In only their second season together, senior ice dancers Molly Cesanek and Yehor Yehorov have mastered the art of syncing their step sequences and completing one another's sentences.
But the inseparable pair, who met for the first time in April 2018, can't remember the circumstances that brought them together.
"To this day we don't know how we found each other, how we connected, who found us," Yehorov, 21, said. "It's kind of —"
"An extraordinary blessing," Cesanek, 19, finished.
Whether by fate or fortune, Yehorov, who is from Ukraine, was called to a tryout in Spain while Cesanek was visiting on a school field trip. At first, it didn't seem like the two had much in common. They spoke different languages and Cesanek remembers being intimidated by Yehorov's power on the ice. Both, however, had been looking for new partners, and it didn't take long for them to start blending their movements.
"We had to mesh together like every new team does, but it was remarkable how we almost immediately felt in unison," Cesanek said. "To think two skaters from different parts of the world can match each other's skating techniques is quite wild."
Since then, the 2020 U.S. junior pewter medalists started training in Virginia and built a partnership on mutual respect and admiration. They relish their time spent together in lessons, coaching Learn to Skate and watching YouTube videos for choreography inspiration. In their downtime, Cesanek tutors Yehorov in English, revealing their dedication to fluid communication on and off the ice.
"I can't describe how grateful I am for Molly," Yehorov said. "Her patience, work ethic and creativity is how we got to where we are."
"His artistry is limitless," Cesanek added, praising her partner. "Sometimes, when we're working out ideas on the ice, I just stand in awe at what he creates. His mind and his drive really sets him apart."
Cesanak and Yehorov credit their success as a duo specifically to their daily dedication to meticulously evolving their choreography. For instance, while the pair is competing to the same free dance music as last season, they said they changed and "rebuilt the whole program."
"We just kept thinking of how we could challenge ourselves more and make different movements stronger," Cesanek said. "We were inspired by our own thoughts and weaknesses from last season."
Yehorov said now, because they feel so connected to their programs, it feels like time stops when they skate together.
"A lot of the work in our programs we created by ourselves, and we collaborate with each other for everything — the lifts, the transitions," Yehorov said, noting their coaches also played a major role in revising their free dance. "We're so thankful to [our coaches] because they respect our creativity, our ideas, our opinions. This way, it feels like we show all our abilities."
Although the 2020 season is their first year at the senior level, Cesanek and Yehorov's steadfastness undoubtedly led them to qualify for this year's 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America. Cesanek even filmed and posted their teary reactions to their first Grand Prix assignment on Instagram.
In Las Vegas the pair felt overwhelmed with gratitude — not only because of their impressive fifth place finish, but because their skating heroes had suddenly become their peers.
"Just to be selected was a huge honor for us, but it was also an amazing opportunity to meet all of our role models in one place," Yehorov said. "We became friends with all of them."
Cesanek added that even with precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Orleans Arena, the experience felt like a week come true.
"The week was probably the best week of our lives," she said, noting the adjusted competition ran smoothly. "Someone asked us if we were sad this was our first Grand Prix experience and we just looked at each other like, 'Are you kidding?'"
Both athletes are steadfast on achieving their goals, but they prioritize their love for the sport and respect for one another over competition score.
"Everyone, of course, has huge, big goals, most of which are just to be consistent," Yehorov said. "We just want to show our best and bring enjoyment to the audience. The judges will decide on the day, but we just need to do our job and show the work we enjoy doing every day."
Their dreams still translate to tangible goals. They are optimistic for the seasons ahead and have their sights set on representing the U.S. in the Olympic Winter Games Milan 2026.
"During competition, we really do get lost in our dances and strive to feel that enjoyment from beginning to end," Cesanek said. "That is, I think, a very big goal for us because ultimately if we enjoy it, then it doesn't matter what's decided afterward."
Off the ice, Cesanek is studying health promotion at American University, while Yehorov is in his final year at the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine. Both want to graduate and eventually coach together — but they're in no rush. For now, the duo is simply enjoying their time building their skating career turn by turn, twizzle by twizzle.
