Russia (bbabo.net) - Kamila Valieva is back on the ice, and she is beautiful again, despite everything this young athlete has had to endure over the past week. Every day she went to training, jumping triple Axels and quadruple toe loops. When everything worked out, she smiled. But sometimes the look was so sad, a little faded, that my heart ached.

It's hard to imagine what she felt when she skated the programs while waiting for the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), not knowing whether she could show them in a personal tournament. How she found the strength to carry out the obligatory, but in the given circumstances destructive procedure - to pass through the mixed zone under the provocative cries of foreign reporters. Russian journalists tried to drown them out with their applause. I hope she felt our support. Why did Camila have to sit through seven hours of the online CAS mobile panel meeting, which lasted until late at night, listen to the claims of the IOC, ISU and WADA, who filed an appeal against the cancellation of her provisional suspension, and still answer. But she managed everything. Although she later admitted that she was emotionally tired. Tears shone in her eyes - both from colossal tension, and from incredible happiness that she would still perform at competitions, participation in which she deserved all her life on ice.

Even though her story is still small, because the athlete herself is only 15. But even in such a short time, she managed to do a lot for women's figure skating. Her performances are not only sports, technique, jumps, spins. This is art and beauty that cannot be created in a laboratory, cannot be achieved with the help of drugs. Yes, this is a lot of work, but also a great talent that we continue to admire, even a gift - to touch something in your soul, that you are surprised by these new sensations and certainly want to share your discovery with everyone around. Therefore, we saw and heard so many touching comments about her after the team tournament. Then even a fall in a free program from a quadruple sheepskin coat did not spoil the impression at all. Attempts to knock down our best skater, when so much attention is riveted to her, will not work either.

Camila was gentle, airy. Outwardly, she remained so. But inside she became even stronger. And more mature. This test is not for everyone.

Camila performed in the short program today. The free skate will be released on Thursday, February 17th. It will come out - no doubt. The same applies to Anya Shcherbakova and Sasha Trusova. It's hard for all girls right now. And officials and leaders remember their hopes and dreams, Valieva's status as a "protected person" only in words. In fact, they show more respect for others, they want the right athletes to receive medals.

The awarding in the women's tournament was canceled after the solemn ceremony for the teams. The International Skating Union has already complied with the request of the International Olympic Committee to adjust the regulations for singles competitions. If Valieva is among the top 24 in the short program - and there is no doubt about it, then 25 athletes will be selected for the free program, and not 24, as originally planned.

"Gold" is not in a hurry to hand over either to our team or to our single skaters, who can take the entire pedestal. The medal can be taken away, but Camila has already won in this difficult situation. When she didn’t act, which, perhaps, the bosses of the IOC and WADA pushed her with their decisions. She, like a real athlete and champion, will do her job. And we just say: "Camila, we are with you!"

And there are other examples of the fact that a medal does not always determine who will remain in the memory and in the hearts of the audience after the competition.

Samurai on Ice

Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu is a phenomenon and a living legend in figure skating. Since PyeongChang 2018, where he won his second gold medal and became the first singles skater in 66 years to win two Games in a row, he has been hailed as a genius and worshiped as the king of the Olympics. In Beijing, he was left without a medal, but it seems that after this failure, they began to love and respect him even more. For his extraordinary way of thinking, for his dedication, for his dedication.

Three young Russians - Valieva, Shcherbakova, Trusova - and Japanese Sakamoto will compete tomorrow for Beijing Olympic medals

Hanyu is followed all over the world by crowds of journalists and fans, especially Japanese ones. When I watched Yuzuru's courageous attempt to land the Axel in 4.5 turns, I felt admiration, surprise, fear at the same time. Why is this so important to him, given his endless ankle injuries?! Hanyu himself seemed to want to explain what was going on in his head and soul. Therefore, a big press conference was organized in Beijing, which was not to be missed.

Yuzuru, what does the king feel when he is left without an Olympic gold medal?Yuzuru Hanyu: Do you want to make me cry (smile)? Of course, I hoped that I would have three Olympic gold medals, but it did not work out. Title defense is always a big burden and responsibility. When the pressure subsided after a mistake in the short program, I realized that in the free program I would skate the way I wanted to. How would a nine-year-old boy who dreamed of jumping the superaxle and who cheered inside me when I made the decision to take the risk. I challenged the quad Axel but couldn't get it clean. I thought a lot about the path to the Olympics, the effort involved, the value of hard work and results. I won two Olympic "gold" in a row. It seems to me that this is already enough to be proud of yourself, your achievements and remain the king of the Olympics. And at the same time, to realize my vision of figure skating, to do on the ice what will lead me to perfection, will allow me to feel inner harmony.

Will these Games be your last?

Yuzuru Hanyu: I don't know. I came to Beijing and once again I felt that this is a special competition. I have an injury, but still I managed to get on my feet and accept this challenge. The Olympic Games are the only start when an athlete is able to do something like that. I love figure skating, I appreciate and cherish the sensations that I experience on the ice. I remember my first victory in Sochi. Performing in this atmosphere brings me great happiness - I'm really lucky as a skater. I am so glad and happy that I am Yuzuru Hanyu. Therefore, I would like to ride at the Olympics again and delight the audience.

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