MALACAÑAN, Manila — Under Republic Act 12115 that was signed by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. last December 20 the current year, Russian figure skater Aleksandr Sergeyevich Korovin acquired naturalization to become a Filipino citizen.

According to the President, the decision to naturalize Korovin as Filipino is part of the country's preparation for its participation in the Winter Olympics scheduled two years from now in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy from February 6 to 22, 2026.

"Aleksandr Sergeyevich Korovin is hereby granted Philippine citizenship with all the rights, privileges, and prerogatives, as well as the duties and obligations appurtenant thereto under the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of the Philippines," part of RA 12115 stated.

It requires the 30-year-old skater to take the oath of allegiance to the Republic before a duly authorized officer.

As a background, Korovin has won a Grand Prix medal and a silver from the 2018 Skate America tournament as well as golds at the 2018 Challenger Series Nebelhorn Trophy and the 2018 Challenger Series Golden Spin of Zagreb in Croatia.

In 2021, Korovin sought his release from the Figure Skating Federation of Russia due to personal reasons. Since then, he has been representing the Philippines in various international meets with Isabella Gamez under the Philippine Skating Union (PSU).

Just last October, Korovin at Gamez bagged a silver at the Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur in Nice, France, the first medal ever won for the Philippines in pairs skating at an international competition.