Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian is officially on her way to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after securing victory at the final qualifying event in Beijing this weekend and she did it with a program inspired by the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.
Competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, Petrosian scored a total of 209.63 points on Saturday, placing ahead of former European champions Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia (206.23) and Loena Hendrickx of Belgium (204.96). With her win, Petrosian not only claimed the top spot but also clinched her personal ticket to the Olympic Games.
Petrosian electrified the Beijing crowd with a short program performed to a medley of Michael Jackson classics: “Earth Song,” “Billie Jean,” and “They Don’t Care About Us.” Her choice of music paid off, with fans responding enthusiastically to her sharp choreography, strong technical elements, and charismatic presentation, hallmarks of a performance fit for Jackson’s legacy.
For her free skate, Petrosian shifted gears to deliver an Argentine tango-style routine, showing her range and artistry on the ice. Together, both programs solidified her as a leading contender for Olympic gold in Milan-Cortina.
This competition marked the first time Russian figure skaters have returned to international events since the 2022 Winter Olympics, after being sidelined by sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. Under the rules of the International Skating Union (ISU), Russian and Belarusian skaters may now compete only as neutrals, without national flags, uniforms, or anthems.
ISU President Jae Youl Kim defended the decision, stating:
“We feel really comfortable about the procedures and steps that we’ve taken… fans just love watching good skating, regardless of where the skaters come from. And when any skaters perform well on the ice, the reception from the fans on the tribune is electrifying.”
With her place secured, Petrosian will be one of the headliners at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, where her Michael Jackson short program is sure to capture global attention once again.
For fans of both figure skating and Michael Jackson, her performance shows the King of Pop’s music continues to inspire artists across generations, even on the Olympic stage.
