Elena Kostyleva, a 12-year-old figure skater, narrowly escaped serious injury after a fall in the final round of the Russian Jumping Championships team event. According to RIA News, her mother, Irina Kostyleva, provided the update on her condition.
Medical staff were monitoring Elena as a precaution. If swelling develops, doctors indicated they would move to emergency care. For now, the team reported that Elena remained stable while the situation was assessed.
The incident occurred as Elena attempted a quadruple Salchow, a demanding jump that precedes another attempt which ended in a fall. The sequence highlighted the high-risk nature of competitive figure skating and the intense pressure athletes face when performing multiple difficult elements in succession.
During the routine, Elena earned 7.80 points for her performance. She sustained an elbow injury during the fall and received assistance from medical staff to manage the discomfort and immobilize the area briefly. Despite the setback, she continued with the effort after a misstep on a triple Lutz and completed her program. The performance was conducted on behalf of the team led by figure skater Alexander Gallyamov, with Elena training under the guidance of coach Igor Lyutikov.
Elena Kostyleva later secured a bronze medal in the individual portion of the Russian Jumping Championship, underscoring her resilience and skill in a challenging competition. Her persistence in finishing the program underlines the demanding nature of elite junior-level skating and the ongoing development seen among young athletes in Russia.
In the broader competition, the 2024 Russian Jumping Championship was won by a team led by Dmitry Kozlovsky, featuring skaters Alexandra Boykova, Margarita Bazylyuk, Sofia Muravyova, Maria Gordeeva, Lev Lazarev, Evgeny Semenenko, Ivan Popov, Ekaterina Chikmareva, Matvey Yanchenkov, and Dmitry Aliev, who contributed to a collective victory that highlighted depth of talent in the sport.
Earlier, television commentator Tatyana Tarasova voiced concerns about whether Russians would be allowed to participate in future events after the jump by the 12-year-old skater, reflecting ongoing discussions about eligibility and safety standards in junior competitions.