Nikolayev finished the 3000 metres in second overall at the 2011 European Team Championships Super League. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Nikolayev qualified for the semifinal round of the men's 1500 metres, where he recorded a personal best time of 3:37.28. On January 8, 2014, he ran 7:51.96 in the indoor 3000 meters at the 23rd Yamalov Memorial indoor track meet in Yekaterinburg.