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Anna Shcherbakova’s success has been overshadowed by Kamila Valieva’s drama, however should not be forgotten for a way outstanding it’s
The ladies’s determine skating competitors in Beijing will inevitably be remembered for the unedifying saga which unfolded round pre-tournament favourite Kamila Valieva, who was left demoralized and damaged by the point she had completed her remaining routine within the Chinese language capital.
Valieva’s identify has dominated the headlines ever for the reason that information of her optimistic doping pattern emerged, piling immense stress on her slender shoulders – a burden which, maybe unsurprisingly, proved to be all an excessive amount of.
Valieva’s misfortune meant she was not among the many Beijing particular person medalists – the ceremony for which the IOC had already mentioned wouldn’t happen, had she completed within the prime three.
Second on the rostrum was Alexandra Trusova, a fellow Russian teenager who additionally ended up seizing the highlight for issues on and off the ice.
Finishing a historic 5 quads in her program, Trusova nonetheless needed to accept silver. Her outburst after the occasion, the place she was heard shouting “I hate this sport”, laid naked Trusova’s intense need to win, but additionally her discontent at how issues had performed out in Beijing.
Amid all of the drama and distraction, and when the mud had settled, it was the quiet, rather more unassuming determine of Anna Shcherbakova who stood prime of the pile.
With Valieva inconsolable and Trusova having a mood match, it will be straightforward to miss Shcherbakova’s achievement, buried as it’s amongst a tsunami of headlines surrounding different skaters.
However Shcherbakova’s efficiency in Beijing – and her personal battle in opposition to the chances – is worthy of being advised far and extensive, even amongst all of the opprobrium and anger surrounding different members of the Russian workforce.
Shcherbakova’s path to the highest of the rostrum was far much less clean than the majestic skating she produced on the Beijing ice.
Certainly, it’s a ‘Cinderella-type’ story of a skater compelled to endure trial and tribulation earlier than being topped an Olympic princess.
Rising via the ranks
Regardless of her haul of medals and titles – together with the 2021 World Championship crown and now an Olympic gold – Shcherbakova has by no means actually been thought of a powerful favourite to earn prime accolades all through the years.
Shcherbakova started to coach underneath the tutelage of famend coach Eteri Tutberidze when she was simply 9 years previous, commencing a cooperation which might ultimately deliver her to world prominence, however solely through a route stuffed with obstacles.
On the age of 13, Shcherbakova had a career-threatening damage when she broke her leg after falling on a loop soar.
Rehabilitation took a number of months and even the skater’s dad and mom weren’t certain whether or not she would be capable of return.
However return she did, consequently rising the problem of her applications and becoming a member of the so referred to as ‘quad membership’ after she began to land quadruple jumps.
Shcherbakova gained the Russian Championships at age 15, one thing which many nonetheless thought of as an ‘unintended’ consequence after quite a few rivals made pricey errors.
That very same 12 months, Shcherbakova took silver on the 2019 World Junior Championships, ending behind Trusova.
Her first season at senior degree was largely unremarkable as she skated within the shadow of teammates and coaching companions Alena Kostornaia and Trusova, who seemed extra strong and steady in Tutberidze’s group.
However regardless of not having essentially the most spectacular technical content material, Shcherbakova once more claimed the nationwide title, defending the crown she had gained a 12 months earlier than.
Her debut on the 2020 European Championships didn’t stir many pundits regardless of her second place, as all eyes have been on Kostornaia, who wowed along with her highly effective skating and super triple axel, which made her rating unattainable for rivals.
Kostornaia would seemingly have develop into world champion had it not been for the onset of the pandemic, which canceled main occasions together with the season-ending determine skating match.
Overcoming extra obstacles
Lastly it appeared like Shcherbakova’s time to shine when she turned the primary star in Tutberidze’s group after the defection of Kostornaia and Trusova, who moved on to be coached by Evgeni Plushenko.
However the pre-Olympic season turned out to be torture for Shcherbakova, who was compelled to alter her aggressive schedule after contracting Covid.
