Renowned Russian coach Alexander Zhulin commented on Kamila Valieva’s free skate at the 2024 Russian Championships, noting how the routine built around a track from a popular television series resonated with the audience. The performance, choreographed by Valieva herself, featured the music from The Boy’s Word and included a moment that Zhulin described as striking in its execution. He emphasized that the routine did not come across as provocative and praised Valieva’s overall artistry, the choice of song, and the way she connected with the music. He suggested the program would inspire continued appearances on the national stage. The coach’s reflections appeared in a summary report from RIA News.
Valieva’s interpretation of the piece included a distinct vocal line from Pyala, a melody performed by the Aigel ensemble in Tatar. The performance became a focal point of the event, drawing attention to the gymnastic precision and expressive depth she displayed on the ice.
At the championship, Valieva finished in third place. In the free skate, a misstep disrupted a planned quad element, while Adelia Petrosyan, another student trained under Tutberidze, claimed the tournament title. Sofia Muravyova, a pupil of Evgeni Plushenko, secured the second spot. After the short program, Valieva briefly led the standings, edging Petrosyan by nearly three points. These balance shifts underscored the depth of the competition and the ongoing evolution of technique among the group of athletes competing in the Russian field.
During the 2023/24 season, Valieva achieved a first-place finish at the Russian Grand Prix stage held in Moscow and later placed fourth at the Kazan stage. The season reflected a pattern of high expectations, with consistent technical execution layered with increasingly complex artistic expression as the young skater built on international experience.
Valieva’s career also intersected with a high-profile doping case that emerged after a team competition victory at the Beijing Games. It was reported that traces of trimetazidine, a substance banned in sports, appeared in a doping test. Despite the finding, she was cleared to compete in the following individual events, where she finished in fourth place. The case was subsequently heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The proceedings began in September and continued with delays as additional documents were prepared. The CAS announced it would issue a formal ruling at the start of the new year, providing a resolution to the matter that had generated substantial public attention and debate among fans, coaches, and officials alike.
Earlier updates noted that the Aigel group continued to express support for Valieva, reaffirming their belief in the musical choices accompanying her performances. The ongoing dialogue around Valieva’s artistry and her competitive results highlighted the evolving relationship between artistic interpretation, technical risk, and the governance framework that oversees elite figure skating in the sport today.