The fourth stage of the Russian Grand Prix series among juniors "Moscow Stars" ended with the unconditional victory of Veronika Zhilina.
In the sum of two programs, Evgeni Plushenko's pupil scored 221.14 points, outperforming her closest pursuer Lyubov Rubtsova by 25.68 points.
At the same time, the winner skated the free program far from unmistakably: the quadruple salchow turned out to be under-rotated and left “in the top three”, and the figure skater completely fell from the triple axel.
On the plus side, she managed to perform a cascade of sheepskin coats 4 - 2, but in another planned quad, Veronika twisted only two turns.
However, her superiority was so great that even an imperfect performance brought her a colossal lead.
For Zhilina, this victory was already the second in the series: two weeks earlier, she also confidently won the stage in Sochi.
Then, in the sum of two programs, she managed to score a fantastic 233.18 points, which would allow her to become the second in the adult stage.
As it turned out, problems with Achilles that arose on the day of the performance after training prevented Veronika from repeating or improving the Sochi result in Moscow.
“Maybe overload.
Again, age, quads, triple Axel - a lot of volume.
Now we'll see, we'll have a little rest, we'll recover, ”Plushenko said after the speech.
According to him, the athlete was a little worried because of the pain that had arisen, so she could not cope with the axel and the quadruple sheepskin coat.
“Veronika skated with dignity, made a cascade with a quadruple and a combination at the end.
Her workout was great.
Of course, when there is some kind of injury, the brain is insured.
She was insured today.
In Sochi has passed a good stage.
Here Veronica showed a brilliant short program.
There is something to strive for, ”the coach emphasized.
Zhilina herself was not too pleased with herself, although she was glad that she won both stages in which she took part.
According to her, between tournaments, she and the coaches worked a lot on the triple axel and quadruple jumps in bundles, and she wanted to show a better result in Moscow.
At the same time, Veronica emphasized that she competes only with herself, and not with her rivals.
“I don’t look at anyone, it doesn’t matter to me who skated how,” the skater said.
But comparisons are self-evident.
Among juniors, the only one who could more or less get close to the figure skater from the Angels was Alisa Dvoeglazova, a student of Eteri Tutberidze.
At the tournament in Moscow, she became the second with a score of 216.12 points.
And if you look at the results of the three past stages of the Grand Prix among adult athletes, it becomes clear: Plushenko's pupil obviously would not have been lost there.
At the moment, her Sochi scores are inferior to the results of only three athletes - Kamila Valieva (244.66 points at the Golden Horse of Moscow stage), Adeliya Petrosyan (239.31 points at the Velvet Seasons stage) and Sofya Akatieva (236.68 points at the stage "Golden Skate of Moscow).
As for the ISU competitions, which the Russians are forced to miss, there are no equals to Zhilina either among juniors or among adults.
Thus, even with an eye to the generous home refereeing, it can be stated that for the first time in a long time, a figure skater with great prospects has appeared in Russia, who now does not train at Khrustalny, although she once went through this school.
At the age of 14, Veronika is already ready to compete with any of Tutberidze's students: she has high jumps, smooth gliding, and breathtaking rotations.
And the fighting character and transcendent motivation suggests that the girl has a great future.
Veronica began figure skating at the age of three in Arkhangelsk under the guidance of her mother, Lyudmila Alferova, who taught her basic technical skills.
“I only worked with her until the age of 10, with no one else at all.
No tricks, nothing.
She gave me a lot - we worked out with her in the gym and on the ice.
She's doing a great OFP.
Much of what I know now has been laid down by my mother since childhood, ”said Zhilina.
At the age of 10, the athlete went to conquer Moscow, and after watching she was accepted into Khrustalny.
There, the young figure skater spent a little over a year, but during this time she managed to master the elements of ultra-si - quadruple salchow and sheepskin coat.
Zhilina studied mainly under the guidance of Sergei Rozanov, and when in 2020 he moved to the Plushenko Academy, Veronika went after him.
And after some time, the girl’s mother also moved to Moscow, which was a huge relief for her.
“Mom is easier.
I immediately have strength when she is around, ”says Veronica.
After Rozanov left the Angels, Zhilina decided to stay.
The figure skater explains this by saying that she has established a closer relationship with Plushenko than with her former coach, and the atmosphere at the academy has become homely.
And now this cooperation is bearing fruit.
However, the coach did not disclose, due to which an excellent result is achieved.
“There is a secret.
My personal.
Plus, this is the work of Veronika's mother - Lyudmila Alferova, my team - Artyom Znachkov, Alexander Abt.
All plow, work.
Therefore, little by little, everything will be stable, ”said the coach.
According to the former figure skater Elena Radionova, who this season acted as director of Zhilina's programs, Veronica's achievements can be explained by her uniqueness and efficiency.
“Her talent and potential are endless.
I'm sure she will progress from start to start and look better.
She has all the qualities to become a great athlete, ”said Radionova.
The famous coach Tatyana Tarasova also positively assessed the joint work of Plushenko and Zhilina.
She noted that the two-time Olympic champion "becomes a great coach", and his ward can already compete in adult competitions.
“If she wants, they will put her to adults, if she wants, to juniors.
She can perform both there and there.
I hope that she will take shape in a human way, will not grow another meter and will not recover by 30 kg, ”RIA Novosti quotes a specialist.
However, Plushenko himself is in no hurry to bring Zhilina to another age category.
According to him, Veronica has not yet outgrown the junior level and it is too early for her to move on.
As well as another of his pupils, Sofya Titova, who also won two Grand Prix stages, although with much more modest results than her teammate.
“We'll see next year.
It is possible that next year girls will be able to take part in adult competitions, if the federation allows us, ”Evgeny emphasized.
In the meantime, both will have to prepare for the national championship among juniors, which will be held in Perm next February, as well as for the jumping championship scheduled for December 4 in St. Petersburg.
Figure skaters, of course, will perform as part of Plushenko's team.
By the way, he himself intends to restore his jumping arsenal in the near future, in particular, the triple axel.
The two-time Olympic champion said he was looking for inspiration - which, of course, will also motivate his athletes.
“We went with Veronica yesterday, I tell her:“ We will compete with you.
There is such a goal.
I feel great desire.
I was preparing for the show, went to training and realized that I can do it.
Didn't risk it.
You have to let yourself down.
Now I’m getting myself in shape, I started to lose weight, run, jump, ”the former skater shared.