end, Hasselborg missed her final draw, giving the Russians two points and the victory.[7] Next, the team played in the 2017 Winter Universiade where they earned the silver medal, losing to Canada's Kelsey Rocque in the final.[8] They ended their season at the 2017 Champions Cup Grand Slam event, which they qualified for by winning the European Championship.[9] There, the team went 1–3 through the round robin, missing the playoffs.

Team Moiseeva had a superb start to the 2017–18 season, finishing third at the 2017 CCT Arctic Cup.[10] In the fall, they won three of their tour events, the Oakville Fall Classic, the Crestwood Ladies Fall Classic and the Driving Force Abbotsford Cashspiel.[11] The Sidorova rink was initially selected to represent Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics, but after their poor play during the beginning of the 2017–18 season and Team Moiseeva's strong performances, the Russian Curling Federation was forced to hold a best-of-seven Olympic Trials between Team Moiseeva and Team Sidorova to see who would represent the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" team at the Olympics.[12] Team Moiseeva won the series four games to one, earning them the Olympic spot.[13] [14] At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the team struggled, finishing in a dismal ninth place with a 2–7 record.[15] Team Moiseeva also represented Russia at the 2018 World Women's Curling Championship later that season, Arsenkina's first appearance at the championship. They had a much stronger tournament at the Worlds, qualifying for the playoffs with a 7–5 round robin record and defeating the United States to win the bronze medal.[16] They represented Russia once more during the season in December at the Qinghai International. There, they went a perfect 9–0 up until the final game, where they lost to Switzerland's Ursi Hegner.[17]

Arsenkina moved to join Team Alina Kovaleva for the 2018–19 season. The team also included Anastasia Bryzgalova at third, Ekaterina Kuzmina at lead, and alternate Uliana Vasilyeva. They found early success together, winning the Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic in September and finishing runner-up at the HDF Insurance Shoot-Out.[18] They had another tour victory at the 2018 China Open and two more appearances in finals at the International ZO Women's Tournament and the Qinghai Curling Elite.[19] They also competed in the second leg of the 2018–19 Curling World Cup, missing the playoffs. The team won the right to represent Russia at the 2018 European Curling Championships. They went 6–3 through the round robin, qualifying for the playoffs. They then lost both of their playoff games to Sweden's Anna Hasselborg and Germany's Daniela Jentsch, placing fourth.[20] In February, they were challenged to a best-of-seven by Team Sidorova to determine who would represent Russia at the 2019 World Women's Curling Championship. Team Kovaleva won the series four games to one. At the Worlds, the team qualified for the playoffs in third place with a 9–3 record. They then lost their first playoff game to Japan's Seina Nakajima, eliminating them from contention.[21] At the 2019 Champions Cup Slam event, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Kerri Einarson. To finish their season, they lost in the final of the 2019 WCT Arctic Cup to Scotland's Eve Muirhead.[22]

Team Kovaleva had another successful tour season during the 2019–20 season, beginning at the 2019 Cargill Curling Training Centre Icebreaker, where they reached the semifinals. They also made the semifinals of the Booster Juice Shoot-Out and the Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic. At The Good Times Bonspiel, they finished runner-up to Kayla Skrlik.[23] The team was once again challenged by Sidorova to determine who would represent Russia at the 2019 European Curling Championships, which Team Kovaleva won four games to two. At the Euros, the team had a strong preliminary round, finishing the round robin in second with an 8–1 record.[24] Then, they once again lost both of their playoff games, finishing in fourth place. In December, the team won back-to-back tour events in China, the 2019 Changan Ford International Curling Elite and the 2019 China Open.[25] They next competed in the 2020 Canadian Open Grand Slam event where they advanced to the semifinals for the first time before being defeated by Kim Min-ji. They once again defeated Team Sidorova at the 2020 Russian Women's World Qualification Event to represent Russia at the 2020 World Women's Curling Championship; however, the event got cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26] [27]

Arsenkina and her team began the abbreviated 2020–21 season at the 2020 Russian Women's Curling Cup, where they went undefeated to claim the title.[28] In December 2020, Team Kovaleva competed in the 2020 national championship as it had been postponed due to the pandemic. There, they finished second in the round robin with an 8–1 record. They then won the 1 vs. 2 page playoff and the final against Sidorova, winning the national title.[29] A "curling bubble" was set up in Calgary, Canada in the spring, which hosted several events, including the 2021 World Women's Curling Championship and two slams.[30] Team Kovaleva qualified for all three events, and added Yulia Portunova to their lineup due to a conflict with the 2021 Russian Women's Curling Championship where their regular third Maria Komarova was representing the team. At the 2021 Champions Cup, the team qualified for the playoffs before losing to Silvana Tirinzoni in the quarterfinals. They then missed the playoffs at the 2021 Players' Championship, finishing 2–3. The following week, the team represented the RCF (Russian Curling Federation) at the World Championships, as Russia is prohibited from competing under its flag or any national symbols at any Olympic Games or world championships until December 16, 2022. The team finished second through the round robin with an 11–2 record, giving them a direct bye to the semifinals. They then defeated Sweden's Anna Hasselborg 8–7 in the semifinal before losing the final to Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni after Kovaleva missed a freeze on her final shot.[31]

