What is known about the rising star of figure skating Annabelle Morozov?

We tell about a hot brunette, the goddaughter of Tarasova, representing Russia, a 20-year-old owner of a French name.

A new star has appeared in the Russian national figure skating team - 20-year-old Annabelle Morozov. The French name and male surname are an unusual highlight of the skater. Since the 2020/21 season, a rather unusual and interesting duet has been performing in ice dancing in adult competitions - Morozov / Bragin.

And no, it's not a spelling mistake. Morozov is a Russian figure skater with the full name Annabelle Nicole. And she performs in tandem with Andrei Bagin. Athletes Annabel Morozov and Andrey Bagin during a free program among dance couples. Photo © TASS / Sergey Bobylev Athletes Annabel Morozov and Andrey Bagin during a free program among dance couples.

star parents

Annabel Morozov is the daughter of the famous Russian figure skating coach Nikolai Morozov. Among his students are Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov, Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov, Maxim Kovtun, Miki Ando, Alena Leonova, Denis Ten and others. Annabelle's mother is former French figure skater Caroline Doirin.

Russian coach and choreographer Nikolai Morozov, his daughter Annabel Morozov and her partner Andrei Bagin (left to right) after the performance. Photo © TASS / Valery Sharifulin Russian coach and choreographer Nikolai Morozov, his daughter Annabel Morozov and her partner Andrei Bagin (left to right) after the performance. Photo © TASS / Valery Sharifulin

The girl was born in Connecticut (USA), where there is simply no declension in surnames and names. So in the documents they wrote down - Morozov. Annabelle's parents did not live long in an official marriage, soon divorcing. Because of this, the girl traveled a lot from an early age - from the United States, where she lived with her mother, to Russia to her father, and also to France to visit her maternal grandparents. Thanks to an international family, the figure skater is fluent in Russian, French and English and has triple citizenship.

Moreover, Annabelle is not only the daughter of famous figure skaters in the past, but she has very stellar godparents: Tatyana Tarasova and Alexei Yagudin. Nikolai Morozov received his first coaching experience under the guidance of the legendary Tatyana Anatolyevna. They worked in tandem for several years. Morozov even put the Olympic program "Winter" to Yagudin, with which Alexei won the Games in Salt Lake City. Then Nikolai became close to Tarasova and Yagudin, who later agreed to a special role in the life of little Annabelle. Figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova and Annabelle Morozov.

Photo from personal archive Figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova and Annabelle Morozov. Photo from personal archive

Career and choice of sports citizenship

When the girl decided to follow in the footsteps of her parents and become a figure skater, she rushed about which country to play for. Morozov took her first steps in the USA, representing the country where she was born. So she even won the silver of the junior American championship. Then competed under the French flag. However, as a professional athlete, Annabelle represented only Russia. She began performing under the Russian flag in 2016.

To represent Russia, Annabel Morozov had to leave the United States, leaving her mother. According to the skater, now they talk a lot on the phone. At first, Morozov performed in single skating, but her genes took their toll and she went into ice dancing. Of course, dad became the first coach. And now she continues to cooperate with him.

I am lucky that my dad is a coach. In general, I think that he is the best coach, because he can work with singles, doubles, dancers. That's great rarity. Even when I work with other coaches, I don't forget what my dad says. Of course, anything can happen in training. Especially when something doesn’t work out and dad screams, I take it a little differently, because I’m his daughter, Annabelle once admitted to reporters after the rental.

Not only star parents, but also the talent and bright appearance of the girl did their job - they quickly started talking about Annabelle. And now she is called the main future star of ice dancing.

Annabelle Morozov and Andrey Bagin during a performance. Photo © TASS / Petr Kovalev

New partner

In 2017, Morozov paired up with Andrei Bagin, who only left his partner Maria Stavitskaya. Rolled up and found a common language Annabelle and Andrei immediately.

- At that moment I broke up with my partner Masha Stavitskaya. For some time I rode alone, ”recalls Bragin. - After an illness, he went out on the ice. I look, a girl in the distance, the spitting image of Lena Ilinykh. At first I even thought: Lena, perhaps, has come? But they told me that this is the daughter of Nikolai Morozov. I heard that he has a daughter, but I thought she was still small. With Annabelle somehow immediately developed. It was comfortable as a couple.

In the first season for themselves, they took 8th place in the Russian Championship - 2018, and already at the CR-2019 Morozov / Bragin became fourth. Then the pandemic began, which prevented many skaters from competing on the international stage. However, in 2021, at the fifth stage of the Grand Prix series in Grenoble (France), Annabelle and Andrey showed the sixth result. "Use double standards": How athletes around the world oppose the isolation of Russians due to "Operation Z" "Use double standards": How athletes around the world oppose the isolation of Russians due to "Operation Z"

Recently it became known that the couple broke up. Now Morozov will ride with another Russian - David Narizhny - under the leadership of Irina Zhuk, Alexander Svinin and Alexei Gorshkov. That is why the dance duet Morozov / Bragin was no longer at the First Channel Cup in 2022. The breakup has been rumored for some time now. The reason was not named, but, according to the majority, Bragin did not reach the level of a partner.

David Narizhny with ex-partner Elizaveta Shanaeva. Photo © TASS / Valentina Pevtsova David Narizhny with ex-partner Elizaveta Shanaeva. Photo © TASS / Valentina Pevtsova

Personal life

Annabelle writes poems in her free time from training and competitions and studies at the Moscow State University (MGU) at the production department. She also loves the theatre.

— I really love the theatre. When I lived in America, and my father worked in Moscow, during his visits we always went to Broadway. In Moscow, I also go to theaters. This helps me. When you see how actors play on stage, you take something for yourself. Theater is not cinema, it is completely different.

Other emotions, - said the girl in an interview with the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR). Photo © Instagram / Annabelle Morozov Photo © Instagram (banned in the Russian Federation) / Annabelle Morozov In turn, fans have already dubbed Annabelle Morozov the new sex symbol of figure skating. This is not surprising. Burning brunette with red lipstick begins to win hearts.

Will Annabel Morozov succeed in becoming the leader of the national team with a new partner?