Asaf Kazimov
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Асаф Казимович Казимов |
| Full name | Asaf Kazimovich Kazimov |
| Born | 12 March 2000 Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Home town | Dortmund, Germany |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country |  Spain (since 2023)  Germany (until 2023) |
| Discipline | Ice dance |
| Partner | Sofía Val (since 2022) Viktoriia Lopusova (2019–22) Lara Luft (2015–19) Diana Scheidt (until 2015) |
| Coach | Kirill Khaliavin Sara Hurtado Ksenia Monko Oscar Muñoz |
| Skating club | SK International Ice Dance School |
| Began skating | 2006 |
Asaf Kazimovich Kazimov (Russian: Асаф Казимович Казимов; born 12 March 2000) is a German-Spanish ice dancer who currently competes for Spain. With his skating partner, Sofía Val, he is the 2025 Winter World University Games champion and the 2023 Trophée Métropole Nice champion.
Personal life
[edit]Kazimov was born on 12 March 2000 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He and his family immigrated to Germany in 2012. Kazimov has his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.[1]
In September 2025, he was granted Spanish citizenship.[2]
Career
[edit]Early years
[edit]Kazimov began learning how to skate in 2006 in his native Saint Petersburg under the guidance of coach Elena Vlasova. Then he moved to a group led by Valentina Chebotareva, where he studied until he was 11 years old. Kazimov and his family emigrated from Russia to Germany in 2012, and there he took up the sport with his first competitive partner, Diana Scheidt.[1] Scheidt/Kazimov competed as advanced novices both internationally and domestically during the 2014–15 season before splitting during the first half of 2015.
2015–2019: Partnership with Luft
[edit]Kazimov teamed up with his second skating partner, Lara Luft, in 2015.[3] They competed for Germany for three seasons together, from 2016 to 2019, including three Junior Grand Prix assignments, a bronze medal in the junior ice dance category at the 2017 Christmas Cup, and a silver medal at the 2019 German junior national championship. Luft/Kazimov split in 2019.
2019–2022: Partnership with Lopusova
[edit]Kazimov next formed a partnership with fellow Russian-born skater Viktoriia Lopusova, with whom he competed for three seasons from 2019 to 2022 and made his senior international debut. Lopusova/Kazimov competed at two junior international events during the 2019–20 season and won the bronze medal at the 2019 German junior national championship, but did not appear internationally or domestically during the 2020–21 season.
The team returned to make their senior international debut at the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying event to the 2022 Winter Olympics, where they finished 15th. They competed at six other international senior B events over the course of the 2021–22 season, and finished 4th at the 2021 German Championships.
2022–23 season: Debut of Val/Kazimov
[edit]Lopusova/Kazimov split in August 2022, despite having prepared for the upcoming 2022–23 season. Kazimov connected with his current skating partner, Sofía Val, through their now coach, Sara Hurtado, and the skaters convened in Madrid for a five-day tryout period in September. They elected to team up for Val's native Spain not long after, and Kazimov relocated to Madrid to train under Hurtado and her former skating partner, Kirill Khaliavin.
The new team was ineligible to compete internationally until January 2023 when Kazimov received his release from the German Ice Skating Union. Val/Kazimov debuted at the 2023 Challenge Cup at the end of February where they placed sixth of 14 and secured their technical minimum scores to be eligible to compete at the 2023 World Championships.
At the World Championships in March, Val/Kazimov placed 30th in the rhythm dance and did not advance to the free dance portion of the competition.[4]
2023–24 season
[edit]Val/Kazimov opened their first full competitive season with a thirteenth-place finish at the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial. They set new personal bests in both segments of competition, as well as overall, at their next ISU Challenger Series assignment, the 2023 CS Budapest Trophy, where they placed sixth. The team won their first international medal a week later at the 2023 Trophée Métropole Nice, taking the title ahead of Lithuanian and Chinese teams Ramanauskaitė/Kizala and Xiao/He.[4]
Competing at their first Spanish Championships in December, Val/Kazimov won the silver medal behind the new team Smart/Dieck.[5] Despite the latter being the national champions, it was initially announced by the Spanish federation that Val/Kazimov would represent the country at the 2024 European and World Championships. Following controversy around the criteria used to arrive at this result, on 27 December the Spanish federation announced that Smart/Dieck would instead be given the country's lone World Championship berth, while Val/Kazimov would go to the European Championships.[6][7]
In the rhythm dance at the European Championships in Kaunas, Val lost a level on her twizzle sequence, and both partners had low levels on their step sequences. They were twenty-third in the segment, and missed the cut for the free dance.[8]
2024–25 season
[edit]Val/Kazimov opened their second full competitive season with an eleventh-place finish at the 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. They set new personal bests in both segments of competition, as well as overall, at their second ISU Challenger Series assignment, the ISU 2024 CS Tallinn Trophy, where they placed sixth. Besides, the team won their first medal of the season (silver) at the 2024 Pavel Roman Memorial, and gold at the 2025 Ephesus Cup in Izmir, Turkey. However, the gold medal won at the 2025 Winter University Games was very special for them.
