Two-time Olympic champion and coach Evgeni Plushenko has lauded Veronika Zhilina as the season’s standout skater. In his eyes, she captured the role of MVP with a breakout year that showcased technical growth and impressive consistency on both sequences of competition. Plushenko highlighted Veronika’s progression, noting the addition of triple axels and cascades in the short program, along with multiple quadruple jumps and triple axels in the free skate. The season marked a clear step forward for the young athlete, earning her well deserved recognition among the sport’s top performers.
During the 2022 2023 season, Zhilina secured a dominant victory at the final of the Russian Grand Prix among juniors. She outpaced the field by a comfortable margin, amassing a total score of 222.45 for her short and free programs. Her closest competitor was a skater coached by a renowned program and former competitor, who finished 16 points behind. The bronze medal went to another rising talent, rounding out a podium that underscored the depth of emerging talent in Russian junior skating.
At the Russian championship, the young skater earned a silver medal, signaling a strong performance on the national stage and setting the stage for continued growth. Zhilina has become a familiar name in the Angela Plushenko Academy, a program known for its emphasis on technical precision and artistic expression as athletes transition from junior to senior competition. The broader coaching team has spoken repeatedly about her potential and the trajectory she is on, with confidence that her experiences this season will inform a successful path forward for her career.
Industry veterans have commented on Zhilina’s recent accomplishments, including respected coaches who have observed her rise within the junior circuit. Inna Goncharenko, a former Honored Coach of Russia in figure skating, spoke about Veronika Zhilina’s victory at major junior events and the implications for her development. The acknowledgment from established figures in the sport reflects a broader consensus: Zhilina is among the most promising skaters of her generation and a name worth watching as she moves through the ranks. Attribution for these insights comes from coaches and analysts familiar with the junior competition scene and the work being done at the Plushenko Academy, which continues to attract attention for its strong production line of young talent.