Hektor Giotopoulos Moore

Hektor Giotopoulos Moore
Golubeva and Giatopoulos Moore at the 2024 World Championships
Born	(2002-06-25) 25 June 2002 (age 22) Melbourne, Australia
Hometown	Sydney, Australia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
Country	Australia
Partner	Anastasia Golubeva (since 2019)
Coach	Galina Pachin
Skating club	Sydney Figure Skating Club
Medal record
Australian Championships 2023 Erina Pairs World Junior Championships 2022 Tallinn Pairs 2023 Calgary Pairs Junior Grand Prix Final 2022–23 Turin Pairs

Hektor Giotopoulos Moore is an Australian pair skater. With his skating partner, Anastasia Golubeva, they are the 2022 Warsaw Cup champions and the 2023 Australian National champions.

On the junior level, Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore are two-time World Junior silver medalists (2022 and 2023) and the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final champions.

Personal life

Giotopoulos Moore was born on June 25, 2002, in Melbourne, Australia to parents, Xanthippe and Marcus. His mother is of Greek descent and his father, an engineer, has UK & Austrian heritage. Giotopoulos Moore also has three siblings: Kassandra, the eldest; Davis, the second-born; and Alek, the youngest. ^{[1] [2]}

Moreover, Giotopoulos Moore holds dual Australian-Greek citizenship. While living and training in Moscow with Golubeva during the COVID-19 pandemic, he learned how to speak Russian and is now fluent in the language. ^{[3] [4]}

Career

Giotopoulos Moore began skating at the age of nine after developing an interest in pair skating from watching a pair team, coached by Galina and Andrei Pachin, performing a lift in practice at the Sydney Figure Skating Club. The Pachins agreed to train him after seeing how tall Giotopoulos Moore's father was and knowing that Giotopoulos Moore would likely grow to be tall enough to be a pair skater as well. In addition, he won the 2017 Australian Novice Championships as a singles skater. ^[3]

Due to the difficulties of finding a suitable pair partner in Australia, Giotopoulos Moore and his coaches searched for potential partners abroad. He initially skated with Karina Akopova of Russia and Milania Vaananen of Finland but neither partnerships lasted. In the fall of 2019, Giotopoulos Moore had a try-out with Anastasia Golubeva, a singles skater from Moscow, after Galina and Andrei Pachin were able to get in contact with Golubeva's coach in Russia. Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore decided to team up following a successful try-out. ^[3]

In February 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit while Giotopoulos Moore was training with Golubeva in Moscow, and Golubeva had yet to obtain a visa to relocate to Australia. Due to lockdowns, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore were unable to use Russian ice rinks to train so instead, they would meet every day in a closed restaurant to practice off-ice training. When Giatopoulos Moore's visa began to expire, the pair temporarily relocated to Belarus due to the country allowing three-month visa-free entry. ^{[3] [5] [6]}

The team would finally relocate to Sydney, Australia after the country re-opened its borders. ^[3]

2021–22 season

Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore debuted as a pair team on the 2021–22 ISU Junior Grand Prix and finished fifth at both their ISU Junior Grand Prix events in Russia and Austria. The pair would also go on to compete at the senior level the 2021–22 Challenger Series, placing eighth at the 2021 Nebelhorn Trophy and tenth at the 2021 Golden Spin of Zagreb. At the 2022 Winter Star in Minsk, Belarus, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore would win the gold medal. ^[7]

Although the pair were assigned to compete at the 2022 World Championships in Montpellier, their plans were disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Due to Golubeva's Russian citizenship, they were unable to have a visa processed in time to travel to France, and withdrew from the event. ^[8]

As a further result of the invasion, the International Skating Union banned all Russian and Belarusian skaters from participating in international competitions, which had a significant impact on the international pairs field. ^[9] Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore were assigned as well to the 2022 World Junior Championships, initially scheduled to be held in Sofia in March. However, due to both the invasion and COVID pandemic issues, Bulgaria renounced hosting the event, which was rescheduled for Tallinn in April. ^[10] Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore placed second in the short program. ^[8] They were second in the free skate as well, despite some minor errors, winning the silver medal. Golubeva said afterward that "this is my first medal. We have some little mistakes in the program, but overall we're very happy." ^[11] They became the third Australian pair team to win a World Junior medal, after Cain/Cain in 1976 and Alexandrovskaya/Windsor in 2017. ^[12]

