Alina Zagitova, the 2018 Olympic champion in women’s singles, was visibly moved during a candid moment with her ice colleague Alexander Samarin at the Spartakiad of the Strongest in Magnitogorsk. The scene captured fans and analysts alike, highlighting the emotional depth that often accompanies major life and career shifts in elite sport.
On February 17, Samarin announced his retirement from competitive skating, a decision that prompted a mix of admiration and nostalgia among supporters. Zagitova struggled to respond as she reflected on the 25-year-old skater’s choice to pause or end his competitive journey. “Damn, what kind of music is he playing?!” she exclaimed, revealing a spontaneous, human reaction that resonated with many who follow the sport closely. The moment underscored the personal toll and the bittersweet nature of retirement in high-level athletics.
Throughout his career, Samarin earned recognition as a silver medalist at the 2018 European Championships and as a national champion in Russia in 2017 and 2018. He also earned bronze at the Russian Championships in 2019 and 2023, and contributed to Russia’s efforts at the 2019 World Team Championships where he helped his country on the podium. In the latest national championship, he placed 15th, a result that reflected the evolving competitive dynamics within Russian figure skating. During the 2023/24 season, he collected silver at the Russian Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk and bronze in Samara, adding to a resume that has seen both highs and adjustments as the sport continues to evolve.
In March 2022, the International Skating Union announced a suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from certain competitions, reshaping the competitive landscape for several skaters, including Samarin and his peers. In the two seasons since, attention shifted toward domestic competitions such as the Russian Grand Prix stages and the national championship, where athletes adapted to a more localized circuit and the strategic considerations that come with altered international eligibility.
Former figure skater Semenenko recently set a Russian record, a development that has sparked renewed interest in the country’s depth of talent and the ongoing story of Russian skating on the world stage . This broader context helps explain how athletes like Samarin navigate changes in governance, eligibility, and competition while pursuing personal milestones and the next chapters of their careers.