Elizabet Tursynbaeva

Elizabet Tursynbaeva is a retired Kazakh figure skater who rewrote the record books in 2019 by becoming the first woman to land a quadruple Salchow in senior international competition. That historic jump came at the World Championships in Saitama, where she earned the silver medal behind Alina Zagitova. The feat cemented her place in the sport's history and made her a national hero in Kazakhstan.

Today she runs her own skating academy in Kazakhstan, coaching the next generation. Her competitive resume also includes a bronze at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics, three consecutive national titles, and a 12th-place finish at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. She retired in September 2021 after a chronic back injury cut her career short at just 21. [edit]

Born in Moscow to a Kazakh family, Tursynbaeva started skating at age five, following her older brother Timur onto the ice. Her early training happened in Moscow under coach Inna Goncharenko, while she also studied violin at a local music school. She kept up both pursuits for years before committing fully to skating.

She first competed for Russia, appearing in the 2013 Junior Grand Prix in Minsk. But in 2013 she switched allegiance to Kazakhstan, the country of her heritage, a move that would shape her entire career. Training in Kazakhstan, she quickly rose through the ranks, winning her first national title in 2015. By 2016 she had claimed bronze at the Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, signaling her arrival on the international stage. [edit]

Tursynbaeva's breakthrough came at the 2019 World Championships, where she landed the first quad Salchow by a woman in senior competition and took silver. Earlier that year she had won silver at the Four Continents Championships, and she added another silver at the Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk. Those results made her the most decorated Kazakh figure skater in history.

She had already made history in 2018 by becoming the first Kazakh woman to compete in Olympic figure skating, finishing 12th in Pyeongchang. After a difficult 2020 season hampered by injury, she announced her retirement in September 2021. Since then she has focused on coaching, founding the Elizabet Tursynbaeva Academy and mentoring young skaters in Kazakhstan. [edit]

Tursynbaeva's public image is defined by her pioneering spirit. She is celebrated as a trailblazer who pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible in women's figure skating, and her quad Salchow is often cited as a turning point in the sport's technical evolution.

On social media, she presents herself as a dedicated coach and mentor, sharing training clips and motivational messages with her followers. Her Instagram, @elizabetkz, showcases her academy and her life after competition. In Kazakhstan, she is a national icon, and fans worldwide respect her for her courage and determination. [edit]

Elizabet Tursynbaeva's fanbase is a quiet but devoted community of figure skating enthusiasts who celebrate her as a pioneer. Unlike the massive, organized fan armies of some of her contemporaries, her supporters are a more diffuse group, united by admiration for her historic achievements rather than a shared name or ritual. There is no documented fandom name for her followers, and no record of large-scale fan campaigns or inside jokes. Instead, her fans connect through her Instagram, where she shares training clips and promotes her academy, and through their shared pride in her role as a trailblazer for Kazakh skating.

Her most iconic moment, the first quadruple Salchow landed by a woman at senior international competition, remains a touchstone for her fanbase. That jump, at the 2019 World Championships, is a story they retell with reverence, and it continues to draw new fans to her story. Her fans also take pride in her silver medal at that event, which made her the first female World medalist from Kazakhstan.

While her fanbase may not have the scale or organization of those of skaters from traditional powerhouses, it is a passionate and knowledgeable community that appreciates the technical and historical significance of her career. In the broader landscape of fame, Elizabet Tursynbaeva does not currently hold a placement in iFANN's published rankings. The Global Fame Engine has evaluated her, but she does not appear in the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This reflects the niche nature of her sport and her relatively small but dedicated following.[edit]

Before her historic quad Salchow at the 2019 World Championships, Tursynbaeva was known for attempting difficult jumps in practice, and her coach once said she had landed it in training months before the event. She is a trained violinist, having studied at a music school in Moscow, and she credits that musical training with enhancing her artistry on the ice. Her brother Timur, who inspired her to start skating, later became a coach himself. In 2020, she took part in the world's largest online Olympic event, a virtual gathering of athletes during the pandemic. She was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports of Kazakhstan, one of the country's highest athletic honors.

One of the most retold stories from her career is the moment she landed the first quad Salchow by a woman at senior international competition. The BBC's commentary, 'That's a game changer!' captured the shock and excitement of the moment, and the jump remains a defining legend in the sport. Another iconic moment was her silver medal at the 2019 Four Continents Championships, which, combined with her World silver, established her as a top contender that season. Fans also remember her early career representing Russia until 2013, when she switched to Kazakhstan, a fact that adds depth to her biography. Her retirement in 2021 due to a back injury was widely seen as premature, and it cemented her status as a what-if in the sport's history.[edit]

Tursynbaeva's family has been a constant presence in her career. Her older brother, Timur, introduced her to skating, and she has spoken about how watching him on the ice made her want to try it herself. Her mother traveled with her during her early years of competition, providing support at rinks across the world.

She has not publicly shared details about her father or other relatives. As of 2026 she is unmarried and has no children. She lives in Kazakhstan, where she runs her skating academy, and her family remains close, with her brother working as a coach in the sport. [edit]

Timur Tursynbaev, her older brother, introduced her to skating and later became a coach. Inna Goncharenko coached her during her early years in Moscow. Her biggest rival was Alina Zagitova, who beat her for the world title in 2019. [edit]

Elizabet Tursynbaeva has kept her personal life out of the spotlight. There are no reported relationships, engagements, or marriages as of 2026. She appears to be single, focusing her energy on coaching and her academy.

Unlike many athletes who share their personal lives on social media, she has chosen to keep that side of her life private. Her Instagram is dedicated to her work and skating, with no hints of a romantic partner. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis estimates Elizabet Tursynbaeva's net worth at $2 million. This figure reflects her earnings from a competitive career that included ISU prize money, national federation support, and appearance fees for galas and shows. Since retiring in 2021, her income has shifted to coaching. She runs the Elizabet Tursynbaeva Academy, which offers training programs and private lessons, and she also earns from brand partnerships and ambassadorial roles tied to Kazakh sports and tourism. While she keeps her finances private, her post-retirement ventures appear to be sustainable and growing.[edit]

Tursynbaeva's competitive achievements include a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, a bronze at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics, and three consecutive Kazakhstani national titles. She also earned silver at the Four Continents Championships and the Winter Universiade in 2019. Her historic quad Salchow is celebrated as a landmark moment in the sport. [edit]