"The love of the coach and loved ones helped Zagitova"
The performance of women at the World Championships in figure skating gave Russian fans two reasons for joy at once, since Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva managed to climb the podium at the same time.
The first one managed to rehabilitate herself after losing to Sofia Samodurova at the European Championships and for the first time in her career became the winner of the highest test at the World Cup. Bronze medal won Medvedev, who only at the last moment came into the Russian national team in the tournament. Even after the short program, the 19-year-old athlete was fourth, but in the free program she took advantage of Ricky Kihira's mistakes and climbed to the third spot.
The performance of Russian figure skaters in Japan was admired even by President Vladimir Putin, who, in a congratulatory telegram, called the victory Zagitova "beautiful, technical and confident."
“You won beautifully, technically, confidently. They skated the whole program in one breath, conquered millions of fans and spectators with their brilliant skill. Such triumphal achievements create the sporting glory of our country. Well done! ", - said in a telegram, which is published on the official website of the President of Russia.
It is curious that Elizaveta Tuktamysheva was one of the first results of Zagitova and Medvedeva, who was not included in the national team roster at the World Cup, opting for Eugenia. However, Elizabeth was glad for the success of her rival compatriots.
“Today, as in the short program, all our girls skated cool. I am very glad that the Russians took such high places at the World Championships. Alina skated her program flawlessly. Zhenya had a slight blot on the last element, but this did not prevent her from winning the bronze medal. I would like to note that Zhenya skated confidently and clearly, but as we remember, during the current season she sometimes had difficulties, ”the Championship quotes Tuktamyshevoy.
The silver medalist of the 2012 World Cup Alyona Leonova also spoke out, who found it difficult to answer the question that helped Zagitova to return to the leading positions after a series of unsuccessful results, when many fans were already quick to write it off.
“Probably, the love of the coach and relatives, who surrounded Zagitova with care and removed from the negative, which pursued her during the whole season. I think this was reflected in her skating. Today it is safe to say that Alina was a head taller than everyone else, I am very happy for her, ”Sport-Sport quotes Leonov.
Bronze Medvedeva athlete compared with gold. According to the ex-skater, Brian Orser's ward in Japan managed to win over himself.
“She did the job perfectly.” In general, we can say that Alina and Yevgeny won victories. Zagitova really wanted to win gold, because she had never won the world championships before, and Medvedeva surpassed, first of all, herself, ”added Leonova.
“This is a reward for Zhenya for striving for victory”
The success of the Russians and the prize-winner of the Olympics Ilya Averbukh, the famous choreographer, was pleased. He called the victory of Zagitova “unconditional”. The specialist stressed that this success was once again emphasized by the highest level of Tutberidze, especially silver was won by another of her pupils, the skater from Kazakhstan, Elizabeth Tursynbayeva.
“There were different statements, fantasies on this topic. It seems to me that all coaches should either speak out on the ice, or not talk about anything. The result of Zagitova is fantastic, I really want to praise her for the second cascade of triple lutz - triple rittberger. It is important that, despite the enormous gap in the short program, she did not allow herself to lose heart and somehow ease the program. Alina worked in an arbitrary full display. She is really an absolute champion in all respects, ”the television channel 360 quotes Averbukh.
He praised the specialist Medvedev for the medal, although he stressed that she probably wanted to rise above third place.
“I am very happy for Zhenya. At the same time, we should not forget that we rejoice in the bronze medal won by the double world and European champion. But after all Medvedev in the course of the most difficult season did not get to the Grand Prix finals and with difficulty was selected in the national team. And in Japan, she still walked Kihira. This is a reward for the desire to win. But I am sure that Zhenya Medvedeva’s ambitions are still a champion, ”summed up Averbukh.
And the Olympic champion and four-time world champion in ice dancing, Natalia Bestemyanova, admitted that during the free program, women had unique feelings.
“I forgot where I am, what the weather is like now - so the girls diverted all attention to themselves. Before the World Cup, I was not the only one who was worried about the strength of the Japanese women, especially as the home tournament could give them strength, but the opposite effect occurred, ”Bestemyanova said.
At the same time, the Olympic champion noted that Zagitova demonstrated unique skating. According to her, Alina "luxuriously" performed both short and arbitrary program and won "absolutely deserved".
“And for Zhenya Medvedev I am unusually happy, because nothing foreshadowed at the beginning of the season that she could be on the podium of the World Cup. This is the result of her belief in herself, her thoughts led to this success. It is not fate that controls us, but we ourselves create our destiny. Medvedeva is a vivid example of this, ”Bestemyanova emphasized.
“I don’t remember this for a long time”
The first world champion from Russia Maria Butyrskaya did not hide her emotions. She was surprised that according to the results of the competition, there was not a single Japanese woman on the pedestal.
“This is nonsense, but I believe that the owners have only one girl able to fight for gold - Kihira. However, she made a gross mistake in the short program, when she failed to jump the triple axel. In general, the Japanese do not do anything supernatural, so the judges rated everything correctly: who dashed on what - and took such a place, ”said Butyrskaya.
Interestingly, the world champion before the start of the championship of the planet in Japan believed that Tuktamysheva, not Medvedev, should go to the Land of the Rising Sun. Even after Eugenia won the medal, she did not give up her words.
“No one says that Medvedev cannot fight. Just one of them two is currently stronger than Lisa. She otpahala whole season, but the disease destroyed everything. Tuktamysheva could also stand on the podium, and perhaps even would have managed to rise above Medvedeva. But Zhenya coped with pressure and responsibility. I have said before that it does not need to be written off. It is necessary to wait out the difficult period, due to the change of the coach and the change of the situation. And Medvedev is the person who will go all the way, ”said Bestemyanova.
However, in her opinion, the athlete, who is experienced by the standards of female figure skating, cannot rise higher, because her programs lack complexity and she is noticeably inferior to Zagitova.
Alina’s success was highly appreciated by the double champion of the planet, Irina Slutskaya.
“After the short program, Zagitova created a very good start, and this gave her the opportunity to feel more confident on the second day. Today she showed the maximum of what is capable of. I think this is a victory for our whole country, ”the famous figure skater Nation News quotes.
Finally, the honored coach of the USSR and Russia, Elena Tchaikovskaya, called the victory Zagitova “triumphal”.
“I don’t remember this for a long time, everything was so talented. She realized so well herself and the program that she skated extraordinarily, ”the specialist said.
Tchaikovskaya also stressed that the choice of the Federation of figure skating Russia (Figure Skating Federation of Russia) in favor of Medvedeva was absolutely correct. The coach noted that the bronze award in Japan for Eugene is akin to victory.