Alina Zagitova | Page 55 | Golden Skate

Alina Zagitova

On the eve of the Ladies event, a few words for Alina and her fans. I've been a long time fan of figure skating, for some years a big fan, for some years not so big fan. My interests have waxed and waned over the years. There have been many special skaters in all disciplines but once a while, maybe a lifetime, that special skater comes along that captures your imagination and fulfils everything you have ever wanted to see in the sport.

Years ago, I saw this performance of Don Quixote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNpTK80e7g Vladimir Vasiliev is one of my favourite ballet dancers. More than anything, Alina's Don Quixote is a showcase of her jumping ability. More Basilio than Kitri and in all the positive ways.

Then, there's the Black Swan. Years ago, I became obsessed with this little Aranofsky film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2a1WBqNTtQ It remains my favourite all-time film. It's that pursuit of perfection as an artist in any discipline, that dedication to the art, driven by perfectionism still fascinates me and Alina captures that artist undergoing that transformation.

On a personal level, ballet was an entry point into the sport of figure skating. I never would've become the skater that I am today if it weren't for the ballet lessons I took earlier and the confidence and physical control/awareness that it gave me. For that, I will forever remain grateful to that artform.

So to Alina and the artform of ballet and the sport of figure skating, come what may in the next few days, gold, silver, bronze or none, may you have the skate of your life. This will be the first time I'll see Alina, hopefully the first of many, many times. May you continue to be special, no matter what.

Team Zagitova! :ghug:

Oh, I'll try to take some photos and post some updates also. :)

Thank you, Sam! Looking forward to your photos and updates.
Team Zagitova no matter what! :ghug:
 
I am wondering if this happened randomly or there is a scientific reason to do it specifically before training (for example, creatinine in the urine could appear elevated after working out). Also, I searched some info and read an article how doping tests have to be done and it was stated that there are some exceptions when the doping test could take place later, as examples were given pressconference and official training. Anyway, it already happened and anti-doping rules apply to everybody. I hope she wasn't too stressed and this won't shake up her concentration on the competition.

@Sam L, those were some beautiful words you wrote! I wish Alina to have a clean skate and mostly to be proud of herself. I am sure her family and countrymen already are. :ghug:
 
It seems WADA isn't responsible for doping tests at the Games. It is done by people from IOC. Also, judging by this
http://m.sport-express.ru/olympics/...-sorval-trenirovku-nashey-figuristki-1374192/ testing was done before practice but since Alena couldn't provide enough urine for obvious reasons (most likely she went to toilet before doping officer arrived) - she was compelled to drink lots of water. After testing was done she couldn't continue the training since water increased her weight.
I hope this excess water (and therefore expelling salts from the body) wouldn't affect her actual performance 0_0 Well, at least she has one more day for training and weight control, so to speak.

P.S.: I am very much worried about this curling meldonium scandal, btw. Judging by Krushelnicky words he consumed spiked water/food at training camp in Japan. Where both Zagitova and Medvedeva were training. I know it's most likely is another town but being sabotaged there by some ill-wisher/envier be it some random people/japanese patriot/people from JSF/IOC/WADA/FBA etc. - is still a possibility. I hope it is just me being foolish and paranoid :pray: :slink:
 
Water shouldn't be a problem, because it's just water unless she drank like 3L + or something.

The meldonium case is suspicious because it's...curling and meldonium is famous case, who would do something that obvious. He said it's possibly from his teammate who can't go, it's curling team internal struggle. So it's fine for others i guess.
 
It seems WADA isn't responsible for doping tests at the Games. It is done by people from IOC. Also, judging by this
http://m.sport-express.ru/olympics/...-sorval-trenirovku-nashey-figuristki-1374192/ testing was done before practice but since Alena couldn't provide enough urine for obvious reasons (most likely she went to toilet before doping officer arrived) - she was compelled to drink lots of water. After testing was done she couldn't continue the training since water increased her weight.
I hope this excess water (and therefore expelling salts from the body) wouldn't affect her actual performance 0_0 Well, at least she has one more day for training and weight control, so to speak.

