Daniel Samohin (Hebrew: דניאל סמוכין; born 12 March 1998) is an Israeli figure skater who currently competes for the US. He is the 2016 World Junior champion, and has won two ISU Challenger Series medals, including a gold medal at the 2015 U.S. International Classic. Samohin is one of the few skaters to have landed two quad jumps in a short program, three quads in a free program, and five quads in one competition. He was a member of the Israeli delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Daniel Samohin
Born (1998-03-12) March 12, 1998 (age 26)
Tel Aviv, Israel
HometownSan Diego, California, United States
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Figure skating career
Country United States (since 2023)
 Israel (until 2022)
DisciplineMen's singles
CoachIgor Samohin
Skating clubIce Holon Israel
Began skating2003
Highest WS16th (2016–17)
Representing  Israel
Israeli Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Holon Singles
Gold medal – first place 2019 Holon Singles
Silver medal – second place 2016 Holon Singles
Silver medal – second place 2017 Holon Singles
Silver medal – second place 2020 Holon Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Holon Singles
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Debrecen Singles

Personal life

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Samohin was born on March 12, 1998, in Tel Aviv, Israel, is Jewish, and speaks two languages. [1][2] His parents – Irina, a former rhythmic gymnast, and Igor Samohin, a former figure skater who had competed internationally in pairs for the Soviet Union and who as a figure skating coach coached Israel's national team for five years in the 1990s – had arrived in Israel from Russia in 1996.[3][4][5][6][7] He has a grandfather who lives in Russia, and a grandmother who lives in Israel.[6] His brother, Stanislav, is 7+12 years older and competed in figure skating for both Russia and Israel.[8] When he was 3+12 years old, Samohin moved with his mother to California in the United States, joining the rest of the family, who had moved earlier.[3][5] His hometown is San Diego, California.[9]

Skating career

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Samohin began skating in 2003.[1] His club is Ice Holon Israel.[5] His father is his coach, and his mother has worked as his choreographer, as have Olga Volozhinskaia and Nikolai Morozov.[5]

2013–14 season

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Samohin made his international debut in September 2013 at an ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) event in Mexico. He ranked sixth in the short program, and placed third in the free skate and was awarded the bronze medal, outscoring Canada's Nam Nguyen by 1.85 points. He finished fourth at his second JGP assignment, in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In March 2014, he finished 12th at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, having placed 17th in the short program and 10th in the free.

2014–15 season

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During the 2014 JGP series, Samohin placed 8th in Ljubljana, Slovenia and 16th in Zagreb, Croatia. In September 2014, he debuted on the senior international level, finishing 11th at the Nebelhorn Trophy, an ISU Challenger Series (CS) event. After placing fourth at another CS event, the Volvo Open Cup, he took silver at a regular senior international, the Tallinn Trophy, behind fellow Israeli Oleksii Bychenko. Ranked 12th in the short and 5th in the free, he finished 8th overall at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.

2015–16 season

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Samohin withdrew from a senior Grand Prix event, the 2015 Cup of China, in order to continue competing on the junior level. Competing in September at the Junior Grand Prix in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he placed 7th in the short and second in the free; he won the silver medal, finishing almost 30 points behind Nathan Chen of the United States and 3.49 ahead of Japan's Sota Yamamoto. Later that month, he won his first CS medal, outscoring Keiji Tanaka by 11.33 points to take gold at the U.S. International Classic.

After winning a silver medal at his second JGP event in Logroño, Spain, Samohin qualified for the JGP Final. His second CS medal, silver, came in October at the 2015 Mordovian Ornament, where he scored 1.24 points less than Maxim Kovtun. Samohin finished fifth at the JGP Final. His next event was the 2016 European Figure Skating Championships, where he set a new personal best in the short program and finished 7th overall.

In March, Samohin won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, winning the Single Skating Championship.[10] He ranked 9th in the short program, but moved up to win the title after a personal-best free skate in which he landed three quadruple jumps. Samohin was the first Israeli skater to medal at Junior Worlds, and the first to win an ISU championship.[11][12]

2016–17 season

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Samohin started his season off at the 2016 CS Autumn Classic International. he placed sixth overall. He then competed at the 2016 CS Finlandia Trophy where he finished thirteenth. Making his Grand Prix debut, Samohin placed 5th at the 2016 Skate Canada International and 8th at the 2016 Cup of China. In December, he won the silver medal behind Oleksii Bychenko at the 2016 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, having ranked first in the short program and 7th in the free skate.

