Alina Zagitova

[flanker]

Some optimistic footage from the last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14cloRclnQ

 

[Giltedge]

Some optimistic footage from the last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14cloRclnQ

That is a nice compilation of memories from this past weekend.

All the babble going on on around "personality" in other threads makes me despair :noshake:
Less homespun psychoanalysis and more celebration!

 

[Giltedge]

To celebrate our amazing girl and her incredible feats I decided to do something special to commemorate the year of 2018 that is drawing to a close.

Alina’s year in review:

- In February Alina became the Gold Medal Winner for the Singles Figure Skating Event in her first ever Olympics at the age of 15.
- In late February her Instagram account had 82.000 followers, now she has over 509.000.
- She turned 16 years old in May 18th.
- Also, in late May Japan presented her with her most treasured gift, a female Akita puppy she named Masaru.
- She appeared in over 10 different Japanese TV shows, as a guest or in segments filmed in Moscow or Japan.
- She appeared in 5 different ice shows (4 in Japan and 1 in Korea).
- During this year she performed two different SP, two different FS and two different EX programs.
- She took five 1st place finishes, three 2nd place finishes and had two off podium finishes in a total of 10 competitive skating performances during this whole year (counting everything from CS, team events, Olympics, WC, EC, GP Stages, GP Final and Nationals, within the year as a whole).
- That’s an 80% success rate of podium placements for Alina, combining between events of both seasons that make up this whole year.
- If you count just within a skating season she has a 90% success rate of being on the podium (true for the whole of last season and also true for this season so far).

Alina brings me immense pride, for all the incredible things she has achieved, and also great joy because watching her skate is like seeing magic happen on the ice right before my eyes.

Her dedicated approach to her craft, her caring personality, her quiet demeanor and her evident joy make me proud to be her fan. She has a full package on the ice, that I love to watch, and the way she carries herself off the ice makes me admire her even more. To be so beautiful, so talented, so aware of the feelings of others and such a hard worker at the tender age of 16 is a testament to the care that Alina’s family took in raising her and also a great show of Alina’s character.

She has come very far and she will go even further.

2019 is just around the corner, I wish Alina and her family all the happiness they deserve in the new year and for me it will be another special year of watching Alina perform and develop her talents. The sky is not the limit because there are no limits to what Alina can do, what she already did in just one year is evidence enough of that.

Thank you again, dear lusk8, for this retrospective. Only looking back, and realising where were we just one year ago, we can see how much everything changed, and Alina's clear development.

She brought so much happiness into our lives, we cried together with her during the many wins, but also in difficult situations. Alina is growing in front of our eyes and the entire world's watch, both as a skater and a person.

We saw her continuously working, pushing herself to the limits, to learn new elements, to be even more expressive, graceful and to become a better skater.

But also we got to know better her beautiful soul, her warmth and kindness, seeing how she and her new friend, and family member, Masaru, interact, how she gave Anna the little flower crown when she was sad, how she donated most of her stuffed animals to the children in need.

The Europeans, the Olympics, the Worlds, the Ice Shows, the difficult postolympic season. Alina was amazing in everything she took part in. I've already said it, but I am saying it again: this was only the beginning. Thanks Alina, for this amazing journey, and thank you all, nice posters from this forum, for also being a part of it. [emoji4]

Nice summaries and affirmations of Alina's year. Thank you!!

 

[Catagar]

On the 4th February will be aired a new japanese special about Alina!

https://twitter.com/nakai_scoop/status/1078297616465547264

I am surprised that I have not yet seen a Japanese report on the Russian Nationals.

 

[zenskate]

Adding link to the rest of Alina's gifts

https://vk.com/wall-164963490_26153

 

[Giltedge]

I am surprised that I have not yet seen a Japanese report on the Russian Nationals.

The media moguls are in conclave, trying to work out how to report the Charge of the Russian фигуристы, without sowing panic at large.

 

[Giltedge]

Alina is now at home opening her Christmas Gifts from all fans (delivered today by Team Zagitova)
Go to her Stories to check out the coolest Masaru Iriska gift box....in like....EVER
Edited to add: repost of part of the videos Alina is posting (this is from the TeamZagitova account)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br5rDS9HBoh/

Those gifts are really inventive. I bet this year Alina was a good girl so we won't see her video where she would talk that she probably did something wrong like the last year (but she was so cute in that, I'll miss it )

Adding link to the rest of Alina's gifts
https://vk.com/wall-164963490_26153

:luv17: Super tokens of love that no doubt reaffirm and reinforce the force of support and admiration Alina feels.

 

[lilla09]

Dear friends, japanese fan of Alina wants to present her a photo album with supporting massages from all around the world.
If you have a few nice words for our Alinka, please, DM @azagitova___ (3 "_").

PS: If you don't have an instagram account but have something to say, you can send me a private massage, I will DM on your behalf.

This is so cool! Japanese fans are the best! I never knew until recently that FS is such a loved sport there

lusk8! I loved your review! So many great things for Alina in one year, and so many more to come, I´m sure.

How lovely would it be if Alina took Masaru everwhere like Trusova takes her tiny dog

 

[lusk8]

This is so cool! Japanese fans are the best! I never knew until recently that FS is such a loved sport there

lusk8! I loved your review! So many great things for Alina in one year, and so many more to come, I´m sure.

