“Slowly crawling to Canada”

Before the main event of the season in the world of figure skating - the World Cup - a little more than a week remains. The preparatory process is coming to an end, and many athletes have already left for Montreal, Canada, in order to get accustomed to the new conditions and, importantly, to get used to the difference in time zones.

The main favorites of the upcoming tournament, students of Eteri Tutberidze, are not far behind their colleagues. Newly-made European champion Alyona Kostornaya shared with her followers on Instagram a fragment of a workout in the gym of the Khrustalny ice palace.

“Slowly crawling to Canada,” Kostornaya signed the video.

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Publication by Aliona Kostornaia (@aliona_officialnew) Mar 6, 2020 @ 8:09 am PST

The absolute dominance of the Russians this season leaves an imprint on them. They are constantly in the spotlight, and at each start they expect the highest results from them. However, current trends are such that rarely anyone manages to stay at the top for a long time. Comparing different eras of figure skating, Canadian specialist Brian Orser noted that this is necessary for the students of Tutberidze.

“They are beautiful, they are magnificent athletes - we need to have time to get to know them better. I would like to see their development - and not only in terms of which quadruple they mastered. It’s interesting how they will reveal the programs, how they will work on movements, on what they want to tell their audience and viewers. And this comes only with experience. It doesn’t matter in which sphere - whether you are a singer or an actor, you need to have something in your soul that you will share with the public, ”Orcera quotes Sports.ru.

As for his student, Evgenia Medvedeva, she continues to prepare for the 2020/2021 season. According to the expert, the two-time world champion has already returned to the ice rink and has started developing the program together with coach She-Lynn Bourne and choreographer Jeff Buttle.

At the same time, Orser said that the ward "a little lost heart."

“You see, we now have guys who are preparing for the World Cup, and she is not among them. Although she deserves it, because she is a great skater. Yes, she doesn’t go there because of all this situation with a broken skate at the Russian Championship. It’s honest, no questions, there’s nothing to complain about, then there was a failure with the skate, ”explained Orser.

This season, Medvedeva’s affairs are really not going as well as her fans would like. At the stages of the Grand Prix in Canada and Russia, she took fifth and second places, respectively, and failed to make it to the finals. At the national championship, the skater was forced to withdraw after a short program due to problems with skates and, accordingly, did not qualify for the national team for subsequent international tournaments.

“I focus on working with those who are going to the youth and adult world championships, and she has the usual trainings, not dedicated to any important event. In such a situation it is difficult to motivate yourself, but she is a fighter. She goes out, trains with the other guys, does not miss anything, ”added Orser.

The youngest students of Tutberidze are fighting for the awards of the Junior World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. After a short program, Kamila Valieva takes the first place. On the second line is the representative of South Korea Lee Hae In, and Daria Usacheva closes the top three. Another Russian Maya Khromykh is still the fifth.

Despite the young age, the skaters have already managed to acquire fans. So, a certain American fan gave Valieva, Usacheva and Khromykh expensive portraits made to order. He did not have the opportunity to personally present gifts to his darlings, and a photographer from Russia brought them to Estonia.

😍Darya Usacheva, Kamila Valieva and Maya Khromykh received megacool author portraits from an American fan as a gift.

The fan himself could not come to Tallinn and asked the Russian photographer to give presents to the girls.

📷 Denis Gladkov (https://t.co/4JkOoSkiDK) pic.twitter.com/ik8AcYKL8P

- Lesik Konstantin (@kostyalesik) March 5, 2020

“I advise you to ride on a frozen lake at least once in your life”

It is still unknown when Alina Zagitova, who announced the suspension of her career in December last year, is expected to return to the ice. However, the Olympic champion Pyeongchang did not go into the shadows and continues to delight fans with her photographs from ordinary life.

“I'm fashionable. And who did mother wear as well? ” - wrote Zagitova on Instagram.

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Publication by Alina Zagitova | Alina Zagitova (@teamzagitova) Mar 5, 2020 at 3:20 PST

Sochi-2014 Olympic champion Elena Ilyinykh shared her joy. On her page on social networks, she said that in January she became a mother. Figure skating fans have long known about their relationship with ballet dancer Sergei Polunin. However, the athlete never officially confirmed the rumors about her pregnancy.

“January 16, 2020 is the date that has become for me the most important in life! Since then, the whole world has been in our hands with Sergey. We are grateful to the universe for the real miracle that happened to us! All peace, love and kindness, ”wrote the Ilyins.

Recently became a mother for the third time, Irina Slutskaya prefers an active vacation with her family. The other day, she visited Lake Baikal, thereby fulfilling her cherished dream. According to the two-time world champion, the journey lasted only one day, but she will be remembered for her whole life. Despite such a short period of time, the ex-skater managed to appreciate the delights of skating on natural ice.

“I advise everyone to take a ride on a frozen lake at least once in their life. Naturally, only if you are not from a timid dozen. I assure you that these emotions will 100% meet your expectations, ”Slutskaya shared her impressions.

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Publication by Irina Slutskaya / @ Irina Slutskaya (@slutskayaofficial) Mar 4, 2020 at 4:25 PST

The furore in Paris was made by the wife of two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko Yana Rudkovskaya. In connection with the epidemic of coronavirus, doctors recommend wearing special masks in public places, and the famous music producer approached this issue creatively. At one of the fashion shows, she appeared in a black mask decorated with artificial flowers.

“The black mask looked horrific with my spring look, and I glued three Chanel paper cameos (who knows, he will understand) in 30 seconds to somehow ennoble her before leaving for the show! Besides the fact that I gathered all the photographers and enthusiastic praises from a couple of hundred foreign fashion guests of the show, I still protected myself and my health, which, as you know, can’t be bought for any money! ”Rudkovskaya said.