Anna Shcherbakova, the Olympic figure skating champion, remains single and has not spoken with Maxim Shnaptsev, a footballer with Paris Nizhny Novgorod, a fact she clarified directly to her followers. A rumor about a romance between the two surfaced in the early hours of Friday, June 14, but neither Shnaptsev nor his team confirmed the claim. Shcherbakova addressed the matter herself, calling the reports false and warning that using her name to attract attention was inappropriate.
In a direct Instagram message, Shcherbakova explained that she does not discuss her private life publicly and that the suggestion of a serious relationship with someone she has not communicated with for some time is baseless. She described the spread of the story as regrettable and noted that it exploits her public image for visibility.
Over the past few years, she has not announced a return to competitive figure skating. She did not participate in the 2023/24 season, citing a late 2022 injury. Since addressing the injury, she has remained active in ice shows and kept a visible presence in the skating world through exhibitions and public appearances.
Shcherbakova rose to the pinnacle of singles skating by winning the gold medal at the Beijing Winter Games, finishing ahead of fellow Russian skater Alexandra Trusova and Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto. Her Olympic triumph cemented her status as a defining athlete of the era and underscored Russia’s long-standing strength in ladies’ figure skating on the world stage.
The broader sports environment for Russian athletes has been shaped by international developments in recent years. In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee urged international federations to exercise caution regarding the participation of domestic athletes and those from Belarus, reflecting the complex political and sporting landscape around global events. This context has influenced eligibility decisions and participation factors in major competitions, shaping the experiences of athletes and national teams alike.
Coaching decisions have also attracted attention in Shcherbakova’s career. Rumors about parting ways with her longtime coach, Tutberidze, have circulated as part of the evolving coaching teams that support top skaters. Changes like these often accompany peaks in performance and technical evolution, influencing training methods, choreography, and competitive strategy.
Around competition, Shcherbakova’s public narrative highlights her role as a leading figure in figure skating, inspiring a new generation of skaters in Russia and beyond. Her journey from national junior ranks to Olympic gold has been documented across media, illustrating the dedication, discipline, and resilience required to excel at winter sports’ highest level. Fans and analysts continue to monitor updates about potential comebacks, exhibition programs, and collaborations that could shape the next chapter of her storied career.