Olympics-Figure skating-Valieva wows rivals and team mates alike in Olympic debut

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber

BEIJING (Reuters) – Russian determine skater Kamila Valieva’s pristine efficiency in her Olympic debut on the Beijing Video games on Sunday drew pure awe from rivals and workforce mates who praised her prodigious athletic expertise and maturity because the gold medal favorite.

Nonetheless solely 15, Valieva holds the world information for the quick programme, free skate and complete rating.

At Beijing’s Capital Indoor Stadium on Sunday, Valieva scored 90.18 factors, 0.27 under her quick programme report of 90.45, to assist the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to first place within the workforce competitors with three occasions remaining.

“All the very best qualities of a determine skater come collectively on this fragile woman,” Russian ice dancer Nikita Katsalapov mentioned of his workforce mate.

“She motivates the entire workforce … It’s only a pleasure to observe her performances. She improves from one competitors to the following.”

Valieva, who clinched the European title final month in a Russian podium sweep, has been reticent to debate her personal success.

When requested on Sunday if she was unbeatable, {the teenager} merely shrugged and refused to reply.

Valieva and her workforce mates Alexandra Trusova and Anna Shcherbakova are all coached by Eteri Tutberidze, recognized for elevating a era of Russian skaters with stellar however ephemeral careers.

All three Russian feminine skaters competing on the Beijing Video games are recognized for touchdown gravity-defying quadruple jumps, elevating requirements in a self-discipline the place such components had been unimaginable just some years in the past.

These new requirements imply feminine skaters virtually have to carry out a quadruple leap to clinch an Olympic medal.

“I’m not able to doing what they’re doing,” U.S. skater Karen Chen, who completed fifth within the quick programme of the workforce occasion with 65.20 factors, informed reporters.

Valieva didn’t wish to speculate why her coaching group may execute jumps which can be unthinkable for many.

“I don’t know the way they prepare elsewhere,” Valieva mentioned in response to Chen’s feedback. “However the coaching we obtain is sufficient to carry out these troublesome components.”

Katsalapov didn’t have any extra perception on why Russian ladies’s performances had been a leap forward.

“There’s a secret for certain,” he mentioned. “I’m questioning, too.”

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Modifying by Peter Rutherford)