Alexander Enbert, winner of the World and European Championships and silver medalist in the team tournament of the 2018 Olympic Games, explained on the Okko Sport YouTube channel after figure skater Kamila Valieva took fourth place at the Russian Grand Prix stage in Kazan. Why will it be difficult to compete with the athlete in the Russian Championship?
“The free program was not very successful, but it seems to me that he will improve his technique and functionality a little for the Russian Championship. Everything is suitable for beauty and interesting. Add some lightness, it will be difficult to compete with that in the Russian Championship – I am 100 percent sure,” said Enbert.
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.
Previously Alina Zagitova supported Valiev took fourth place in Kazan.