The 2018 Olympic champion in figure skating, Alina Zagitova, spoke with a socialbites.ca correspondent at the premiere of the fourth season of the series Unprincipled about a new twist in the Channel One Cup format. The event featured three teams rather than two, a change Zagitova viewed positively as part of a broader push toward innovation in the sport’s exhibition formats.
Leading the squads were Zagitova herself, 2015 world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, and Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova. Zagitova noted that she did not feel intense competition among the captains, highlighting the spirit of camaraderie that characterized the gathering.
According to her, the project demonstrates ongoing movement and creativity within the sport. The tournament format attracted attention for its novelty, and she described the atmosphere as warm and friendly, with strong friendships among the skaters helping to foster a relaxed competitive dynamic rather than a cutthroat clash.
In the end, Shcherbakova led Team Blue to victory at Channel One Cup 2024, earning a prize of 10 million rubles. Team Red, captained by Tuktamysheva, finished second with 8.5 million rubles, while Zagitova’s Team White completed the podium with a 7 million ruble prize.
Earlier remarks attributed to Zagitova touched on the concern that the event itself could face challenges to its reputation, with notes of reassurance that the Russian Challenge event remains a focal point for the sport in the region [Citation: Channel One Cup coverage].