Samohin's luggage containing his skates was mislaid by the airline and did not arrive with him at the 2017 European Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, so he tried a borrowed new pair of skates four hours before the short program.[13][14][15] He placed 33rd in the short, and did not advance to the free skate. His skates were found two and a half weeks later.[13] He ranked 16th in the short program, second in the free skate, and sixth overall at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. He said that he was working on additional quads – loop, flip, and Lutz – but that they were not yet consistent for him.[13]

In March 2017 he won the bronze medal at the Cup of Tyrol in Innsbruck, Austria.[9] He also won a bronze medal in the ISU CS Minsk Arena Ice Star 2017, in Minsk, Belarus.[9]

2017–18 season

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Samohin withdrew from the 2017 Skate America in November 2017, after dislocating his left shoulder when he fell on a quad Salchow.[16]

He competed for Israel at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Men's Singles Figure Skating in Pyeongchang, South Korea, at the age of 19.[17] He came in 13th, with 251.44 points, additionally setting a personal best score of 170.75 in the free skate.[18]

He finished 20th at Worlds after scoring 20th in the short program and 18th in the free skate.

2018–19 season

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Samohin started his season off at the 2018 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy. Placing 7th in the short program and 6th in the free skate, he placed 6th overall, He then competed at the 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy where he finished 6th. He withdrew from the 2018 CS Finlandia Trophy. In his Grand Prix events, he placed 8th at 2018 Skate Canada International and 10th at 2018 Internationaux de France.[citation needed]

2019–20 season

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Samohin began the season with a fifth-place finish at the 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, before placing tenth at the 2019 Internationaux de France. Samohin withdrew from the 2019 Rostelecom Cup after placing eleventh in the short program, citing injury.[19] He won the silver medal at the Israeli championships, concluding his season.

2020–21 season

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With the coronavirus pandemic leading to the ISU assigning Grand Prix events based primarily on training location, Samohin was assigned to the 2020 Skate America following the withdrawal of Stephen Gogolev.[20] He placed twelfth of twelve skaters at the event.[21]

2021–22 season

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Samohin began the international season with two minor events, a fifth place finish at the Skating Club of Boston's Cranberry Cup before coming in seventh at the 2021 U.S. International Classic. On the Challenger series, he placed eighteenth at the 2021 CS Cup of Austria and twenty-third at the 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.[22]

Records and achievements

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Programs

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023-2024
  • Dawn of Faith
    by Eternal Eclipse
    choreo. by Irina Samohina
2021-2022
  • Dawn of Faith
    by Eternal Eclipse
    choreo. by Irina Samohina
2020–2021
[23]
2019–2020
[24]
  • Fastidious Horses
    (from White Night)
    by Vladimir Vysocki
2018–2019
[25]
2017–2018
[26]

2016–2017
[1]
  • Crazy Santa
2015–2016
[27][4]
2014–2015
[28]
2013–2014
[29]
  • Road of the Gypsies
    by Nikolai Erdenko
    choreo. by Irina Samohina
  • Hip Hop Tango
    by DJ
    choreo. by Irina Samohina

Competitive highlights

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For the United States

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National [30]
Event 23–24
US Nationals 12th

For Israel

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GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[22]
Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
Olympics 13th
Worlds 20th 24th
Europeans 10th 7th 33rd 26th 13th
GP Cup of China WD 8th
GP France 10th 10th
GP Rostelecom Cup 12th WD
GP Skate America WD 12th
GP Skate Canada 5th 8th
CS Autumn Classic 6th
CS Cup of Austria 18th
CS Finlandia 13th WD
CS Golden Spin 2nd 4th 15th 23rd
CS Ice Star 3rd
CS Mordovian 2nd
CS Nebelhorn 11th 6th 5th
CS Ondrej Nepela 6th
CS Volvo Cup 4th
CS U.S. Classic 1st 10th
Challenge Cup 9th WD
Cranberry Cup 5th
Cup of Tyrol 3rd
Open Ice Mall 1st
Philadelphia 1st
Tallinn Trophy 2nd
U.S. Classic 7th
International: Junior[22]
Junior Worlds 12th 8th 1st 6th
JGP Final 5th
JGP Croatia 16th
JGP Czech Republic 4th
JGP Mexico 3rd
JGP Slovenia 8th
JGP Spain 2nd
JGP U.S. 2nd
Bavarian Open 2nd J
Toruń Cup 1st J
National
Israeli Champ. 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd
Levels: N = Novice, J = Junior
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew

