Alina Zagitova
Yohei Osada/Global Look PressA native of Izhevsk, 790 miles east of Moscow, Alina Zagitova took the gold medal at the Russian National Figure Skating Championships on 23 Dec. The teenager, wearing a red outfit, confidently continued a splendid debut season in the senior ranks: she performed a free skate, landed seven triple jumps and won the Grand Prix Final in Japan a few weeks ago.
The Olympic figure skating favorite Yevgenia Medvedeva missed this Russian Championship due to a foot injury. Zagitova took first place in teammate Medvedeva’s absence. Despite that, her program was almost excellent – she made no major mistakes.
Her dad is the trainer of Russian ice hockey team Izhstal. As Zagitova says (the article is in Russian), she doesn't have too many friends: “Only in figure skating, there are people who I see constantly. But this is
Alina Zagitova
Kenjiro Matsuo/Global Look Press“I look only at myself”, she said, and “actually has never
Overall, Zagitova is a normal teenager: for
Alina Zagitova
ReutersAfter the Grand
Now you will see her at the Winter Olympics in South Korea but under a neutral flag (after Russia was banned by the International Olympic Committee). “Unfortunately, it [the ban] happened”, Zagitova said. “Everyone knows which country he represents, and I know which country I will represent”.
Alina Zagitova
Alexander Vilf/SputnikAlina Zagitova and Yevgenia Medvedeva
Alina ZagitovaAlina Zagitova
Alina ZagitovaAlina Zagitova
ReutersAlina Zagitova
Alina ZagitovaAlina Zagitova
Yohei Osada/Global Look PressAlina Zagitova
Enrico Calderoni/Global Look PressAlina Zagitova after the Grand Prix Final
Alina ZagitovaAlina Zagitova
Enrico Calderoni/Global Look PressIf you are interested, you can also read about a two-time World champion Evgenia Medvedeva.
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