The medal race in women’s singles unfolded among Kamila Valieva, Adelia Petrosyan and Sofia Muravyova. After the short program, the trio was separated by just over three points, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
First on the ice at Traktor Arena was Sofia Muravyova. A student of the academy run by two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko, she came into the event with a chance to stand on the podium after last year’s near-miss. Muravyova delivered a clean attempt at triple jumps and a precise triple Lutz + triple toe loop combination, complemented by a high volume of steps and spins that elevated the overall program.
Her performance earned 161.07 points in this segment, bringing her two-day total to 239.40 and placing her at the top of the standings ahead of the other two contenders.
Next up were Adelia Petrosyan and Kamila Valieva, both trained by Russia’s renowned coach Eteri Tutberidze. Petrosyan, just 16, was the first to close out her free skate. She faltered on a quad flip, but recovered with a quad toe loop + double toe loop and then another quad toe loop. Her turns and steps reached level four, and the judges awarded her 167.47 points for the free program.
Petrosyan entered the overall lead with a total of 246.53 points, ahead of Valieva’s finale.
Valieva’s free skate featured a stumble on the first ultra-si element when she twisted her quad. Although she recovered with a flawless sequence of steps, turns and a well-executed step sequence, the early error prevented her from achieving the maximum score for a clean quad toe loop. That costly misstep limited her, and she finished with 156.14 points in the free program, leaving her with a total of 237.99 points and the bronze medal.
During the post-competition press conference, Valieva discussed the fall and the challenges of adolescence and growth that accompany rapid physical development. She attributed the mishap to the moment’s awkward timing, saying it affected her balance as she transitioned and grew.
“This is my fourth Russian championship, and the second time in Chelyabinsk. There are strong memories, and comparing the Kazan experience to this one shows progress, even if the pace feels uneven at times. The weight and height changes are real, and they add pressure, but the love of skating remains strong,” Valieva commented, as reported by RIA Novosti.
Despite the hurdles, the skater signaled a long-term commitment to the sport, intending to remain competitive at the highest level for many years to come.
In the end, the winner of the competition was Adelia Petrosyan, whose mixed emotions were evident after the final results. “The feelings are a mix of surprise, sadness and happiness. The goal was to land a quadruple somersault and a quadruple toe loop, but only two toe loops came through,” she said in the interview following the awards. The event is part of the Russian Championship, which will officially conclude with ceremonies and shows on Sunday.