Detailed results

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Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 9–11, 2021 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 23
56.85
18
126.12
23
182.97
November 11–14, 2021 2021 CS Cup of Austria 16
66.33
20
118.18
18
184.51
September 14–17, 2021 2021 U.S. International Classic 7
66.54
5
140.82
7
207.36
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
October 23–24, 2020 2020 Skate America 12
61.60
12
122.94
12
184.54
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 20–23, 2020 2020 Challenge Cup 9
66.54
6
126.20
9
192.74
December 4–7, 2019 2019 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 11
71.45
20
115.90
15
187.35
November 15–17, 2019 2019 Rostelecom Cup 11
56.94
WD
November 1–3, 2019 2019 Internationaux de France 8
70.84
10
122.82
10
193.66
September 25–28, 2019 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 3
69.52
5
135.59
5
205.11
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 18–24, 2019 2019 World Championships 15
82.00
24
123.28
24
205.28
20–23 February 2019 2019 Open Ice Mall Cup 1
91.32
2
147.29
1
238.61
21–27 January 2019 2019 European Championships 6
86.48
14
130.69
13
217.17
December 5–8, 2018 2018 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 4
85.10
6
145.44
4
230.54
November 23–25, 2018 2018 Internationaux de France 10
72.33
9
133.66
10
205.99
October 26–28, 2018 2018 Skate Canada International 5
84.90
9
140.99
8
225.89
September 26–29, 2018 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 4
71.60
6
117.43
6
189.04
19–22 September 2018 2018 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 7
70.93
6
126.87
6
197.80
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
19–25 March 2018 2018 World Championships 20
72.78
18
141.23
20
214.01
16–17 February 2018 2018 Winter Olympics 18
80.69
11
170.75
13
251.44
15–21 January 2018 2018 European Championships 26
59.18
26
59.18
24–26 November 2017 2017 Skate America 5
82.28
WD
26–29 October 2017 2017 CS Minsk-Arena Ice Star 6
72.76
4
146.99
3
219.75
20–22 October 2017 2017 Rostelecom Cup 12
62.02
12
121.77
12
183.79
13–17 September 2017 2017 CS U.S. International Classic 11
64.74
9
126.46
10
191.20
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
25–29 January 2017 2017 European Championships 33
50.33
33
50.33
7–10 December 2016 2016 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 1
82.35
7
143.77
2
226.12
18–20 November 2016 2016 Cup of China 2
83.47
10
130.04
8
213.51
28–30 October 2016 2016 Skate Canada 5
74.62
7
152.91
5
226.53
6–10 October 2016 2016 CS Finlandia Trophy 14
52.03
13
108.94
13
160.97
29 Sept. – 1 Oct. 2016 2016 CS Autumn Classic International 7
60.81
7
129.09
6
189.90

Junior level

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Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. Previous ISU world best highlighted in bold.