It's just very unlucky it took (as they are saying now) 4 hours to take samples from her. And she had to drink so much water that she was practically unable to carry on her training session.
She must have been really stressed for sure.
Luckily she has this whole Tuesday to calm herself down and train properly...
 
It seems WADA isn't responsible for doping tests at the Games. It is done by people from IOC. Also, judging by this
http://m.sport-express.ru/olympics/...-sorval-trenirovku-nashey-figuristki-1374192/ testing was done before practice but since Alena couldn't provide enough urine for obvious reasons (most likely she went to toilet before doping officer arrived) - she was compelled to drink lots of water. After testing was done she couldn't continue the training since water increased her weight.
I hope this excess water (and therefore expelling salts from the body) wouldn't affect her actual performance 0_0 Well, at least she has one more day for training and weight control, so to speak.

P.S.: I am very much worried about this curling meldonium scandal, btw. Judging by Krushelnicky words he consumed spiked water/food at training camp in Japan. Where both Zagitova and Medvedeva were training. I know it's most likely is another town but being sabotaged there by some ill-wisher/envier be it some random people/japanese patriot/people from JSF/IOC/WADA/FBA etc. - is still a possibility. I hope it is just me being foolish and paranoid :pray: :slink:

If I am not mistaken, Dimitri Aliev and Misha Koladya were at the same training camp in Japan as Zagi and Med. Due to the doping scandal I guess the russian males were also tested a lot and since the men's competition is over and there wasn't any info on violating the anti-doping rules, I would assume that the water at their camp is ok. Furthermore, Eteri is already experienced (she had another Olympic athlete 4 years ago) and is probably aware that with two Olympic gold contenders there could be some politics going on and whatever to prevent them from achieving their goal, so I can imagine that she takes care of them and is extra cautious about doping stuff.

Are we actually sure that there was a doping test, or did she just leave practice for unknown reason? It could be again some kind of fake news. Isn't it also strange that they made her drink so much water? It makes sense for ordinary people to bee able to pee, it would lead to a greater urine volume, however, to decreased concentration of salts too, which for sport is really important because in this way some doping substances couldn't be detected. In other words, the test wouldn't be valid. I could be ofc wrong, if someone has a clue, it would be interesting to hear an explanation :agree2:

Let's don't panic, it will be all good :ghug:
 
I found this short interview Alina gave right after her Team Event skate. It's really nice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-UayapIn4Y

Reporter: Are you nervous now, were you nervous before the skate, during the skate?
Alina: To speak honestly, it occurred to me that I am at the Olympic Games only yesterday in the evening. I mean, yesterday in the evening I was like "The Olympic Games? Tomorrow?". And I got up today in the morning and realised that I need to skate well and cannot let down the team, [I must] do everything to the maximum.

Reporter: You didn't let down. How you feel? You skated great. Because we saw that it was marvelously excelent.
Alina: Well, today I've achieved my best result in my career / my SB. In principle I'm happy with my skate.

Reporter: After the skate your coach whispered sth in your ear. Can you share it?
Alina: That... no. I can say that, not after the skate... simply, she said... I cannot say... Well she praised [me].

Reporter: Generally, how you feel now? Shortly... for the day of the individual skate, any time soon as I undestand, you are again leaving for Japan to prepare yourself.
Alina: Yes, we went to 2-week training camp in Nigata. They received us well, they greeted us well and they created very good conditions for trainings.

Reporter: Will you show what you took from the ice, to the spectators?
Alina: (showing her plushie) Sambo seventy!
 
It seems WADA isn't responsible for doping tests at the Games. It is done by people from IOC. Also, judging by this
http://m.sport-express.ru/olympics/...-sorval-trenirovku-nashey-figuristki-1374192/ testing was done before practice but since Alena couldn't provide enough urine for obvious reasons (most likely she went to toilet before doping officer arrived) - she was compelled to drink lots of water. After testing was done she couldn't continue the training since water increased her weight.
I hope this excess water (and therefore expelling salts from the body) wouldn't affect her actual performance 0_0 Well, at least she has one more day for training and weight control, so to speak.

