Russian figure skater Anastasia Zinina spoke about the challenges she encountered before parting ways with the academy led by two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko. The discussion highlighted that there were no lingering injuries driving the issue; rather, the difficulty lay in returning to peak form after a break. This perspective frames the departure as a transition rather than a sudden injury problem, according to reports from DEA News.
The athlete explained that a two-week vacation allowed her muscles to rest and reduce fatigue. When she returned to training, the workload ramped up again, and her body needed time to rebuild the conditioning and strength it had lost during the break. She noted that the change was noticeable in the legs and back, where muscles had to relearn how to work at full capacity after the pause. The right knee was specifically sensitive to load during descent, as she described the continued strain from training demands, a common hurdle for skaters resuming intense routines after breaks.
On June 24, it was reported that Zinina had left Plushenko’s academy for not adhering to the coaching guidelines. The former Plushenko trainee continues her skating career with the Army of Artist Skating club, guided by coach Alexei Vasilevsky, as she pursues competitive progression and artistic development in her new environment.
In the 2022 Russian Championships Zinina placed 12th, a result that sits within a trajectory marked by early success in junior levels, including two wins on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. Since joining Plushenko’s program in the 2020/21 season, Zinina has been navigating the pressures and opportunities that come with high-level training, performance scrutiny, and the evolving demands of elite competition. The transition to a new team signals a continued commitment to refining technique, choreography, and competitive strategy as she builds toward future podium opportunities. The departure has drawn commentary from peers in the sport, including choreographers who have praised Zinina’s consistency and potential, as she reassesses her path forward in professional skating. — DEA News
Observers note that the skating ecosystem often features rapid shifts, with athletes moving between programs and coaching staff as they seek the best alignment for growth, style, and goals. Zinina’s experience underscores a broader pattern in which discipline, ability to adapt, and recovery from training cycles shape an athlete’s career trajectory. As she embraces a new coaching approach and performance environment, the focus remains on maintaining physical resilience and artistic expression on the ice while pursuing competitive milestones and personal development. The narrative around her departure highlights the dynamic balance skaters must strike between training intensity, rest, and strategic planning to sustain long-term success in a demanding sport. — DEA News