Veronika Zhilina, a gifted figure skater who captured the final of the Russian Junior Grand Prix, traveled to St. Petersburg for the event. In the city she spoke about her performance during the St. Petersburg contest, sharing insights gathered from both training sessions and the competition floor.
The student of Evgeni Plushenko, a two-time Olympic champion, dominated the competition with a substantial lead over her rivals. She accumulated 222.45 points across the short program and free skate, clearly surpassing her nearest challenger, Daria Sadkova, who is coached by Eteri Tutberidze, by a wide margin of about 16 points.
Early on, Zhilina emphasized her focus on the process rather than the standings. She explained that her main aim is to perform cleanly in training and to deliver open, confident programs during both practice and competition moments.
Reflecting on the Grand Prix Final, she noted a high level of satisfaction with her performances, rating them around six to seven out of ten. She expressed these thoughts in a conversation with Match TV, highlighting her growing confidence and the sense that her hard work is paying off as the season progresses.
Previously, Plushenko announced a pause in his interactions with the press for a year, a decision tied to the ongoing trial involving several of his students. This pause marked a notable moment in the coach’s public relations approach as his skaters prepared for major events.
At the Russian junior championships in women’s singles, Alina Gorbacheva emerged as the winner, coached by Sofia Fedchenko. Plushenko’s trainees, Veronika Zhilina and Sofia Titova, finished in second and fourth place respectively, with many experts predicting them among the tournament favorites before the results were announced.
Meanwhile, Mikhail Navolokin, who previously led Ulyanovsk Volga, offered his perspective on the decision of the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Football Union to fine the club 500 thousand rubles and to impose a match with spectators under surveillance. His comments reflected broader uncertainties around disciplinary measures and their impact on teams and programs across sport disciplines in the region.