P.S.: I am very much worried about this curling meldonium scandal, btw. Judging by Krushelnicky words he consumed spiked water/food at training camp in Japan. Where both Zagitova and Medvedeva were training. I know it's most likely is another town but being sabotaged there by some ill-wisher/envier be it some random people/japanese patriot/people from JSF/IOC/WADA/FBA etc. - is still a possibility. I hope it is just me being foolish and paranoid :pray: :slink:

Why would WADA spike the water? That does not make sense.

I also find it bit weird that European champion couldn't train because of weight drinking bit of water.

Let's not panic and spread false news.
 
If I am not mistaken, Dimitri Aliev and Misha Koladya were at the same training camp in Japan as Zagi and Med. Due to the doping scandal I guess the russian males were also tested a lot and since the men's competition is over and there wasn't any info on violating the anti-doping rules, I would assume that the water at their camp is ok. Furthermore, Eteri is already experienced (she had another Olympic athlete 4 years ago) and is probably aware that with two Olympic gold contenders there could be some politics going on and whatever to prevent them from achieving their goal, so I can imagine that she takes care of them and is extra cautious about doping stuff.

Are we actually sure that there was a doping test, or did she just leave practice for unknown reason? It could be again some kind of fake news. Isn't it also strange that they made her drink so much water? It makes sense for ordinary people to bee able to pee, it would lead to a greater urine volume, however, to decreased concentration of salts too, which for sport is really important because in this way some doping substances couldn't be detected. In other words, the test wouldn't be valid. I could be ofc wrong, if someone has a clue, it would be interesting to hear an explanation :agree2:

Let's don't panic, it will be all good :ghug:

increase or lost of only 200-300g mess up their aerodynamics for jumps. I believe she didn't drink a large amount of water, nothing to be worried. Every athlete should have gone through the same process, she's nervous because she lacks experience but that's about it.
Nothing can be said before getting the test results.
 
The Russian media can be extremely awful at times... it's an absolute farce that they got quotes from her old coach from years ago and the group choreographer who isn't even in Korea. Between this and the Wagner kerfuffle, they need to stop chasing headlines that are counterproductive. They are not helping.
 
The Russian media can be extremely awful at times... it's an absolute farce that they got quotes from her old coach from years ago and the group choreographer who isn't even in Korea. Between this and the Wagner kerfuffle, they need to stop chasing headlines that are counterproductive. They are not helping.

That's what the media in general do, not only russian, media = x10 drama.
 
According to Meagan Duhamel, the doping tests at the Olympics are completely different from usual. They test all athletes before and after and they can do it at the most ungodly of times. Alina couldn't have drank too much water because it over dilutes the sample and they actually make you do it again after several hours (without leaving your side at all). Some skaters have missed official practices in PC because they weren't allowed to leave until they finished.

Its just Olympic protocol. It might have been overwhelming for her since its her first time and shes so young.
 
Its just Olympic protocol. It might have been overwhelming for her since its her first time and shes so young.

She should did this
https://2ch.hk/sp/src/1395378/15190759905020.mp4
to them - not waiting 4 hours and drinking water - ruining her training and nerves. Especially if doping officers were willing to wait, as they say.

Why would WADA spike the water? That does not make sense.

Because between IOC and WADA is power struggle? For IOC this case is loss of reputation while WADA benefits from it by proving their extremely antirussian position.

P.S.: https://www.instagram.com/p/BcjaF7nFMjQ/?taken-by=gniloefk
lol :biggrin:
 
Does anyone have some high-quality photos of Alina that would make a good phone wallpaper background? Hoping she does well tonight!!
 
The Russian media can be extremely awful at times... it's an absolute farce that they got quotes from her old coach from years ago and the group choreographer who isn't even in Korea. Between this and the Wagner kerfuffle, they need to stop chasing headlines that are counterproductive. They are not helping.

You mean, Daniil? i think he is still in Korea.
 
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