Kamila Valieva, the 2022 European figure skating champion, spoke with Channel One about how competing at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games reshaped her outlook on life. The experience on the Olympic stage became a turning point, shaping a new lens through which she views sport, pressure, and personal growth. The interview highlights a skater who has learned to balance ambition with resilience, recognizing that each performance carries lessons beyond medals.
In the individual competition, Anna Shcherbakova, a standout student of esteemed coach Eteri Tutberidze, finished in fourth place, a result that left room for reflection after battles with Alexandra Trusova and Kaori Sakamoto. The dynamic field underscored the high stakes and intense rivalries that define modern ladies’ skating, where margins between podium spots can be razor-thin and the path to success is often paved with both triumphs and near-misses.
Valieva candidly acknowledged the sting of coming close to the podium. She reflected that sometimes the fourth place can feel more frustrating than a second or third place, because it sits just outside the medals. Yet she also offered a broader, more philosophical take: a silver or gold is meaningful, but overall progress and the experience gained on the ice carry weight that long outlasts a single event. Her perspective suggests a commitment to continual improvement, viewing every competition as a stepping stone toward higher goals.
The broader narrative surrounding Valieva includes a doping investigation currently overseen by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). A hearing took place in September, with a decision postponed to November to allow for the preparation of additional documents. If Valieva is found to have violated anti-doping rules, the Russian national team could lose its Olympic team gold medal, a consequence that would reverberate through the sport. At present, Olympic awards remain in limbo as the case unfolds, illustrating how inquiries of this magnitude can intersect with athletes, teams, and national pride, shaping narratives far beyond a single event.
Former Russian national champion Katarina Gerboldt commented on Valieva’s adaptation to the CAS process, noting that the skater has found a way to calibrate her approach as the case advances. The period around a doping review is a unique pressure cooker for any elite athlete, demanding not only physical readiness but mental discipline, media stewardship, and strategic planning for a path forward in competition and public perception. The evolving setup at CAS has tested Valieva’s resolve while also keeping the sport’s broader audience attentive to the delicate balance between fairness, competition, and the pursuit of excellence.