“ I take an example from Alina Zagitova. ” Young pupil of Tutberidze fights for her first trophies.
Report from the Moscow Cup, which in the standings among the girls was won by quadruple jumping 12-year-old Sof'ya Akat'yeva.
The best skaters of Russia are completing their preparations for the European Championship, and in the meantime, the Moscow Cup was held in a residential area of Medvyedkovo in a small arena with several dozen seats. In such arenas, the glory of Russian figure skating is born. Its new star may be 12-year-old Sof'ya Akat'yeva. It’s a pity, but we won’t see her at the next Olympics. Even if the age limit is suddenly reduced to 14 years, then Sophia still “had” to be born 6 days earlier - ISU admits only those who have a birthday before July 1 into the seniors. Therefore, Sof'ya, we believe, will be destined to conquer the next Games-2026.
In general, at the tournament in Medvyedkovo, a battle of quads between the group of Tutberidze and CSKA was expected, but Yelizaveta Berestovskaya, also jumping a quad Toeloop, withdrew right before the competition. Often such cases are related to health - we hope this is not the case. The coach of the athlete, Aleksandra Kravtsova answered evasively: “We work, we grow.”
Growth, however, forces the skaters to withdraw from the competition, as we know, at a more mature age. Another talented skater Sof'ya Samodelkina was also not at the tournament - but her participation, according to Kravtsova, was not planned. In any case, you can only wish both skaters success. Each of them is important.
link to fancam from the competition: https://youtu.be/CwSW2TjHEPg
We came to see Akat'yeva even from Siberia
So far, however, it is the Khrustalniy heroine who has attracted the attention of the public from all over Russia. This is not an exaggeration - the Moscow Cup did not have the coaching triumvirate preparing for the European Championship, but there were fans from Novosibirsk who came “specially for Akat'yeva”.
True, there were other people - local residents who came to mass skating. They were very indignant at the announcement of the competition, and demanded an explanation. It was probably worth a warning in advance.
Next to the rink sits the athlete’s mother: “I don't have enough nerves to look at this.” Some parents can’t stand it - and during performances they leave the stands.
Sof'yia did not disappoint her fans. She won the competition with a score of 206.25 points, making a quad Toeloop in cascade in her free program. Another, separate, didn't turn out, but with a deft movement of the hand, the 12-year-old athlete avoided falling. "Khrustaliyan's" have no equals.
After the competition, the young star signed autographs, took pictures with everyone who wished, received a gold medal and thanks from Eteri Tutberidze - and with the permission of her parents talked to the SE correspondent. As befits a star, she shone, but rather not from happiness, but from satisfaction. Victories for Akat'yeva are already a familiar thing - just this 12-year-old girl tries to look at the difficult life of an athlete positively.
Already landing quadruple Salchow
- Not that I am happy with my skating runs, I wanted to make two quadruple Toeloops and a triple Axel, it turned out only one quadruple. But I'm glad that he succeeded, ” Sof'ya says.
-- Other quads coming soon?
- At the end of the season I will seriously learn the next one. I've already jumped the quadruple Salchow. I think it's time.
-- it already turned out?
- Sometimes - yes, but so far these have been under rotated attempts, not fit for my program. But landed.
-- There were no rivals from CSKA at this tournament, is it a shame that the competition turned out to be incomplete?
- I only thought about my own skating, how to have clean runs. And the judges will count the marks for me and my rivals.
-- But do you maintain a relationship?
- Of course, we communicate at competitions.
-- Do you have time to learn, how many lessons per day you manage to attend?
- I go to school almost every day, I have a tutor on the other days. I try to take everything. In between workouts, I also study. So far, I have "fives" and "fours" only. (Laughs)
-- How many workouts do you have per day?
- Two on ice and two - three in the dry hall.
-- And how do you manage to go to school ?!
- In the morning I come to the first lessons.
-- Have you thought about plans for the future?
- In general, I would like to become a coach ... But I don’t know yet. First of all, I need to learn new elements, to skate programs cleanly.
-- Which of the skaters is an example for you?
- I take an example from Alina Zagitova, and from men - Nathan Chen and Yuzuru Hanyu.
-- Alina suspended performances ...
- It's her business alone, I can’t comment on this.
-- You recently performed at Megasport at the demonstration performances of the Russian Grand Prix. How do you feel, abstracting from the execution of the program?
- Yes, it didn’t work out very well. A bit heavy with incomplete lighting. It is an experience to perform for so many people. There aren’t so many people at our competitions. It was useful anyway.
-- Eteri Georgiyevna, what did she say after your performance?
- She said that the Toeloops weren’t jumped and that I was very worried, yet for me it was something new, special. What you need to work on.
-- Do not worry about health, staying free from injuries?
- Yes, everything is fine, without injuries.
-- Now there are a lot of cool skaters in Khrustalny. When so many people are at a high level, does it motivate?
- This (internal) competition is encouraging, yes. You want to be stronger than your opponent, try to ride better.
-- Autographs are already being taken from you, you have many fans. Is this interest pleasant?
- Yes, it is very nice that so many people are watching figure skating and are excited. I want to say 'thank you' to everyone!
(c) Dmitriy Kuznetsov
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From:
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...yuschaya-chetvernye-pryzhki-intervyu-1633620/
Wish he'd interviewed Adeliya Petrosyan too, for she is older than Sof'ya and JGP eligible next season. And in the Open Test Skates feature on Channel One, Adeliya proved not to be camera shy at all.
A temp skating rink in the rural area, 14 km from downtown Graz in the potato(?) fields, with a beautiful dirt road leading to it
