Early in his career, Stifunin competed with Nina Ulanova, coached by Andrei Filippov.

[1] The duo placed fifth at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Brisbane, Australia.

In the 1996–97 season, they won gold at the 1997 World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea.

[2] After the event, Filippov moved to Australia and Ulanova/Stifunin joined Alla Belyaeva.

Representing France, they skated together for three seasons and won the silver medal at the 2000 Nebelhorn Trophy.