2022–23 season

Although Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore were selected to compete on the Grand Prix circuit at 2022 Skate America and 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo, the pair elected to compete on the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix instead. They were assigned to both Polish JGP events in Gdańsk, arriving at the first as the favourites to win, which they did by a wide margin. The gold medal was their first JGP medal. ^[13] The following weekend they won their second event as well, despite a number of errors that caused Giotopoulos Mooere to say it "wasn't as good as last week." Their results qualified them for the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final in Torino, Italy. ^[14]

Following the Junior Grand Prix, the pair also competed at the 2022 Warsaw Cup, which they won. ^[7] At the JGP Final, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore placed second in the short program after Golubeva struggled to cleanly land the throw triple toe-loop, but the pair would go on to deliver a strong free skate and take the gold medal. After their free skate comeback, Golubeva said that they "tried to give all the strength we had to put into this program." Theirs was the second Junior Grand Prix Final title for an Australian pair, after Alexandrovskaya/Windsor. ^[15]

Although assigned to compete at the 2023 Four Continents Championships, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore withdrew from the event, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore withdrew from the event due to Golubeva being unable to obtain an American visa to compete in Colorado Springs, Colorado. ^[6] At the 2023 World Junior Championships in Calgary, Alberta, they placed second in the short program after unexpectedly missing their death spiral. The pair were able to deliver a solid free skate, however, and win the silver medal behind Americans Baram/Tioumentsev. Giotopoulos Moore called it "a huge achievement for us and we are very happy." ^[16]

Making their World Championship debut at the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Japan, the pair placed eleventh in the short program after Golubeva fell on a throw triple loop attempt but the pair would go on to deliver an almost-perfect free skate, earning a new personal best and placing fifth in that segment of the competition, moving up to eighth-place overall. Golubeva said that they had achieved their goal of a top ten placement, adding they were "so happy and thrilled" with how they had skated. ^[17]

Following the season, Golubeva/Giatopoulos Moore and their coach, Galina Pachin, relocated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, due to the suboptimal training conditions in Sydney. The pair began training at the École de Patinage Artistique Julie Marcotte Ste-Julie, the same training rink as Canadian pair team, Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps. ^{[6] [4] [18]}

2023–24 season

Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore during their free skate at the 2023 Skate Canada International

With Giotopoulos Moore aging out of junior eligibility, the team planned for its first full senior season, primarily training in Australia for Golubeva's residency purposes, but also spending time in Montreal due to the coach's belief they needed to train with other high-level pair skaters, and Russia's being difficult to train in at the time. ^[3] They were invited to participate in the Shanghai Trophy, finishing fourth. ^[7]

Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore during their short program at the 2024 World Championships

Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore made their senior Grand Prix debut at the 2023 Skate Canada International. They placed third in both segments of the competition, but finished fourth overall, less than two points behind bronze medalists Beccari/Guarise of Italy. Despite several errors in their free skate, they considered it an improvement on their earlier performances, with Golubeva saying "we are looking forward to growing this program." ^[19] At the 2023 NHK Trophy they finished third in the short program, but dropped to fourth place after the free skate. They said they considered their first Grand Prix season a valuable experience given its much greater professionalism in comparison to the Junior Grand Prix. ^[20]

Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore at 2024 Skate Canada International

For the first time in their partnership, the team was able to compete at a domestic championships, winning the Australian national title. ^[7] At the 2024 Four Continents Championships in Shanghai, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore were seventh in the short program after she fell on a jump. They rallied in the free skate, coming fourth in that segment and moving up to fourth overall. The two said that they were pleased at their ability to recover from a disappointing short program. ^[21] The team went on to compete at the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, where they came in tenth. ^[7]

