Alina Zagitova | Page 952 | Golden Skate

Alina Zagitova

Finley said:
Not to dig it all back up again, but I have been watching the Olympics for a long time. Summer and Winter. The reaction to Alina's Gold was the weirdest thing I've ever seen. It was just awkward. I actually thought I had to be imagining it because it just did not make sense. Then I thought that the people around her were 'protecting' her from 'too much attention' because of how stressful it turned out to be for Yulia. Then I thought maybe Alina was just an introvert who didn't want any attention!

Finally Japan came along and saved the day! Turned out Alina does like a reasonable amount of (respectful) attention! And apparently her family didn't want to lock her away from sight. Japan shined a beautiful spotlight on her, gave her the love she deserved, and finally Russia got with the program!

That's all water under the bridge now, and I am convinced Japan would steal her from Russia if they could! I am also convinced that Russia truly appreciates her. Especially after worlds! It felt like that was the moment that everything changed. A year long journey to fully own her Olympic victory!

Alina's journey was really unique and special; because of how long it took Russia to really acknowledge her as a true champion. The silver (gold) lining to this, is that she wasn't over exposed from the beginning. It's easy for people to get sick of you if you are shoved down their throats. Alina's popularity grew slowly and genuinely. I think she may have won more fans by being 'overlooked' than if she had been 'the chosen ones'. Her fans certainly couldn't be any more passionate about protecting her.

Whatever this season brings, I feel in my heart that Alina is in a good place. As a fan I won't ask for more. Just health. Everything else she can fix herself.
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so well explained. It was so weird in the beginning because most of us could tell that coach Eteri was trying to keep Zhenya in the fold by putting her on as high or higher pedestal than Alina was as Olympic champion. I had never seen that before. Zhenya came to all the interviews and the coach even told people at one point not to call Alina Olympic champion. Lol what BS. Eteri knew Zhenya was p*ssed at not winning the Olympic gold and she desperately wanted to keep her two great skaters together for years to come. I get that. But it was not to be. Alina has gradually gotten more comfortable in the spotlight and being a star and making money and being in demand. She has really blossomed in so many ways the last couple of years.

Good Vibes Only said:
I am so glad that Alina can finally enjoy her skating without having astronomical amounts of pressure on her. I can not even imagine how stressful the olympics and this last worlds was for her. She has such a strong character and is truely remarkable. I also think that she has matured so much through these past two years. Our little ballarina is all grown up:cry:
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The stress is certainly less but I expect her to give her traditional 100% effort and be focused 100% as well. We all I am sure still expect excellent performances and high scores this season from Alina There is no reason to not expect that. But whatever happens I hope she's smiling and enjoying herself she has earned everything.
 
Scott512 said:
so well explained. It was so weird in the beginning because most of us could tell that coach Eteri was trying to keep Zhenya in the fold by putting her on as high or higher pedestal than Alina was as Olympic champion. I had never seen that before. Zhenya came to all the interviews and the coach even told people at one point not to call Alina Olympic champion. Lol what BS. Eteri knew Zhenya was p*ssed at not winning the Olympic gold and she desperately wanted to keep her two great skaters together for years to come. I get that. But it was not to be. Alina has gradually gotten more comfortable in the spotlight and being a star and making money and being in demand. She has really blossomed in so many ways the last couple of years.


The stress is certainly less but I expect her to give her traditional 100% effort and be focused 100% as well. We all I am sure still expect excellent performances and high scores this season from Alina There is no reason to not expect that. But whatever happens I hope she's smiling and enjoying herself she has earned everything.
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Looking back I think everyone was just trying to make the best of an uncomfortable situation. No one knew exactly what to say so they either said nothing or said something awkward. I don't believe anyone wished Alina ill, they were just clueless. I'll even give TAT the benefit of the doubt. She was in the awkward/clueless category sitting next to Trankov.