Having barely recovered from pneumonia, the skater determined to participate within the Russian Championships in a bid to progress to the nationwide squad.
Pale and respiratory closely, Shcherbakova seemed that she would collapse throughout her quick program.
However characteristically she soldiered on, regardless of suggestions from her coaches to withdraw.
Shcherbakova entered the free skate enduring ache, fatigue and a excessive temperature, even cracking the usually stern façade of coach Tutberidze, inflicting her to cry with the ultimate phases of her program.
Her efforts meant that Shcherbakova had gained her third straight nationwide title, beating none aside from rising younger sensation Valieva.
Taking her possibilities
Shcherbakova entered the 2021 World Championships as a medal contender however nonetheless not the main favourite, on condition that Trusova was planning a revolutionary variety of quads.
However the ‘Russian Rocket’ shocked followers by ending simply twelfth after the primary aggressive day, leaving the door open for Shcherbakova and veteran Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who wanted no second invitation to capitalize.
Shcherbakova gained the match confidently, including a maiden world title to her identify. A month later, she helped Russia to have fun gold on the Workforce World Championships in Japan.
Olympic uncertainty
Simply as issues have been on the up, Shcherbakova was by one other streak of unhealthy luck firstly of the Olympic season as she broke her toe – an damage which might maintain her out of coaching for a number of weeks.
Shaky and unstable throughout Grand Prix phases, Shcherbakova gave ammunition to critics who speculated over her unreadiness to enter the Russian squad for the 2022 Beijing Video games.
She was on the verge of lacking her ticket to Beijing after falling from the only real quad in her free skate on the nationwide championships, however the rating was excessive sufficient to complete within the prime three, behind Valieva and Trusova.
Questions in regards to the equity of her inclusion to the workforce intensified after Shcherbakova faltered in her quick program on the European Championships as lately as January, falling on her signature triple lutz-triple loop combo.
However she recovered shortly, delivering a flawless efficiency within the free skate to rise to second place within the remaining standings, behind Valieva.
Regardless of making the Olympic workforce, the obstacles continued to mount for Shcherbakova upon arrival in Beijing, the place her skates broke, forcing her to make an pressing change simply days earlier than the largest competitors of her life.
It may appear trivial, however anybody accustomed to determine skating will know that new skates forward of a significant competitors isn’t any small upheaval, on condition that athletes usually want weeks to regulate to new gear.
Shcherbakova didn’t have that point, however there have been no complaints, simply grit and willpower.
Crowning glory
Certainly, whereas the first turmoil engulfed the unlucky Valieva after her doping row erupted, it might simply have unbalanced the complete Russian workforce in Beijing, such was its magnitude.
Shcherbakova remained calm, nevertheless, inserting second behind Valieva after a flawless quick program in Beijing.
Forward of her free skate routine on Thursday, Shcherbakova had been compelled to take care of Trusova’s historic skate simply moments earlier, because the flame-hair star landed a outstanding 5 quads.
The stress was on once more, and something lower than her greatest – even with the under-pressure Valieva to comply with – wouldn’t have been sufficient for Shcherbakova to triumph.
Ultimately, Shcherbakova pulled off the efficiency of her life to the music from the film ‘Grasp and Margarita’, rising to the event and flowing over the ice.
Regardless that her free skate rating was behind quad queen Trusova, it embodied the steadfast magnificence which typified Shcherbakova’s exhibiting in Beijing, and when mixed along with her quick skate factors tally, it was sufficient to make the 17-year-old totally deserving of the gold medal hung round her neck – one thing even her most ardent of followers wouldn’t have dared to imagine only a month in the past.
To her immense credit score, Shcherbakova was dignified and chic in victory as a distraught Valieva was consoled and Trusova set free her disappointment in entrance of the cameras.
She was not the Russian determine skater that many had anticipated to face on prime of the rostrum in Beijing, however Anna Shcherbakova is each bit a worthy Olympic champion.
By Elena Dilber
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