2024–25 season

In early fall, Giatopoulos Moore struggled with back problems, thus the team did not get to compete until late October. ^[4] Beginning the season by competing on the 2024–25 Grand Prix series, at their first event, 2024 Skate Canada International, the pair won the bronze medal, making history as the first skaters from Australia in any discipline to win a senior Grand Prix medal. ^[22] Although the pair were also assigned to compete at the 2024 Finlandia Trophy, however, they were forced to withdraw due to Golubeva falling ill with COVID-19. ^[23]

Programs

With Golubeva

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2024–2025 [24]	Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3: Redemption Won't Stand Down by Muse choreo. by Igor Tchiniaev	The Umbrellas of Cherbourg by Michel Legrand Final performed by José Bartel & Danielle Licari The Umbrellas of Cherbourg performed by John Williams, Itzhak Perlman, & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra La gare (Guy s'en va) performed by José Bartel & Danielle Licari Générique by Michel Legrand choreo. by Jonathan Guerreiro
2023–2024 [25] [3]	Architect of the Mind by Kerry Muzzey choreo. by Jonathan Guerreiro		Another Love by Tom Odell
2022–2023 [26]		Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima Summertime performed by Ella Fitzgerald Mr. Pinstripe Suit by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy choreo. by Galina Pachin
2021–2022 [1]	Fire Dance by Jennifer Thomas choreo. by Galina Pachin

Competitive highlights

Pair skating with Anastasia Golubeva

• GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
• JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
• CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series

Competition placements at senior level  ^[27]

Season	2021–22	2022–23	2023–24	2024–25
World Championships		8th	10th
Four Continents Championships			4th
Australian Championships			1st
GP NHK Trophy			4th
GP Skate Canada			4th	3rd
CS Golden Spin of Zagreb	10th
CS Nebelhorn Trophy	8th
CS Warsaw Cup		1st
Shanghai Trophy			4th

Competition placements at junior level  ^[27]

Season	2021–22	2022–23
World Junior Championships	2nd	2nd
Junior Grand Prix Final		1st
JGP Austria	5th
JGP Poland I		1st
JGP Poland II		1st
JGP Russia	5th
Winter Star	1st

Detailed results

Pair skating with Anastasia Golubeva

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System  ^[27]

Segment	Type	Score	Event
Total	TSS	189.47	2023 World Championships
Short program	TSS	64.81	2024 Skate Canada International
	TES	35.30	2024 Skate Canada International
	PCS	29.51	2024 Skate Canada International
Free skating	TSS	127.52	2023 World Championships
	TES	68.03	2023 World Championships
	PCS	61.04	2024 Skate Canada International

• Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.

Senior level

Results in the 2021–22 season   ^[27]

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 22–25, 2021	2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy	13	49.55	8	99.80	8	149.35
Dec 7–11, 2021	2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb	13	53.41	9	110.16	10	163.57

Results in the 2022–23 season   ^[27]

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 17–20, 2022	2022 CS Warsaw Cup	2	63.62	1	121.91	1	185.53
Mar 22–26, 2023	2023 World Championships	11	61.95	5	127.52	8	189.47

Results in the 2023–24 season   ^[27]

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 3–5, 2023	2023 Shanghai Trophy	1	63.51	4	97.71	4	161.22
Oct 27–29, 2023	2023 Skate Canada International	3	62.80	3	116.81	4	179.61
Nov 24–26, 2023	2023 NHK Trophy	3	64.61	4	120.78	4	185.39
Dec 2–8, 2023	2023 Australian Championships	1	65.94	1	124.62	1	190.56
Jan 30, 2023 – Feb 4, 2024	2024 Four Continents Championships	7	58.79	4	125.04	4	183.83
Mar 18–24, 2024	2024 World Championships	11	63.35	8	119.36	10	182.71

Results in the 2024–25 season   ^[27]

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 25–27, 2024	2024 Skate Canada International	3	64.81	3	121.33	64.81