Eteri had to be going through hell at that time. Her mother was dying. Two of her skaters left her under uncomfortable circumstances. She was being judged in the court of public opinion. The media was having a field day! Alina crashed and burned at Worlds in Milan and then came back from vacation with an entirely new body and no jumps!

Time (and Alina) put everything in its place eventually. (With a lot of help from Japan!) And Worlds finally set it in stone.

One of the reasons I want Alina to go to Beijing and win is so that she can have the experience she should have had all along. Complete with flag and anthem.

I wouldn't trade her journey for anything. It was more special because it wasn't the usual route. From hindsight its easy to see how it made her Worlds victory so epic. But man it was weird in the beginning. I still remember that commercial she did for Sperbank. It was clever and she was gorgeous in that green dress. I think it aired on YouTube for a little while and then they pulled it like it had never existed. She even deleted anything in her IG related to it. That felt strange. I still don't get that. I know commercials don't run forever but it felt like it was being erased.

Then her DQ image was painted on the side of an airplane but she still hadn't made an appearance on Russian TV. Meanwhile she had been on 3 or 4 Japanese shows being treated like a star.

But all's well that ends well to end up where we are. I know this isn't the end for her. Just another chapter she has to start writing. Waiting patiently to see where she takes us. :)
 
Finley said:
...Just another chapter she has to start writing. Waiting patiently to see where she takes us. :)
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Well, judging by the OMFG level of the programmes that we were introduced to in the prologue at the Test Skates, the coming chapters are going to be thrilling :biggrin:
 
JazzUp said:
Well, judging by the OMFG level of the programmes that we were introduced to in the prologue at the Test Skates, the coming chapters are going to be thrilling :biggrin:
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I cannot wait! I was so happy to see her perform like that in the Test Skates. I hope the Japan Open is a positive experience for her and all of us.

Seeing her looking absolutely stunning in the Sleeping Beauty avatar makes so curious about her look for Cleopatra!
 
Finley said:
Looking back I think everyone was just trying to make the best of an uncomfortable situation. No one knew exactly what to say so they either said nothing or said something awkward. I don't believe anyone wished Alina ill, they were just clueless. I'll even give TAT the benefit of the doubt. She was in the awkward/clueless category sitting next to Trankov.

Eteri had to be going through hell at that time. Her mother was dying. Two of her skaters left her under uncomfortable circumstances. She was being judged in the court of public opinion. The media was having a field day! Alina crashed and burned at Worlds in Milan and then came back from vacation with an entirely new body and no jumps!

Time (and Alina) put everything in its place eventually. (With a lot of help from Japan!) And Worlds finally set it in stone.

One of the reasons I want Alina to go to Beijing and win is so that she can have the experience she should have had all along. Complete with flag and anthem.

I wouldn't trade her journey for anything. It was more special because it wasn't the usual route. From hindsight its easy to see how it made her Worlds victory so epic. But man it was weird in the beginning. I still remember that commercial she did for Sperbank. It was clever and she was gorgeous in that green dress. I think it aired on YouTube for a little while and then they pulled it like it had never existed. She even deleted anything in her IG related to it. That felt strange. I still don't get that. I know commercials don't run forever but it felt like it was being erased.

Then her DQ image was painted on the side of an airplane but she still hadn't made an appearance on Russian TV. Meanwhile she had been on 3 or 4 Japanese shows being treated like a star.

But all's well that ends well to end up where we are. I know this isn't the end for her. Just another chapter she has to start writing. Waiting patiently to see where she takes us. :)
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What a wonderful and thorough post Finley. While I'm not as forgiving as you are especially where people like Tarasova Trankov and Bobrova are concerned I agree with all your points. Alina as incredibly shrugged off all the negative comments toward her and just continue to blossom in so many ways. But yes it's certainly was awkward for all people involved especially Alina Evgenia and Eteri. But all three are doing well and that's all that matters. And I hope any bridges burned between them at some point get repaired down the road.
 
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