Alina Zagitova

[johnlawyer999]

I also think she was drained of emotion. Like there was literally nothing left to give.

In addition to growing, getting sick, and whatever else, there is really no way to practice how you feel after winning everything for an entire season that is also your debut senior season. Beating your idol, training mate and friend at Euros. Then winning not one but two medals at the Olympics, winning Russia's first gold and becoming Olympic champion. Then becoming and instant hero/star/celebrity at home and internationally.

When it was time to do it all again for WCs, something just said - nope.

I see there will be a big huddle to jump to keep the momentum of being on top of the world. Her life is turned around 180 after winning the Olympics. Her popularity, media exposure, defeating her team mate can all negatively affect her concentration, hence, her performance. Japan media involvement does bring her some financial reward, however, care must be taken not to be over as it can be a big distraction for her training.

 

[EdRoz]

https://m.vk.com/wall-135065776_24407

Former Russian national football team player, senior coach of the Russian youth team Alexander Kerzhakov considers the most beautiful sportswoman 15-year-old figure skater Alina Zagitova.

 

[lusk8]

I hear you
I did watch again when NBC had its broadcast on 4/8 and despite all the problems she had I thought she still showed a lot of "fight"

A) Even after falling on the back end of the 3 lutz - 3 loop she still attempted the 2 axel - 3 toe (resulting in fall #2)
B) She then completed (although with some problems) her three jump combo
C) At a point where most skaters would have been too emotionally deflated she then attempted the 3 lutz - 3 loop again (resulting in fall #3)
D) Now after 3 falls she then completed (again probably with problems) the 3 sal, 3 flip, and finally the 2 axel.
E) I can't recall everything - but I don't think she missed any of the spins or spirals that were planned and I think her final pose ended right on the music.

I think that kind of "fighting spirit" is commendable and she could truly be destined for greatness.

Remember too - that she actually attempted 8 triple jumps in that program in spite of all that must have been going through her mind!

Thank you so much for your great technical analysis.

She was such a trooper during that program and managed to land several jumps and kept pushing through with bravery. As you mentioned she never missed a spin or step, those were perfection as always.

I remember when she did jump right after a fall (3S if I’m not mistaken), the Canadian commentator I was listening too said this “triple salchow out of nowhere just to show the judges what she’s really capable of” that’s when I started crying really hard. I was so sad for her, she is a winner and has the best marriage of technique and ability. She didn’t deserve for that to happen.

 

[madison]

Thank you so much for your great technical analysis.

She was such a trooper during that program and managed to land several jumps and kept pushing through with bravery. As you mentioned she never missed a spin or step, those were perfection as always.

I remember when she did jump right after a fall (3S if I’m not mistaken), the Canadian commentator I was listening too said this “triple salchow out of nowhere just to show the judges what she’s really capable of” that’s when I started crying really hard. I was so sad for her, she is a winner and has the best marriage of technique and ability. She didn’t deserve for that to happen.

It means you didn't follow the short program at IdF...It was even worse in terms of emotions (for fans, I mean), cause she was really a beginner in seniors and at real risk to miss the final.
On a side note, I think the Universe knows better what we deserve or not. For me, in symbolic terms, her win at Olympics was a challenge (cause probably she wasn't ready for this win, it came mostly as a surprise) and what happened at Worlds suggested that something went wrong in the way she took the challenge.

 

[russianfan]

She will adapt to her growth spurt well imo cuz she diets like crazy haha she will still be light and skinny for jumps.

Also maybe her growth spurt lead to her mistakes in 2018 worlds.

There is an interview with Polina Tsurskaya, she said after Olympics both Zhenya and Alina were emotionally devastated and it took about a month to come back to their usual selves.
And despite all that, despite immense pressure, busy schedule, flu, Alina continued to fight, to train, and she managed to keep 3 spots for Russia despite a bad performance.

 

[russianfan]

Hockey players are often some of the kindest athletes.

Also, as a Canadian, I feel obligated to chirp you that we would've got gold if the NHL took a break in the season.

you never know what's going to happen
hockey sometimes can be very unpredictable

 

[madison]

There is an interview with Polina Tsurskaya, she said after Olympics both Zhenya and Alina were emotionally devastated and it took about a month to come back to their usual selves.
And despite all that, despite immense pressure, busy schedule, flu, Alina continued to fight, to train, and she managed to keep 3 spots for Russia despite a bad performance.