Junior level

Results in the 2021–22 season   ^{[27] [28]}

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 15–18, 2021	2021 JGP Russia	5	57.35	5	101.33	5	158.68
Oct 6–9, 2021	2021 JGP Austria	5	53.04	4	107.12	5	160.16
Feb 10–13, 2022	2022 Winter Star	1	56.22	2	98.36	1	154.58
Apr 13–17, 2023	2022 World Junior Championships	2	61.72	2	108.19	2	169.91

Results in the 2022–23 season   ^[27]

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 28 – Oct 1, 2022	2022 JGP Poland I	1	58.03	1	108.53	1	166.56
Oct 5–8, 2022	2022 JGP Poland II	1	59.90	1	101.27	1	161.17
Dec 8–11, 2022	2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final	2	60.19	1	121.18	1	181.37
Feb 27 – Mar 5, 2023	2023 World Junior Championships	3	59.18	2	111.18	2	170.36

References

1. "Anastasia GOLUBEVA / Hektor GIOTOPOULOS MOORE: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
2. Economou, Alex. "Hektor Giotopopoulos Moore overcomes exile, COVID, bureaucratic tangles to shine on world stage". Neos Kosmos. Neos Kosmos. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
3. Flade, Tatjana (26 June 2023). "Bright future ahead for Australia's Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore". Golden Skate. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
4. Cloutier, Claire. "Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore: "We're trying to mature our skating"". A Divine Sport. A Divine Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
5. "Juniors end long and exciting Figure Skating season on a high note in Tallinn (EST)". International Skating Union. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
6. ""When Hector lifted me for the first time, I thought: "Wow!" It made me want to try pair skating." Interview with Australian pair skater Anastasia Golubeva". FS Gossips. FS Gossips. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
7. "Competition Results: Anastasia GOLUBEVA / Hektor GIOTOPOULOS MOORE". International Skating Union.
8. Slater, Paula (14 April 2022). "Safina and Berulava stand out in Tallinn". Golden Skate. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
9. "ISU Statement on the Ukrainian crisis – Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus". International Skating Union. 1 March 2022.
10. "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2022 allotted to Tallinn (EST)". International Skating Union. 4 March 2022.
11. Slater, Paula (15 April 2022). "Safina and Berulava take first Junior World gold for Georgian Pairs". Golden Skate. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
12. "Safina/Berulava score historic Junior Pairs title for Georgia". International Skating Union. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
13. "Shimada (JPN) scores second Junior Grand Prix victory". International Skating Union. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
14. "More Skaters secure spots for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final". International Skating Union. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
15. "Favorites Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore fight back in Free Skating to win Australia's second Junior Grand Prix Final title". International Skating Union. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
16. "Baram/Tioumentsev take first Junior Pairs gold for USA in 10 years". International Skating Union. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
17. Slater, Paula (23 March 2023). "Miura and Kihara grand-slam their way into history". Golden Skate. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
18. "Good Luck!". Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
19. Slater, Paula (29 October 2023). "Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps dominate pairs at Skate Canada". Golden Skate. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
20. Slater, Paula (25 November 2023). "Hase and Volodin dominate pairs at NHK Trophy in debut season". Golden Skate. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
21. Slater, Paula (3 February 2024). "Stellato-Dudek claims Four Continents title". Golden Skate. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
22. Woods, Melissa. "Australian ice skaters collect first Grand Prix medal". North West Star. North West Star. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
23. "🇦🇺 Anastasia Golubeva / Hektor Giotopoulos Moore have withdrawn from Finlandia Trophy due to Golubeva suffering with poor health after falling ill with COVID". X. A. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
24. "Anastasia GOLUBEVA / Hektor GIOTOPOULOS MOORE: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
25. "Anastasia GOLUBEVA / Hektor GIOTOPOULOS MOORE: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
26. "Anastasia GOLUBEVA / Hektor GIOTOPOULOS MOORE: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
27. "Anastasia Golubeva & Hektor Giotopoulos Moore". SkatingScores.com.
28. "Winter Star 2022 - Junior - Pairs". figure.skating.by. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

External links

• Anastasia Golubeva & Hektor Giotopoulos Moore at the International Skating Union
• Anastasia Golubeva & Hektor Giotopoulos Moore at SkatingScores.com