Alena Kostornaya is navigating a careful path back to the ice after hip surgery, with a recovery window estimated at about six months. She shared that she would be discharged from medical care soon but would resume rehabilitation in roughly three weeks. The overarching restoration timeline is set at six months, a period aimed at rebuilding strength, flexibility, and confidence on the rink.” Kostornaya has faced a demanding rehabilitation journey, focusing on controlled progression and medical guidance to ensure a durable return to elite competition.
Originally, the plan called for surgery to address an aggravated hip injury in early August, but medical considerations required a delay that pushed the procedure to a later date. The postponement allowed medical teams to optimize the timing of the operation and subsequent rehabilitation, with the goal of safeguarding the skater’s long-term health and performance potential.
On March 2, it was announced that Kostornaya would train under the guidance of Elena Buyanova, a seasoned coach known for working with top skaters. This coaching decision marked a significant phase in the athlete’s ongoing preparation, aiming to combine technique refinement with a progressive conditioning program that accommodates her post-surgical needs.
Kostornaya’s competitive resume includes the gold medal at the European Championship in 2020, a standout achievement that underscored her technical skill and artistry on the ice. She also captured the Grand Prix Final title in the 2019/20 season, demonstrating versatility across programs and formats. In addition to these top finishes, she earned silver at the Russian championship in 2020 and bronze medals in 2018 and 2019, illustrating a consistent presence on the podium during a competitive period in her career.
During the previous season, Kostornaya participated in the Grand Prix series but did not advance to the Grand Prix Final, a result that reflected the evolving competitive landscape and the challenges that can accompany high-level preparation. She also missed the Russian championship due to a broken hand, an injury that temporarily interrupted her momentum. That same year, she was unable to travel to Beijing for the 2022 Olympic Games, an absence that highlighted how injuries and illness can influence a skater’s annual goals and opportunities.
In the broader context of international skating, there was a notable development at the end of April when the International Skating Union extended the suspension of athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in events under the ISU umbrella. This decision affected preparation plans, sport governance, and opportunities for competition during that period, adding another layer of complexity to Kostornaya’s trajectory as she aimed to return to top form.
Earlier, Anna Shcherbakova publicly supported Kostornaya during the recovery and rehabilitation phase following the hip surgery, highlighting a sense of solidarity within the sport and among peers who understand the pressures of elite training and the hurdles of recovery. The mutual encouragement from fellow skaters often plays a meaningful role in shaping a skater’s mindset as they navigate the path back to competition and podium finishes.
As Kostornaya advances through rehabilitation, the focus remains on a measured, sport-specific buildup. The plan emphasizes core stabilizers, hip mobility, and skating-specific strength work, followed by controlled on-ice sessions that gradually reintroduce jumps, spins, and edge work. The coaching arrangement with Elena Buyanova is expected to provide technical cues, program structure insights, and a strategic approach to returning to competition-ready conditioning. Fans and analysts will be watching closely for signs of progress, consistency, and readiness to re-enter high-caliber events while maintaining long-term health and sustainable performance.