In their first event of the 2021–22 season, Team Kovaleva went undefeated to claim the Saint Petersburg Classic.[32] At the first Slam of the season, the 2021 Masters, the team reached the semifinals where they lost to Tracy Fleury.[33] They also qualified for the playoffs at the 2021 National, however, lost to Silvana Tirinzoni in the quarterfinal round. At the 2021 European Curling Championships, Team Kovaleva went through the round robin with a 7–2 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They then lost to Sweden's Anna Hasselborg and Germany's Daniela Jentsch in the semifinal and bronze medal games, respectively, placing fourth.[34] Because of their second place finish at the 2021 World Championship, Arsenkina and her teammates Alina Kovaleva, Yulia Portunova, Ekaterina Kuzmina and Maria Komarova qualified directly for the 2022 Winter Olympics where they represented the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee). At the Games, the team had a poor performance, finishing at the bottom of the standings with a 1–8 record.[35] The Olympics would be the team's final event of the season as due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all Russian teams were banned from participating in any World Curling Championships in 2022.[36] The team was also excluded from the final two Grand Slams of the season, the 2022 Players' Championship and the 2022 Champions Cup. At the end of the season, Team Kovaleva competed in the 2022 Nornickel Curling Cup, held only between Russian teams. There, they finished in third place.[37]

Russia's ban from World Curling events continued into the 2022–23 season.[38] Despite this, Team Kovaleva had a strong season within Russia, including first place finishes at the Russian Women's Curling Cup, the Saint Petersburg Classic and the Murom Classic.[39] At the Russian Women's Curling Championship, the team came in second place to the Anna Sidorova rink. In late May 2023, Arsenkina announced her retirement from curling, citing Russia's ongoing ban from WCF international competitions as one of the deciding factors.[1]

Personal life

Arsenkina was previously a full-time curler.[2] She started her sports career as a figure skater, but when she was twelve, a leg injury forced her to give up the sport. At that point, she took up curling.[40] She graduated from the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology in 2013.

Grand Slam record

Event2016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–22
MastersDNPDNPDNPDNPN/ASF
The NationalDNPDNPDNPDNPN/AQF
Canadian OpenDNPDNPDNPSFN/AN/A
Players'DNPDNPDNPN/AQDNP
Champions CupQDNPQFN/AQFDNP

Former events

Teams

SeasonSkipThirdSecondLeadAlternate
2006–07[41] Galina Arsenkina
2007–08Olga Zharkova Nkeirouka Ezekh Galina Arsenkina Olga Zjablikova
2008–09Anna Sidorova Galina Arsenkina
Anna Sidorova Olga Zjablikova Galina Arsenkina Anna Lobova
2009–10Anna Sidorova Olga Zyablikova Galina Arsenkina
Anna Sidorova Margarita Fomina Ekaterina Galkina Galina Arsenkina Ekaterina Antonova
2010–11Anna Sidorova Olga Zyablikova Ekaterina Antonova Galina Arsenkina Victoria Moiseeva
2011–12Olga Zyablikova Ekaterina Antonova Victoria Moiseeva Galina Arsenkina
Anna Sidorova Olga Zyablikova Victoria Moiseeva Galina Arsenkina Alexandra Saitova
2012–13Ekaterina Antonova (Fourth) Victoria Moiseeva (Skip) Galina Arsenkina Alexandra Saitova Alina Kovaleva
2014–15Olga Zharkova Galina Arsenkina
2016–17Victoria Moiseeva Galina Arsenkina Julia Guzieva Yulia Portunova
Victoria Moiseeva Uliana Vasilyeva Galina Arsenkina Yulia Portunova Maria Duyunova
2017–18Victoria Moiseeva Uliana Vasilyeva Galina Arsenkina Julia Guzieva Yulia Portunova
Victoria Moiseeva Yulia Portunova Galina Arsenkina Julia Guzieva Anna Sidorova
2018–19Alina Kovaleva Galina Arsenkina Uliana Vasilyeva
2019–20Alina Kovaleva Galina Arsenkina Ekaterina Kuzmina Anastasiia Danshina
2020–21Alina Kovaleva Maria Komarova Galina Arsenkina Ekaterina Kuzmina Vera Tiuliakova
Alina Kovaleva Yulia Portunova Galina Arsenkina Ekaterina Kuzmina Maria Komarova
2021–22Alina Kovaleva Yulia Portunova Galina Arsenkina Ekaterina Kuzmina Maria Komarova
2022–23Alina Kovaleva Galina Arsenkina Maria Komarova Ekaterina Kuzmina Vera Tiuliakova