 
Samohin at the 2015–16 JGP Final
2016–17 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
15–19 March 2017 2017 World Junior Championships Junior 16
67.00
2
165.63
6
232.63
2015–16 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
14–20 March 2016 2016 World Junior Championships Junior 9
71.27
1
165.38
1
236.65
26–31 January 2016 2016 European Championships Senior 5
82.73
8
149.35
7
232.08
9–13 December 2015 2015 JGP Final Junior 5
69.48
5
115.20
5
184.68
16–19 October 2015 2015 Mordovian Ornament Senior 1
79.66
2
155.48
2
235.14
30 Sept. – 3 Oct. 2015 2015 JGP Spain Junior 2
67.96
1
159.23
2
227.19
16–20 September 2015 2015 CS U.S. Classic Senior 3
71.52
2
152.15
1
223.67
2–5 September 2015 2015 JGP United States Junior 7
58.53
2
148.64
2
207.17
3–5 August 2017 2015 Philadelphia Summer International Senior 3
63.41
1
125.36
1
188.77
2014–15 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
2–8 March 2015 2015 World Junior Championships Junior 12
67.00
5
135.39
8
202.39
26 Jan. – 1 Feb. 2015 2015 European Championships Senior 8
72.65
9
137.28
10
209.93
3–7 December 2014 2014 Tallinn Trophy Senior 2
60.40
2
124.54
2
184.94
5–9 November 2014 2014 CS Volvo Open Cup Senior 3
61.91
4
121.56
4
183.47
9–10 October 2014 2014 JGP Croatia Junior 16
50.04
16
95.88
16
145.92
24–27 September 2014 2014 CS Nebelhorn Trophy Senior 11
49.67
14
94.86
11
144.53
2013–14 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
10–16 March 2014 2014 World Junior Championships Junior 17
58.84
10
120.64
12
179.48
29 January – February 2 2014 2014 Bavarian Open Junior 2
60.09
2
105.57
2
165.66
8 January – January 11 2014 2014 Toruń Cup Junior 1
65.24
1
125.19
1
190.43
2–5 October 2013 2013 JGP Czech Skate Junior 9
51.80
4
117.18
4
168.98
Sept. 4–8, 2013 2013 JGP Mexico Junior 6
59.36
3
123.53
3
182.89
  • Personal best highlighted in bold.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "2018 Winter Olympics," Jewish Sports Review, March/April 2018, Vol. 11, No. 6, Issue 126, page 2.
  3. ^ a b Flade, Tatjana (August 5, 2016). "Making history good starting point for Israel's Daniel Samohin". Golden Skate.
  4. ^ a b Rutherford, Lynn (July 20, 2015). "In every sense of the word, Samohin emulates Chan". IceNetwork.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Figure Skating | Athlete Profile: Daniel SAMOHIN - Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games
  6. ^ a b Daniel Samohin: “It’s Easier To Do Quads Than Triples” | europeonice.com
  7. ^ "Daniel Samohin: 'I take risks because I skate for Israel'; One of figure skating's most powerful jumpers, the 19-year-old could steal the show in Pyeongchang."
  8. ^ "Stanislav SAMOHIN". International Skating Union.
  9. ^ a b c "Daniel SAMOHIN, ISR, Biography"
  10. ^ Flade, Tatjana (19 March 2016). "Samohin catapults to gold; makes history for Israel". Golden Skate.
  11. ^ "Samohin wins Israel's first-ever world junior title". IceNetwork.com. March 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (October 28, 2016). "Daniel Samohin - climbing to the top". Absolute Skating.
  13. ^ a b c Olenina, H.; Yoshida, Hiro (17 March 2017). "Daniel Samohin Finds Strength in Adversity". Europe on Ice.
  14. ^ Berlot, Jean-Christophe (January 28, 2017). "Czech guláš: Samohin battles on borrowed blades". IceNetwork.com.
  15. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (January 28, 2017). "Europeans 2017, Ostrava, day three: Medvedeva's world record". Absolute Skating.
  16. ^ Leamy, Liz (November 26, 2017). "2017 Skate America - Men's Free Skate". iceskatingintnl.com.
  17. ^ "Israelis Bychenko, Samohin dazzle in Pyeongchang ice rink," The Jerusalem Post.
  18. ^ "Israeli figure skaters finish 11th, 13th at Winter Olympics"
  19. ^ Slater, Paula (November 16, 2019). "Alexander Samarin wins gold in Russian sweep at Rostelecom Cup". Golden Skate.
  20. ^ "2020 Skate America". International Figure Skating. October 20, 2020. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  21. ^ "ISU GP 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America". U.S. Figure Skating.
  22. ^ a b c "Competition Results: Daniel SAMOHIN". International Skating Union.
  23. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020.
  24. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019.
  25. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018.
  26. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017.
  27. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Daniel SAMOHIN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ "USA-Daniel SAMOHIN". Skating Scores.
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