Competing at the Spanish Championships in December, Val/Kazimov won for second consecutive year the silver medal behind the team Smart/Dieck.[9]
2025–26 season
[edit]Val/Kazimov began the season in August by winning gold at the 2025 ICE Dance Dordrecht.[9]
Programs
[edit]With Val
[edit]| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–2026 [10] |
|
|
| 2024–2025 [11] |
| |
| 2023–2024 [12] |
|
|
| 2022–2023 [13] |
|
With Lopusova
[edit]| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 [14] |
|
|
| 2021–2022 [15] |
|
|
With Luft
[edit]| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 [3] |
|
|
| 2017–2018 [16] |
|
|
Competitive highlights
[edit]- JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
- CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series
- TBD – Assigned
- WD – Withdrew from competition
Ice dance with Sofía Val (for Spain)
[edit]| Season | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics | TBD | |||
| World Championships | 30th | |||
| European Championships | 23rd | |||
| Spanish Championships | 2nd | 2nd | ||
| CS Budapest Trophy | 6th | |||
| CS Denis Ten Memorial | 6th | |||
| CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 11th | |||
| CS Nepela Memorial | 13th | |||
| CS Tallinn Trophy | 6th | 5th | ||
| CS Warsaw Cup | 7th | |||
| Bosphorus Cup | 3rd | |||
| Ephesus Cup | 1st | 1st | ||
| ICE Dance Dordrecht | 1st | |||
| Pavel Roman Memorial | 2nd | |||
| Skate to Milano | 3rd | |||
| Trophée Métropole Nice | 1st | |||
| Winter University Games | 1st |
With Lopusova for Germany
[edit]| International[17] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | 19–20 | 21–22 |
| CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 15th | |
| CS Warsaw Cup | 20th | |
| Bavarian Open | 8th | |
| Challenge Cup | 7th | |
| Egna Dance Trophy | 9th | |
| Open d'Andorra | 9th | |
| Trophée Métropole Nice | 10th | |
| International: Junior[17] | ||
| Golden Spin | 10th | |
| Grand Prix of Bratislava | 4th | |
| National[17] | ||
| German Champ. | 3rd J | 4th |
With Luft for Germany
[edit]| International: Junior[18][19] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18–19 |
| JGP Armenia | 11th | ||
| JGP Austria | 16th | ||
| JGP Lithuania | 10th | ||
| Bavarian Open | 19th | ||
| Christmas Cup | 3rd | ||
| Ice Star | 7th | ||
| Mentor Toruń Cup | 10th | ||
| Volvo Open Cup | 11th | ||
| National[18][19] | |||
| German Champ. | 2nd J | ||
Detailed results
[edit]Ice dance with Sofía Val (for Spain)
[edit]| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 181.45 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| Short program | TSS | 70.59 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| TES | 40.07 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy | |
| PCS | 30.52 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy | |
| Free skating | TSS | 110.86 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| TES | 63.56 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy | |
| PCS | 47.30 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Feb 23-26, 2023 |  2023 Challenge Cup
|
5 | 61.85 | 6 | 97.49 | 6 | 159.34 |
| Mar 20-26, 2023 |  2023 World Championships
|
30 | 53.94 | - | - | 30 | 53.94 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 28-30, 2023 |  2023 CS Nepela Memorial
|
13 | 56.96 | 13 | 86.92 | 13 | 143.88 |
| Oct 13-15, 2023 |  2023 CS Budapest Trophy
|
6 | 65.51 | 6 | 102.83 | 6 | 168.34 |
| Oct 18-22, 2023 |  2023 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur
|
1 | 60.34 | 1 | 95.55 | 1 | 155.89 |
| Nov 27 - Dec 3, 2023 |  2023 Bosphorus Cup
|
3 | 69.99 | 3 | 106.37 | 3 | 176.36 |
| Dec 15-17, 2023 | 2024 Spanish Championships
|
2 | 70.71 | 2 | 108.08 | 2 | 178.79 |
| Jan 8-14, 2024 |  2024 European Championships
|
23 | 58.04 | - | - | 23 | 58.04 |
| Jan 25-28, 2024 | 2024 Ephesus Cup
|
