Alina Zagitova | Page 1195 | Golden Skate

Alina Zagitova

While we are comparing the uncanny similarities between two of Russia's most successful athletes, I bring you another -

One of Khabib's strongest qualities, and one that is often brought up in interviews with the people around him, is his humility. He always emphasizes the importance of staying humble and being humble.

I read something today posted by Jazz Up that reminded me just how much Alina shares that quality. It's one of many favorite stories about Alina. Let's take a walk down memory lane. All the way back to Alina's long plane ride home from Saitama after winning Worlds -

... here's a story that one traveller (Noelle Bernard) that met her in the airport during a layover couple of years ago wrote under one of Alina's videos on YT:

"I met that little princess at the airport a few days ago but I actually didn't know who she was. She was sitting by my 4 year old daughter's side, who started to talk to her in English, she said sorry, she couldn't speak very good English, which was easy to solve because we are a half Russian family living in France. She was very sweet with my kid the whole time, put my girl on her lap and started to show funny videos to her. When my kid started to cry (she was nervous about the long wait), Alina calmed her down. After more than one hour of talking, I told her how sweet she is and that she would be successful working with kids when she grew up. I asked her what she wanted to be in the future. She said she was a figure skater! I told her that it was awesome! She smiled! I asked her if it was difficult and if she wants to go to the Olympics (shame on me!). She said she went to the last winter Olympics! I was surprised! She doesn't look more than 15 years old anyway. I asked if it was a great experience, she said it was fun! But she didn't mention her medal...It was her mother who said "she won gold!" with a very proud look in her eyes. Alina was shy about it. They said they were coming from another competition, and again, she didn't mention her gold medal she won there too. That's what the world needs, humble people like Alina. Now, checking all her interviews and knowing that little humble winner girl a little more, I feel her. She brings peace. What a wonderful personality! Keep being you Alina, and the world will be yours!"
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Finley said:
While we are comparing the uncanny similarities between two of Russia's most successful athletes, I bring you another -

One of Khabib's strongest qualities, and one that is often brought up in interviews with the people around him, is his humility. He always emphasizes the importance of staying humble and being humble.

I read something today posted by Jazz Up that reminded me just how much Alina shares that quality. It's one of many favorite stories about Alina. Let's take a walk down memory lane. All the way back to Alina's long plane ride home from Saitama after winning Worlds -
Click to expand...
Hey, Finley... stop trying to make me cry, I’m a grown man, ok? 😭
 
Also what shines through in that interview, aside from Alina’s humble character, is her love for kids. With so many photos with little munchkins, and Alina replying to them in comments and posting photos together with them saying those moments are priceless to her, it’s clear how big her heart is when it comes to kids. She seems to be truly enjoying spending time with them, same as they adore her.
 
Just to show the level of popularity and public interest in anything to do with Alina: sports.ru, the most popular Russian sports portal, published some interesting statistics in Dec last year - and Alina related articles posted during last 3 years gathered just 300 less comments than articles on Leo Messi. Posted during last 10 years 😂
 
JazzUp said:
Just to show the level of popularity and public interest in anything to do with Alina: sports.ru, the most popular Russian sports portal, published some interesting statistics in Dec last year - and Alina related articles posted during last 3 years gathered just 300 less comments than articles on Leo Messi. Posted during last 10 years 😂
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We all knew that Messi is overrated. :biggrin:
 
icybear said:
And now she's the most popular skater in Russia without even competing. :biggrin:
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actually, she's the most popular FEMALE ATHLETE in Russia, not just "the most popular skater" :)


icybear said:
Alina was literally being condemned by all corners of Russia.
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that was coming from the FS old-timers and part of the media, not the people
 
JazzUp said:
actually, she's the most popular FEMALE ATHLETE in Russia, not just "the most popular skater" :)



that was coming from the FS old-timers and part of the media, notI remember a lot of people not just public figures saying Alina wasnt their olympic champion and all that crap. I mean
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JazzUp said:
actually, she's the most popular FEMALE ATHLETE in Russia, not just "the most popular skater" :)



that was coming from the FS old-timers and part of the media, not the people
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I dunno but I remember at the time a lot of people not just public figures saying Alina wasnt their olympic champion and crap.
 
icybear said:
I dunno but I remember at the time a lot of people not just public figures saying Alina wasnt their olympic champion and crap.
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I think that is part of the reason that Alina inspires such love from her fans. A lot of people who wouldn't have cared otherwise saw the way she was being treated by the powers that be in FS and saw it for what it was.

