Klimkin was the first skater to land two different quadruple jumps (Salchow and toeloop) in one program (at the 1999 Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany). He started to skate because his grandmother took him to the rink. He didn't like skating too much and wanted to play soccer, but eventually he found out that skating is "his sport". Klimkin spins in two directions and includes original elements such as a cantilever in his programs. Klimkin's long time coach Igor Ruskaov died suddenly in July 2003. Klimkin underwent surgery on the achilles tendon in fall 2004 and was off the ice for four months and it took another three months before he was able to practice jumps.