1 | 70.89 | 1 | 107.32 | 1 | 178.21 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 19-21, 2024 | 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
|
7 | 6404 | 12 | 91.02 | 11 | 155.06 |
| Nov 8-10, 2024 |  2024 Pavel Roman Memorial
|
2 | 69.54 | 2 | 104.24 | 2 | 173.78 |
| Nov 12–17, 2024 |  2024 CS Tallinn Trophy
|
8 | 66.67 | 6 | 103.83 | 6 | 170.50 |
| Dec 12-15, 2024 | 2025 Spanish Championships
|
2 | 70.35 | 2 | 105.95 | 2 | 176.30 |
| Jan 16–18, 2025 |  2025 Winter University Games
|
1 | 66.42 | 1 | 106.35 | 1 | 172.77 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Aug 16-17, 2025 | 2025 International ICE Dance Dordrecht
|
1 | 69.74 | 1 | 106.93 | 1 | 176.67 |
| Sep 18-21, 2025 |  2025 ISU Skate to Milano
|
5 | 68.35 | 4 | 101.97 | 3 | 170.32 |
| Oct 1-4, 2025 |  2025 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
|
6 | 66.09 | 6 | 99.52 | 6 | 165.61 |
| Nov 19–23, 2025 |  2025 CS Warsaw Cup
|
7 | 68.81 | 5 | 110.48 | 7 | 179.29 |
| Nov 25-30, 2025 | 2025 CS Tallinn Trophy
|
5 | 70.59 | 4 | 110.86 | 5 | 181.45 |
External links
[edit]- Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV at the International Skating Union
- Viktoriia LOPUSOVA / Asaf KAZIMOV at the International Skating Union
- Lara LUFT / Asaf KAZIMOV at the International Skating Union
References
[edit]- ^ a b Morelli, Matteo (27 April 2023). "Val & Kazimov Develop Their Own Style". ice-dance.com.
- ^ "🇪🇸 Tim Dieck and Asaf Kazimov have been granted Spanish citizenship". X. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
- ^ a b "Lara LUFT / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV: Competition Results". International Skating Union. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "Tomàs Guarino y Olivia Smart & Tim Dieck brillan en el cierre del Campeonato de España Iberdrola de Patinaje 2023-24 en Logroño" [Tomàs Guarino and Olivia Smart & Tim Dieck shine at the closing of the 2023-24 Iberdrola Spanish Skating Championships in Logroño] (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Deportes de Hielo. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "España competirá con la pareja Val-Kazimov en el Europeo de Patinaje y con Smart-Dieck en el Mundial" [Spain will compete with the Val/Kazimov couple in the European Skating Championships and with Smart/Dieck in the World Championship] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Comunicado RFEDH acerca de la selección de parejas de danza para el Campeonato de Europa y Campeonato del Mundo 2024" [RFEDH statement about the selection of dance couples for the 2024 European Championships and World Championships] (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Deportes de Hielo. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "El equipo español completa su participación en el Europeo de Kaunas" [The Spanish team completes its participation in the European Championship in Kaunas] (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Deportes de Hielo. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "ESP-Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV". Skating Scores. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2025/2026". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025.
- ^ "Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024.
- ^ "Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Sofia VAL / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Viktoriia LOPUSOVA / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Viktoriia LOPUSOVA / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Lara LUFT / Asaf KAZIMOV: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "Viktoriia LOPUSOVA / Asaf KAZIMOV: Competition Results". International Skating Union. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Asaf KAZIMOV / Sofía VAL". RinkResults.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Lara LUFT / Asaf KAZIMOV:Competition Results". International Skating Union. Retrieved 27 September 2024.