She actually said this ( with google translate):
The Olympic Games are a huge stress, even if you win Olympic medals. I saw Alina (Zagitova - note) and Zhenya (Medvedev - note) after their return. They were squeezed out, devastated. Zhenya, who is always cheerful, sociable, is always ready to listen with enthusiasm, give advice - was completely different. And only a month later, Zhenya became the same.

It was hard for Aline. I saw how she prepared for the World Cup. Day after day in training, fight with yourself. The Olympics is, of course, a holiday. But for an athlete - this is a difficult test.

 

[tars]

Best Russian football scorer in history, Aleksandr Kerzhakov considers Alina the most beautiful girl in the world.
https://youtu.be/18YVgp39CBA?t=755

 

[madison]

Best Russian football scorer in history, Aleksandr Kerzhakov considers Alina the most beautiful girl in the world.
https://youtu.be/18YVgp39CBA?t=755

De gustibus non disputandum est.

 

[lusk8]

It means you didn't follow the short program at IdF...It was even worse in terms of emotions (for fans, I mean), cause she was really a beginner in seniors and at real risk to miss the final.

Yup I did follow her for that, the reason it was comparably sad to me (and this is me personnaly) was because she won that and was able to turn it around right then and there using her FS score. She was super sad when she left the ice on her SP at IdF but nowhere near the sadness she displayed at the WC. Guess the fact that the WC was the last piece of business of the past season helped to make it even sadder for me.

Having said all of the above I appreciate your point of view and can understand what you said completely. Figure Skating is a tough mental game too and how you are on a particular day (or event) can impact your performance, as we've seen with plenty of really great skaters at the Olympics. In the end of the day the score on the board on that particular date will dictate your faith, not how well you dealt with everything that came before.

 

[lusk8]

And here's some video from the LG Ice Fantasia rehearsal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc_pmeoYuNU - man, the insane shuttering of the cameras, talk about press coverage.

Also, on related news, Misha Ge posted a partial picture of the call sheet of the event on his instagram stories and I could see that Alina has two solo moments at the show (one second to last on the first act and the other one on forth to last place during the second act), lots of other skaters have two solo moments (Zhenya, Gaby, Vincent, Plushenko, Boyang to name a few), I'm excited to see what her other number will be about. Looks like they have 3 or 4 group numbers (opening, second act opening, finale and closing).

 

[Scott512]

Hockey players are often some of the kindest athletes.

Also, as a Canadian, I feel obligated to chirp you that we would've got gold if the NHL took a break in the season.

The NHL not going to the Olympics was so dumb. Supposedly they didn't go because of the distance and travel involved so that probably rules Beijing out in 2022. smh.

The best athletes as people without question are hockey players. so if Alina ends up dating or married to a hockey player someday Don't Panic people it will be okay.

Being that there's discussion about what is Alina's height right now my guess is between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 ft 3 in tall and possibly still growing because she's only 15.

 

[j00mla]

del

 

[and]

And here's some video from the LG Ice Fantasia rehearsal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc_pmeoYuNU - man, the insane shuttering of the cameras, talk about press coverage.

Alina looks so confused in the beginning, I think she's trying to figure out what they're talking about but the language barrier means it takes some time for her brain to process

 

[madison]

Alina looks so confused in the beginning, I think she's trying to figure out what they're talking about but the language barrier is making it difficult

Does she speak any English now? She was exposed to English during competitions and press conferences...

 

[and]

Does she speak any English now? She was exposed to English during competitions and press conferences...

I imagine she must have picked up a little by now

 

[lusk8]

Alina looks so confused in the beginning, I think she's trying to figure out what they're talking about but the language barrier means it takes some time for her brain to process

Since Misha Ge can speak Russian, Mandarin and English if he has something really vital to say that he feels people aren't getting I'm sure he'll turn his United Nations skills on.

Hey, for non-English speakers, in our modern world where English is established as the go to language when there's need for a second one at any event, going all Penguins of Madagascar ("just smile and wave") is probably second nature.

 

[flanker]

Does she speak any English now? She was exposed to English during competitions and press conferences...

She probably has some ability to speak and understand basic phases and so on (as it can be heard on some of her videos), but not enough to understand more complex speech. It seems that at one moment Zhenya is translating for her.

 

[thedude]

you never know what's going to happen
hockey sometimes can be very unpredictable

... sometimes miracles even happen

 

[esteticlove]

Well, she's still young and as I understood she has to pass an important exam at school soon. Maybe she'll focus first on that (despite on training ) and later will take up a foreign language. It's up to her, it depends on her willingness to invest some energy on another extra thing, which in her situation is not an easy task to do. But still, remember her hugging Tessa Virtue at the Olympics? For happiness there's an universal language that we all understand :luv17: