While Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin are marking just two years into their ice dance partnership, the 15- and 18-year-olds have been turning plenty of heads in this relatively small window of time.

Their latest achievement, winning the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, Japan, last week.

"It's a huge deal to us," Aboian said. "We wanted to be at the Junior Grand Prix Final last year, so it's incredible that we were able to be here and achieve such a big dream this season; it's such an incredible feeling. With this win, I think it gives us confidence moving into the following competitions."

The duo, however, isn't fixated on results and it's that approach that has helped them emerge as one of the top junior teams in the world: undefeated this season in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series and reigning U.S. junior champions.

"It feels great," Aboian said. "We've been putting in a lot of work and time into training to make sure that we're doing the competitions the way we do them in practice, rather than trying to over-exceed or push it too far. The number one goal this season isn't to win everything, but to create performances that are meaningful."

"We put all our hard work on the ice to show people our creations," Veselukhin added. "It's more like artwork rather than just skating or doing exercises on the ice."

That mindset has not only shaped their successful season but also driven their development as a team.

Aboian and Veselukhin started working together following a three-week tryout after Veselukhin's mother reached out to Aboian's family.

From the beginning, it was clear they didn't click because they were similar skaters, but because they understood and trusted each other through every element. Aboian and Veselukhin weren't the only ones who noticed their rapid progress, either. 

"Hana and Daniil are improving on a daily basis," their coach, Melissa Gregory, said. "They work hard and are consistent with their training. We're excited to see how their future progresses."

Gregory and her former partner/husband, Denis Petukhov, oversee Aboian and Veselukhin's training in Newington, Connecticut. The junior pair skate six days a week, with off-ice training regularly throughout the week. Aboian is a sophomore at Stanford Online High School while Veselukhin is focusing on skating with plans to pursue college later.

Their regimen has led to consistency and a balanced environment, and their shared mindset is shaping their goals for the rest of the season.

The Junior Grand Prix Final was their first major competition in a large international arena, held alongside the Grand Prix Final. 

"It was our first time in Japan," Veseluhin said. "The people were great and the arena felt free. [This experience] gave us more positive energy, more strength and confidence in ourselves that we can do it."

 "It was good practice for when we move to senior, to learn how to repeat our performances in a bigger arena."

Gregory noted that they have also increased the difficulty levels and are adding new styles to boost versatility. 

"They are evolving in their bodies and capabilities, gaining strength and learning new skills," she said.

The added versatility and increased difficulty are evident in Aboian and Veselukhin's programs this season. Their free dance narrates the story of Nike, the goddess of victory, and was inspired by a real-world inspiration during a break after last year's Junior Grand Prix in Turkey. Petukhov saw a sculpture of the goddess in Antalya, and it sparked a concept that came to fruition well before last season even ended.

"By the time Junior Worlds last year came around, we had a pretty solid idea," Aboian said. "All that was left was the choreography."

Veselukhin added that he hopes the audience and judges see the raw emotion beyond the narrative.

"Some people might see their lives through the story," he said. "Their battles in life and at the end, a huge victory. How by creating small things, we create something bigger for ourselves and our family."

Their rhythm dance marks a complete 180 from portraying the goddess of victory and explores Vogue and Madonna's concept of stylized dance battles.

While Vogue is already present on the senior circuit with France's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron tackling the theme, it remains a novel idea in ice dance, and a new style Aboian and Veselukhin were eager to try. They even collaborated with Vogue dancers from Madonna's 2012 Super Bowl performance to develop the program. 

"Vogue is its own dance genre," Aboian explained. "It hasn't been done much before, and we wanted to take our own concept and put a spin to it."
Looking ahead, Aboian and Veselukhin are not focused on a number or title to define success at the end of the season. Aboian said that the true measure is whether they "close the gap from practice to competition." 

"The long-term goal is to do well in seniors," Aboian said. "A lot of teams do well in juniors but don't progress well to senior. Success would be consistently clean skates that are not just to fulfill the job, but to captivate the audience and be able to bring that skill to seniors so that we can eventually compete at the Olympics."

"Satisfaction for me is to see what we've done so far and what places we want to improve," Veselukhin added. "The success is also about whether our family is really proud of us and our results bring them joy."