Alina Zagitova has been one of the most discussed figure skaters for more than 5 years, although she stopped participating in world tournaments in late 2019. This is because Alina often finds herself in the middle of scandals. And this is not always her fault. Read the article by Metaratings.ru about the 2018 Olympic Games champion. Let's meet the famous figure skater, TV host, and just an appealing girl. This is Alina Zagitova.
She started engaging in figure skating because of her parents
She was born on May 18, 2002, in Izhevsk to a professional hockey player. Alina is a Tatar. She has a younger sister Sabina, who has followed in her footsteps and become a figure skater.
Alina's parents brought her to a figure skating club in Izhevsk sports school, and Natalia Antipina became her coach. In early 2015, the girl got to one of the best figure skating coaches — Eteri Tutberidze. Zagitova had to move to Moscow because of her career.
At first, Alina's relationship with Eteri didn't work out, so her coach was Anna Tsaryova. Later, a period of injuries followed: first the girl broke her arm and then her foot. After a long recovery, Tutberidze took her under her wing.
She was the best at junior competitions
In the 2016/17 season, Alina first participated in the Grand Prix in Marseille. She gained gold in the finals and set three world records.
After the Grand Prix, she took gold at the Russian Junior Championships in Saint Petersburg, European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey, and World Junior Championships in China. One could foresee she would become Olympic champion even then: Alina earned all the titles and set five world records.
She became the Olympic champion at the age of 15!
At the end of December 2016, Alina took second place at the Russian Championships, defeated by her main opponent, Evgenia Medvedeva. In May 2017, she officially transferred to the adult team.
2017 was successful for Zagitova. In September, she won the Lombardia Trophy. Then, in December she was the best at the Grand Prix in Nagoya and finally, the Russian championship.
In 2018, Alina Zagitova's winning streak continued. She won the European championship and Olympic gold in Pyeongchang. By the way, Alina was only 15 years and 255 days old at that time. Thus, she became the second-youngest single figure skating Olympic champion after Tara Lipinski.
In March 2019, the World Figure Skating Championships were held in Saitama, where Zagitova won a gold medal. It became the last missing award among the possible ones. Now Alina is the second holder of all existing titles in world figure skating history. The Korean Yuna Kim is the first one.
She is receiving two higher education degrees at the same time
After Alina suspended her figure skating career, she turned her attention to acquiring education. In 2020, she enrolled in the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. She also studies at the University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth, and Tourism.
Now let's move to the most interesting thing — the scandals in the middle of which Alina constantly finds herself.
Provocative video in a swimming suit
Alina went to Dubai to perform in Tatyana Navka's show "Sleeping Beauty." On December 2, she posted a video of her dancing in a swimming suit on a beach in TikTok.
But after some time, TikTok deleted it due to violations of community rules. The blocking of the video disappointed Zagitova. "TikTok, what's up?" she wrote on her Instagram.
Showdown over a photograph
In October 2021, Alina had a showdown over a photograph. It happened after she visited the Kontinental Hockey League match between Ak Bars and Metallurg. Journalists took a photo of stands with spectators where one could notice Alina. She was outraged that the reporters took pictures without asking, having been rejected before.
Alina explained her behavior in social media: "I will sue you, I have such connections! Each of us is a human being who can and must protect his boundaries.
Criticism of Alina as a host
Alina has been hosting the "Ice Age" show for two years now and has been criticized by viewers for it. They think that she cannot put two words together. Some even demanded her replacement. Alina tries to improve her skills by attending public speaking training courses.
Alina is criticized not only by the audience but by professionals. For instance, popular commentator Dmitry Guberniev blamed her for poor work: "Zagitova should learn more before leaping into action. I think she is not studying enough, but there is some progress, of course... Even reading news is a job that has to be mastered. Our craft needs to be learned, you don't just come in, sit, and read what the editors have written."
Alina tries to react to criticism with reserve: "I used to pay much attention to that and worry. You can't go anywhere without detractors, everyone has them. I feel fine about hate now, it's like an incentive to go even higher. I have a fortress built, one could say that only the chosen ones are allowed in.
The affair with a Russian hockey player
Information about a possible affair between Alina Zagitova and hockey player Dmitry Voronkov appeared in spring 2021. Her fans have noticed more than once that young people post photos from the same places at the same time. For example, wakeboarding in Moscow and bathing in Sochi. Alina also started to visit matches of Ak Bars for some reason.
The last guess was a trip to Dubai, where Zagitova and Voronkov happened to be at the same time. The hockey player has been recently asked about the affair with Alina. "A participant in the pre-game ceremony in Dubai, Zagitova? We have never spoken to each other. Is it a rumor that we're dating? I haven't heard of it. Can we move on? Do I love figure skating? I do," admitted Dmitry in his interview to the Match TV channel.