Interview with Alyona Shevchenko: ATV Adult Representative on Dreams, Falls, and Victory in Oberstdorf

Alyona Shevchenko is a well known figure skater on the Czech adult figure skating scene.

She first stepped onto the ice as an adult, but her passion, determination, and love for the sport quickly took her further than she ever imagined.

She found her inspiration in Tomáš Verner, whose performance she once randomly came across on TV. From her first training session, she fell in love not only with skating itself, but also with the competition atmosphere and the community that surrounds this sport.

Today, she proudly represents the Tomáš Verner Academy in national and international competitions, showing that starting figure skating as an adult is no obstacle—on the contrary, it can be the beginning of a very powerful story.

In the following interview, Alyona shares her journey on the ice, the joys and challenges of training, and what figure skating brings to her life.

Do you remember your first time on the ice? Did you start skating as a child or only later in life?

I first stepped on the ice as an adult – I was around 18. Honestly, it was quite embarrassing. I went to an ice show where professional skaters performed with celebrities – singers, dancers, etc. Among them were women over 60! I thought, “If they can do it, so can I.” I skated to the center of the rink, fell… and couldn’t get up. I ended up crawling back to the boards. 😅 At that moment, I decided figure skating wasn’t for me and didn’t come back to it for several years.

So what eventually brought you to adult figure skating? Was it a childhood dream, a coincidence, or something else?

I love this story because of how life took unexpected turns. It all started with watching figure skating on TV – and it started with Tomáš Verner! I remember watching the 2007 European Championships. I randomly turned on Eurosport and thought, “Who is that handsome guy who unexpectedly dominated the short program?” From that point, I followed competitions where Tomáš skated, and later I found other favorites. So it wasn’t a childhood dream, but more like a teenage one – and it completely captured me.Later, I moved to Kyiv and discovered there were figure skating courses for adults. That’s when I realized that the dream could actually come true. 😊

What are you most proud of on the ice? Do you have a favorite element or program that always brings you joy?

I’m most proud of winning the Bronze 1 Free program in Oberstdorf. It was my first international competition and my first time in Oberstdorf. The atmosphere was unforgettable, and even though I wasn’t in top shape, everything came together. That competition remains my favorite and still gives me joy and inspiration.

What do you find most challenging about figure skating? Is there something you keep working on?

What I love most about figure skating is that you never really “finish” – there’s always something to work on. 😂 There are so many things I still want to learn! Right now, I struggle with spins and the axel. I once broke my leg badly while trying the axel, so it’s a bit of a mental block now. But I believe I’ll overcome that too.

Alyona shows us that the courage to enter an unfamiliar world, and the determination to stick with it, can lead not only to personal growth but also to athletic success.Her story is a reminder to anyone who’s ever thought “it’s too late” – whether it’s about skating or any other dream.

If her story inspired you, feel free to watch her competition videos or come support her at her next event. Because, as she says herself – the biggest joy isn’t only in the achievements, but in the journey itself.