The main news of recent days was the statement of the Russian figure skater Alina Zagitova on the suspension of her career. She admitted that she needed time to regain the motivation to go on the ice, and also better prepare for future starts.

Fans and experts continue to make assumptions about what became the true reason for this decision. Some expressed confidence that after such words one should hardly expect the return of the Olympic champion. Others, on the contrary, believe that a pause will benefit her and allow her to become even stronger.

In particular, the 2006 Olympic champion Tatyana Navka supported her colleague. In her opinion, this was expected, since by the age of 17 Zagitova managed to win all the main trophies in figure skating.

“I don’t see anything wrong with Alina’s skipping of the Russian championship, as the season really turned out to be difficult for her. It often happens that by the end of the year all possible forces have been spent and you have to take a short timeout. Sometimes it’s very important for an athlete not to burn out and get injured, ”Navka Show press service quoted Navka as saying.

A similar position was expressed by the famous Russian coach Tamara Moskvin. According to her, Zagitova chose the right time to take a break, and did it in the right form, leaving herself the opportunity to return.

“Many high-level athletes who are at the pinnacle of excellence and are obliged to constantly demonstrate it to the audience, need emotional, physical, and moral relaxation. Rest from responsibility for their skills, ”TASS quoted Moskvina.

In addition, she noted that the skater will not lose competitive practice due to the high competition in the group of Eteri Tutberidze, which extends even to the training process.

“Therefore, I don’t have even a shadow of sadness from her interview - on the contrary, a reasonable decision with the aim that she will be able to return. And if she doesn’t return to the sport of high achievements, her skill will continue to delight the audience in other forms of figured activity, so we don’t say goodbye to her, but rather wait for her again, ”concluded Moskvina.

In her interview, Zagitova assured that she had no problems with her team. However, in the opinion of two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko, a career break may be associated with the search for a new coach.

“Who knows, maybe she will move to another group with other coaches? I do not exclude this option - Alina needs attention worthy of an Olympic champion. We need to move on - there is still a lot of time ahead, and she is a powerful athlete. Yes, there was a failure in Turin, but I had it too - I just disgusted ride in the Grand Prix, and then I was able to win the World Cup, ”Plushenko emphasized.

Inna Goncharenko, Honored Trainer of Russia, admitted that she felt sad after the statement of the 2019 World Champion.

“Alina left such a significant mark in the history of Russian figure skating that she deserved that both experts and fans make any decision. Without any conviction. Moreover, she is a very young girl. Everything in life happens, everything changes, it can still come back. Since Zagitova chose this wording, then there is no need to build any speculation, but to accept everything as it is. I think she deserves respect and absolute attention to herself, ”Goncharenko said.

In turn, three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina talked about the difficult situation in modern figure skating. In her opinion, fans sometimes demand too much from athletes, and therefore many of them cannot withstand pressure. She recalled the story of Evgenia Medvedeva, who was sharply criticized after switching to a Canadian specialist, Brian Orser.

“I do not want to blame anyone, but our result is ahead of morality and ahead of elementary humanity. I was lucky with the fans - 50 years ago I won my first title and still receive words of gratitude and support from them. Behind the result should be high human qualities. The size of the bench should not affect the value of each athlete’s personality, ”said Rodnina.

The trainer of Elizabeth Tutkatmysheva Alexey Mishin did not stay away from the incident. He emphasized that in the first place should be the happiness of the skater, and not the influence of her decision on the sport.

“I wish her the same success in the future as she had when she was a teenager. Then she became a girl, then she will be a wife and grandmother. And in all these moments I want to wish her great happiness, ”Mishin said.

Zagitova thanked her mentors, as well as the staff of the Sambo-70 school, who helped her not only with training, but also with her studies. The general director of the educational institution, Renat Layshev, turned to the ward on his Instagram page.

“Dear Alina! We will always support you and respect your decision. Let everything that you dream now be added up! ”Wrote Lyshev.