Russian figure skater Alina Zagitova supported Kamila Valieva for fourth place at the Russian Grand Prix in Kazan Sports24.
“We talked to him. I was in Kazan just then and saw it with my own eyes. I can only express my words of support: Do not give up and believe in yourself,” said Zagitova.
Valieva could not place in the top three with 213.59 points.
The winner of the stage was Sofia Muravyova, who collected 228.81 points in total between two skates. Alina Gorbachova (219.02) came second, while Daria Sadkova (214.54) ranked in the top three.
After Valieva won the team competition at the Beijing Olympics, a scandal broke out around Valieva when it was announced that traces of the banned drug trimetazidine were detected in a doping test. Despite this, she was allowed to compete in the individual championships, where she finished fourth. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held hearings in the skater’s case in September and November, and the final decision is expected to be published in early 2024.
Valieva’s previous failure in Kazan explained two factors.