Anyone who has made it through life as far as elementary school can identify with Alina's immediate post Olympic experience. Being ignored, being overlooked, not getting the credit you are due, not being the 'favorite', your best not being good enough, not being appreciated.... And the media took their cues from those voices in charge. The people who should have been most proud of Alina dismissing her accomplishments as a stroke of luck. :( Saying all of her hard work resulted in an 'accident of fate'. :rolleye:

From the perspective of a US fan (me) watching it unfold was just so weird. Like Alina ruined Christmas or something. People I had idolized for years, (TAT etc.) behaving like this was disappointing to say the least. Alina did exactly what she had been trained to do at the exact moment she was supposed to do it. The outcome was completely out of her hands (hi judges!) and these 'icons of FS' were being ridiculous about it. At Alina's expense. :(

I love that Alina's fans decided that this was not going to be the way the story would be written. Fortunately for all Alina fans, Japan stepped in and saved the day - 'We'll take it from here.' And Alina's Russian fans picked up that ball and ran with it. Now it seems that (apart from a few holdouts) a lot of people have come around. :) Especially after Alina won Worlds (hi Besti!). It's almost as if she was suddenly 'allowed' to be the Olympic Champion. :rolleye:

Time works its own magic but in my opinion, Alina did the rest just by being herself. (With all due credit to Shiseido, Puma, Airweave, etc.!) Maybe it's for the best that everything came to her the way it did, gradually, instead of all at once. She had time to grow into it and see it for what it is. And see everyone's true faces. A painful lesson but an invaluable one. It wasn't just handed to her because she won the Olympic Gold. She had to earn it twice over.

I hope she continues to make wise decisions and prioritize her own best interests and happiness.
 
icybear said:
Quite remarkable considering how I remember after the olympics Alina was literally being condemned by all corners of Russia. And now she's the most popular skater in Russia without even competing. :biggrin:
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And while we are on the subject of Alina's popularity, (thanks icybear for bringing it up!) Alina continues to break barriers -

Alina Zagitova is among the top 10 most discussed athletes in the social network "ok". She is the only sportswoman on the list.


Top 10 Discussed Athletes of 2020 in OK:

1. Lionel Messi (football)
2. Artem Dzyuba (football)
3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (single combats)
4. Conor McGregor (single combats)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (football)
6. Alexander Ovechkin (hockey)
7. Alexander Kokorin (football)
8 Neymar (football)
9. Alexander Loginov (biathlon)
10. Alina Zagitova (figure skating).

The research was carried out on the basis of the analysis of publications and comments of OK users in the open access. To assess the mention of events, phenomena and people, the total number of mentions of the event for the whole year and the bursts of activities on a certain topic, as well as the resonance of events in time, were taken into account, the press release notes.

https://sport24.ru/news/football/2020-1 ... -i-khabiba
 
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Munchkins caught her again :)
"Alina never refuses to take a picture. Thank you! we love you!"
UxmWyj6.jpg
 
Finley said:
Time works its own magic but in my opinion, Alina did the rest just by being herself. (With all due credit to Shiseido, Puma, Airweave, etc.!) Maybe it's for the best that everything came to her the way it did, gradually, instead of all at once. She had time to grow into it and see it for what it is. And see everyone's true faces. A painful lesson but an invaluable one. It wasn't just handed to her because she won the Olympic Gold. She had to earn it twice over.
Click to expand...
Agree with every word in your post, but especially this.
Her journey to success was by no means easy and fun, there was a lot stress, fears, tears and self-doubt.
I think at the end of the day, her not being rightfully acknowledged for her OGM was an additional motivation to compete next season and win worlds. I remember her saying in Japanese Interview at or before GPF19, that she wants to prove that her win wasn't accidental, that she didn't win by accident.
It was hard going through puberty and having to be clean all the time, with everyone complaining as soon as you make a slight mistake.

But I think this experience taught Alina one thing: she's capable of way more than she thinks she is. That with her hard work, she's able to achieve anything. That's also the reason why my hope for her comeback is alive :) Perhaps I'm wrong, but it's witnessing how she never gave up and kept going, that makes me believe she knows she's capable of surprising everyone.
 
Finley said:
And while we are on the subject of Alina's popularity, (thanks icybear for bringing it up!) Alina continues to break barriers -

Alina Zagitova is among the top 10 most discussed athletes in the social network "ok". She is the only sportswoman on the list.


Top 10 Discussed Athletes of 2020 in OK:

1. Lionel Messi (football)
2. Artem Dzyuba (football)
3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (single combats)
4. Conor McGregor (single combats)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (football)
6. Alexander Ovechkin (hockey)
7. Alexander Kokorin (football)
8 Neymar (football)
9. Alexander Loginov (biathlon)
10. Alina Zagitova (figure skating).

The research was carried out on the basis of the analysis of publications and comments of OK users in the open access. To assess the mention of events, phenomena and people, the total number of mentions of the event for the whole year and the bursts of activities on a certain topic, as well as the resonance of events in time, were taken into account, the press release notes.

https://sport24.ru/news/football/2020-1 ... -i-khabiba
Click to expand...
Only one Russian woman in the top 10 of most discuss Russian athletes makes Russia a sexist country. ;) Muahaaaaa!

things have turned out very well for Alina even with bumpy roads after Olympic gold. The behavior of many Russian people was appalling and strange. I don't remember Yagudin being treated badly after he beat Plushenko for gold 18 years ago in Salt Lake City. I've been seeing some things recently about some person I've never heard of a name Yolanda Chen. Who is she and why is she angry? She should know it's a business and having Alina co-host Ice Age is a sensible business move for obvious reasons.
 
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