How lovely would it be if Alina took Masaru everwhere like Trusova takes her tiny dog

Hi lilla09 thank you for your kind words!!

Alina is a true inspiration and looking back into her year was a fun endeavor.

It’s been mentioned here a few pages back that both Alina and Masaru have been invited back to Japan by the Prime Minister (trio will happen in 2019), that will be a fun one.

 

[lilla09]

Hi lilla09 thank you for your kind words!!

Alina is a true inspiration and looking back into her year was a fun endeavor.

It’s been mentioned here a few pages back that both Alina and Masaru have been invited back to Japan by the Prime Minister (trio will happen in 2019), that will be a fun one.

I´m so excited for this! I wonder if Masaru will behave?
They say that dogs and owners are alike, but Masaru and Alina seem to have such a different personality . Alina seems all sweet and well behaved, while Masaru seems a little naughty (from the limited footage I have seen.And she is still a puppy...)

 

[lusk8]

I´m so excited for this! I wonder if Masaru will behave?
They say that dogs and owners are alike, but Masaru and Alina seem to have such a different personality . Alina seems all sweet and well behaved, while Masaru seems a little naughty (from the limited footage I have seen.And she is still a puppy...)

Yup Masaru is what we would call an “independent thinker”.

It will be fun to see the two of them in Japan together, I bet there will be lots of footage and the trip won’t be short.

 

[zenskate]

Yup Masaru is what we would call an “independent thinker”.

It will be fun to see the two of them in Japan together, I bet there will be lots of footage and the trip won’t be short.

If this happens close to Worlds, Masaru could watch Alina compete! Like Sasha's Tina.

 

[lusk8]

If this happens close to Worlds, Masaru could watch Alina compete! Like Sasha's Tina.

That would be super cool but I imagine Alina will want to fully focus on the competition and having Masaru tag along might worry her.

My safest bet is that this visit will be a purely leisure trip, where they can travel around Japan and do TV appearances without other matters in the way.

 

[zenskate]

That would be super cool but I imagine Alina will want to fully focus on the competition and having Masaru tag along might worry her.

:agree:

 

[Finley]

"She is very bright, talented. She wins, not because they named her in my honor, but because she is hardworking and determined. These are the qualities that her parents and coaches instilled in her. We should be grateful to them for having created such a bright athlete." - 2004 Olympic Champion Alina Kabaeva about 2018 Olympic Champion Alina Zagitova

 

[Giltedge]

I´m so excited for this! I wonder if Masaru will behave?
They say that dogs and owners are alike, but Masaru and Alina seem to have such a different personality . Alina seems all sweet and well behaved, while Masaru seems a little naughty (from the limited footage I have seen. And she is still a puppy...)

This is what Alina had to say in an interview in September...

Q: How is Masaru, your famous dog that was presented to you by Japan in May?


A: She has really grown. She is now with a dog trainer to learn to listen to commands. She is being trained, sort of like I am being trained [laughs] and when I went there I almost didn’t recognise her. It was a happy rendezvous after being separated for about a month, but we’ll take her home soon. She is very friendly, when people are coming, she is happy and does not gnarl like some other dogs do. She starts to jump up and down. She has some special character traits, though, she is a bit sneaky and has a somewhat difficult character, but I think with time I’ll fix that.

 

[egoshina]

That would be super cool but I imagine Alina will want to fully focus on the competition and having Masaru tag along might worry her.

My safest bet is that this visit will be a purely leisure trip, where they can travel around Japan and do TV appearances without other matters in the way.

maybe it could be after WTT? it's in April in Japan, right?
end of season, WTT is less pressured event. Sakura season! perfect timing

 

[lusk8]

maybe it could be after WTT? it's in April in Japan, right?
end of season, WTT is less pressured event. Sakura season! perfect timing

I was thinking along the same lines as you....

Also, maybe she'll do ice shows in Japan (I think the she will, nothing announced yet), so pairing a visit with those would be nice. Then she'll have time to really enjoy Masaru and show her around at various TV shows (which I'm sure will happen).

 

[Autumn Leaves]

Akitas are no joke; despite their fluffy appearance, they are strong and difficult dogs that require serious training. Glad that Alina hired a professional trainer, it must have been very difficult for her and her grandmother, having in mind how busy Alina is. But in the end she might have a great friend and a loyal bodyguard

It seems that fans from Japan can be quite cunning - distracting Alina with dogs, shows, TV, commercials, while they got their Rika ready! Smart move
(I hope it is obvious that this is a joke and no offense is meant. I really admire Japan and its fs fans, they are the best)

 

[Fluture]

maybe it could be after WTT? it's in April in Japan, right?
end of season, WTT is less pressured event. Sakura season! perfect timing

I think taking Masaru to WTT would be great. It‘s generally a very fun competition and to think of Masaru welcoming Alina in the K&C with a bark of “well done!“ after a successful skate... Worlds... not such a good idea. Dogs require attention after all and I‘m sure Alina wants to have her eyes and concentration 100% set on the competition and the title this year. Even if it‘s in Japan.. I fear it would be too stressful for her. But WTT would be perfect.