Elizabeth Tkachenko


Elizabeth Tkachenko is a retired Israeli–American ice dancer. With her skating partner, Alexei Kiliakov, she is the 2024 [World Junior Figure Skating Championships|2024 World Junior] silver medalist and two-time Israeli national champion.
At the junior level, Tkachenko/Kiliakov are the ISU [Junior Grand Prix in Japan|2023 JGP Japan] silver medalists.

Personal life

Tkachenko was born on February 21, 2006, in Rockville, Maryland to parents Valery and Oxana who are both from Ukraine. She has a brother, Alexander.
Tkachenko and her skating partner, Alexei Kiliakov, have known each other since they were toddlers. "We understand each other extremely well," said Tkachenko. "If one of us is tired or in a mood, the other knows how to respond and be supportive. There are no secrets. After so many years, we’ve also grown to physically anticipate each other’s movements. Skating together now feels as natural and satisfying as walking."

Career

Early years

Tkachenko began learning how to skate at age three in public sessions. She was later invited to join the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy, founded by her current coaches, former Russian ice dancers Alexei Kiliakov and Elena Novak, and her brother. Tkachenko teamed up with her current skating partner, Alexei Kiliakov Jr., in 2011.
They decided to switch to competing for Israel prior to the 2021-22 season. “Representing Israel brings more responsibility in a way, because when you receive an opportunity for more international events, you need to be ready as an athlete to show good results.”

2023–24 season

The team had a successful season in their final year competing in the junior ranks. They medaled at both of their individual Junior Grand Prix events and qualified for the 2023–24 [Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|2023-24 Junior Grand Prix Final] where they won silver. “We are so happy that our hard work paid off,” said Kiliakov after the free dance. “We did a lot to improve this season. This music is from a contemporary ballet by Christopher Dean about political depression in South America. The music is very beautiful, and we watched the ballet a few times. The costume in the original play is body paint and of course we couldn’t do that, but we tried to get as close to the original as possible.”
Kiliakov and Tkachenko went on to win the silver at the 2024 World Junior Figure Skating Championships and in doing so, became the first Israeli team to win a medal at this event. “It feels great to have won a medal,” said Kiliakov. “This free dance was definitely something special, but it showed us what we are capable of and motivates us to create something new.”