Irina Rodnina Explains Why She Didn’t Name a Person of the Year
Three-time Olympic champion in figure skating and a prominent public voice, Irina Rodnina shared her views on the annual honors without naming a single recipient. In an interview cited by Sports24, Rodnina described why selecting Roman Kostomarov as the person of the year wouldn’t be appropriate, even as she acknowledged his remarkable resilience and the way his example has inspired many.
Rodnina spoke of Kostomarov as someone who overcomes obstacles and embodies perseverance. She commended his determination to win and to face life with courage, noting that his journey has filled audiences with pride. Yet she drew a clear line between admiring his strength and declaring him the year’s ultimate figure. Her reasoning centers on the idea that the year produced a variety of experiences and stories, making a single pick insufficient. She believes the final decision belongs to the public, who must weigh a spectrum of outcomes that unfolded over the year.
The realities surrounding Kostomarov’s health in early 2023 added a deeply human layer to the conversation. After performing on an outdoor tour, Kostomarov was hospitalized and placed in intensive care due to pneumonia. Medical updates indicated he required ventilator support as doctors assessed the severity of his condition. He received treatment at the Kommunarka hospital complex, a facility known for handling severe cases. Reports suggested that portions of his arms and legs faced amputation as part of managing complications. The situation stirred widespread concern and sparked a broad discussion about endurance, recovery prospects, and the quality of life for athletes facing life altering medical challenges.
In late 2023, Kostomarov and his partner, Tatyana Navka, returned to the ice for a performance. They staged the Carmen program, a routine that called back to their 2006 Olympic triumph in Turin and reminded audiences of the long arc of their professional journey. For many, the moment underscored enduring partnership and artistic resilience, even as conversations about Kostomarov’s health continued to evolve. The pair’s ongoing public presence highlighted how athletes transition from peak competitive years to moments of renewed artistic expression and reflection.
The broader debate about recognizing Kostomarov as the athlete of the year featured a range of viewpoints. Critics and supporters alike weighed in, reflecting a diversity of opinions within the sports community about what such honors should signify and whom they should celebrate. This exchange highlighted the balance between celebrating personal triumphs and acknowledging the collective impact of a year that included injuries, recovery, competition, and public influence. Journalists and commentators framed the discussion around how a single figure can reflect a year’s values and experiences from different perspectives, shaping the narrative of what the award should represent.
Taken together, the conversations about Kostomarov’s status, Rodnina’s nuanced stance, and the broader themes of the year illustrate how sport stories intersect with human resilience, media scrutiny, and the evolving conversation about who best embodies the spirit of a given period. The voices participating in this dialogue include athletes, fans, analysts, and public figures, each offering a distinct view on what it means to lead, endure, and inspire across communities and borders. [citation: Sports24]