Reigning European champion Niina Petrõkina is returning to international competition after taking the first half of the 2025/26 season away recovering from injuries. Niina is the first Estonian skater to win a European title, and the first Estonian woman to medal on the senior Grand Prix. Get to know this trailblazer in the latest installment of our A to Z series.
Most Used App?
Instagram, Spotify.
Bedtime?
I try to go to bed at 22:00 , but usually get it at 23:00.
Comfort food?
Pasta
Comfort movie?
“Кухня” (Kitchen)
Favorite Competition memory?
European Championships 2025
Your last Dream or any recurring Dreams?
My last dream and a dream that usually reoccurs before competition consists of me being late to the competition and the feeling of not being able to control my body. This dream/nightmare is one of my biggest fears as I’m not able to control my movements.
Embarrassing moment you can laugh at now?
My embarrassing moment was when I fell in my free program at Europeans on basic transitional steps.
Favorite Food from your country?
My favorite Estonian food is “kohuke”, it is a kind of cheesecake snack.
Favorite Genre of music?
In general, I like all kinds of music, but I mostly listen to pop. Some of my favorite artists are Rihanna, Sia, and Adele.
Holiday memory?
At the end of last season, I went to Greece, to the island of Corfu. One day that really stayed in my memory was when I visited Paxos and Antipaxos. It was the first time in my life that I snorkeled in clear, turquoise water, and it felt like I fulfilled a small dream of mine.
Can you play an Instrument?
I grew up playing the piano. I cannot play now, it’s like a definite no, but I did grow up playing the piano and taking lessons.
Biggest Icon?
My Icon always and forever is Aljona Savchenko.
Dream Job as a child?
When I was a child, my dream job was to become a kindergarten teacher or a coach, haha.
Karaoke song?
Stay, by Rihanna
Language you’d like to learn/speak?
I would really love to learn French. It sounds very beautiful, and I’ve always been fascinated by it.
Movie-night favorite?
I can’t name one specific movie, but I enjoy romantic or detective films.
Do you have any Nick-names?
I don’t really have any nicknames, but lately people have been calling me ‘Unstoppable’.
Favorite Outfit?
My favorite outfits are, of course, beautiful dresses or stylish suits, but I also love comfortable wide-leg pants and warm hoodies.
Do you have any Pets?
I have a corgi dog, but my dream animal is a small monkey. If we’re talking about a realistic one, then a toy poodle.
Quality you value in other people?
What I value most in people is reliability and openness.
Reason to smile?
A reason to smile is when the sun is shining in Estonia (which, unfortunately, doesn’t happen very often).
Favorite Smell
My favorite smells are the freshness after rain or the scent of freshly baked goods.
Skating performance you wish you could have seen live?
I would have loved to see Yuzuru Hanyu’s programs at the Olympics live.
Training Day Essentials?
The essentials for a training day are, of course, skates, sportswear, and a phone with music.
Who or what do you think is Underrated?
Coaches who care about the person, not just results.
Dream Vacation destination?
My dream vacation destination is the Thailand lantern festival.
Your Whereabouts on a day off?
Most of the time I just relax at home and tidy up. Sometimes I go to the horses and help my mom take care of them. And occasionally I like going to the spa when I feel my body needs it.
An eXperience that changed you?
An experience that changed my life and my perspective was when I had a serious illness. It was unclear whether I would be able to continue doing sports at all, as it was a matter of life.
A Year that you would like to visit if you had a time machine?
3000, because I’m very curious about what the world has in store for the future.
What is your Zodiac sign (and your big 3), and do you believe in the zodiac?
Leo, sometimes.
Read our previous A-Z interviews:
A to Z with Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel
A to Z with Loïcia Demougeot and Théo Le Mercier
A to Z with Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps
A to Z with Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez
A to Z with Yuka Orihara and Juho Pirinen
A to Z with Júlia Sylvía Gunnarsdottir and Manuel Piazza
