Elena Ilinykh was born in Aktau (Shevchenko), Kazakhstan and raised in Moscow, Russia.

[10] On August 25, 2024 Ilinykh married ballet dancer Sergei Polunin after 5 years since the announcement of their engagement.

[11] As a child, Ilinykh trained in single skating, under Natalia Dubinskaya, until her mother decided she should try ice dancing.

[12] In 2005, Ilinykh/Katsalapov attended a training camp under Alexander Zhulin — who was preparing Tatiana Navka / Roman Kostomarov for their Olympic gold medal-winning season — but split soon after.

[12] She left Russia and trained in Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband's group in Canton, Michigan for two years without a partner.

[6] Ilinykh/Katsalapov rejoined Zhulin and began competing together in the 2008–09 season, placing fourth at the Russian Junior Championships.

They were named Discovery of the Year at the 2010 Crystal Ice Awards held in October 2010 in Moscow.

[22] For the 2011–12 Grand Prix season, Ilinykh/Katsalapov were assigned to 2011 NHK Trophy and 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard.

Ilinykh fell ill before the free dance due to food poisoning but went on to compete.

They qualified for the 2012 Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia, and finished sixth at the event.

At the 2013 Russian Championships, Ilinykh/Katsalapov won the silver medal behind defending national champions Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev.

At their next event, the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard, they scored personal bests in both segments, finishing with an overall score of 171.89 points and winning the silver medal ahead of French ice dancers Nathalie Pechalat / Fabian Bourzat.

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Ilinykh/Katsalapov were assigned to the free dance in the inaugural team event.

Ilinykh/Katsalapov then won the bronze medal in the individual ice dancing event behind champions Meryl Davis / Charlie White and silver medalists Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir.

At 19 years of age, Ilinykh is second youngest Olympic ice dance medalist in history after Marina Klimova.

[28] Soon after, in early April 2014, Ilinykh accepted an invitation from Ruslan Zhiganshin's coaches to try out with their student.

[29][30] Coached by Elena Kustarova in Moscow, Ilinykh/Zhiganshin began training together in an unofficial partnership — the Russian federation having decided to give Ilinykh/Katsalapov time to reconcile — and received approval at the end of May.

They won the bronze at Cup of China behind Italians Anna Cappellini / Luca Lanotte and Americans Madison Chock / Evan Bates.