Notes and References

  1. News: Чемпионка Европы по керлингу Галина Арсенькина завершила карьеру. ru. MatchTV. May 26, 2023. June 2, 2023.
  2. Web site: 2021 World Women's Curling Championship Media Guide. Curling Canada. June 22, 2022.
  3. News: World Junior Curling Championships 2011 - Women's Medal Games. World Curling Federation. June 22, 2022.
  4. News: World Junior Curling Championships 2012 Women's Medal Games. World Curling Federation. June 22, 2022.
  5. Web site: 2011 Kamloops Crown of Curling. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  6. News: Women's teams taking shape for ECC 2016. World Curling Federation. October 28, 2016. June 22, 2022.
  7. News: Russia and Sweden retain European Curling Championships titles. Inside the Games. Liam Morgan. November 26, 2016. June 22, 2022.
  8. News: Gold for Canada's Kelsey Rocque at Winter Universiade. Curling Canada. February 7, 2017. June 21, 2022.
  9. News: European winner Moiseeva qualifies for Champions Cup. Grand Slam of Curling. Jonathan Brazeau. November 26, 2016. June 22, 2022.
  10. Web site: 2017 CCT Arctic Cup. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  11. News: 2017–18 WCT/CCT Women's Schedule. TSN. August 10, 2017. June 22, 2022.
  12. News: Canadian curlers fully support banning Russia from Olympics over doping. Winnipeg Sun. Ted Wyman. December 5, 2017. June 22, 2022.
  13. News: Moiseeva wins Russian Olympic Curling Series. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  14. News: Team Homan's path to gold in Pyeongchang. TSN. Ryan Horne. February 8, 2018. June 22, 2022.
  15. Web site: XXIII. Olympic Winter Games 2018. World Curling Federation. June 22, 2022.
  16. News: Skips deal with emotions after Russia defeats USA for bronze at curling championship. Ottawa Sun. Don Brennan. March 25, 2018. June 22, 2022.
  17. Web site: 2017 Qinghai International. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  18. Web site: Alina Kovaleva wins Prestige Hotels and Resorts Curling Classic. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  19. Web site: 2018 China Open. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  20. Web site: 2018 European Curling Championships: Bronze Medal Game Russia vs Germany. June 22, 2022. January 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220119022705/http://ecc2018.worldcurling.org/data/CUR_ECCA2018P/Women%27s_Teams/21~Finals/C73~~Game_Results_RUS-GER.pdf?v=1. dead.
  21. News: Japan and Switzerland progress to the LGT World Women's semi-finals. World Curling Federation. March 23, 2019. June 22, 2022.
  22. Web site: WCT Arctic Curling Cup finished in Dudinka, Russia. Arctic Cup. May 26, 2019. June 22, 2022.
  23. Web site: 2019 The Good Times Bonspiel. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  24. News: Women's semi-final line-ups complete. World Curling Federation. November 21, 2019. June 22, 2022.
  25. Web site: 2019 Changan Ford International Curling Elite. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  26. News: World Women's Curling Championship Cancelled. The Sports Network. The Canadian Press. March 12, 2020. June 22, 2022.
  27. News: World Women's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Prince George, Canada. March 12, 2020. World Curling Federation. June 22, 2022. March 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200314163901/https://worldcurling.org/2020/03/wwcc2020-cancelled/. dead.
  28. Web site: 2020 Russian Women's Curling Cup – Playoffs. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  29. Web site: 2020 Russian Women's Curling Championship – Playoffs. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.
  30. News: Women's Worlds added to bubble. Curling Canada. March 5, 2021. June 22, 2022.
  31. News: Tirinzoni and Switzerland successfully defend world women's curling title with win over RCF. Olympics. ZK Goh. May 10, 2021. June 22, 2022.
  32. Web site: Saint Petersburg Classic. World Curling Tour. June 22, 2022.
  33. News: Jacobs to meet Mouat in Masters men's final. Grand Slam of Curling. Jonathan Brazeau. October 23, 2021. June 22, 2022.
  34. News: Germany women win European bronze medals in Lillehammer. World Curling Federation. November 26, 2021. June 22, 2022. January 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220124205535/https://worldcurling.org/2021/11/ecc2021-women-bronze/. dead.
  35. News: Great Britain and Japan women complete play-off picture. World Curling Federation. February 17, 2022. June 22, 2022.
  36. News: World Curling Federation adopts emergency regulation for sanctioned competitions. World Curling Federation. February 28, 2022. June 22, 2022. February 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220228231940/https://worldcurling.org/2022/02/emergency-regulation/. dead.
  37. News: "You won't see many shows like this." Team Kovaleva players about the Nornickel Curling Cup. ru. Arctic Cup. May 29, 2022. June 26, 2022.
  38. News: World Curling Federation extends competition ban on Russia, Belarus. TSN. December 19, 2022. May 18, 2024.
  39. News: Всем привет! Мы официально завершили сезон 2022-2023. Он вышел непростым, но в тоже время полным приятных побед и ценным опытом поражений . ru. Team Kovaleva. Instagram. May 27, 2023. May 18, 2024.
  40. Web site: Арсенькина Галина: биография керлингистки. ru. Known.ru. February 23, 2017.
  41. Web site: Galina Arsenkina Past Teams. CurlingZone. June 22, 2022.