Alina Zagitova: “As a professional athlete, I saw nothing but ice rink. I didn’t have any friends, and I focused entirely on figure skating. This certainly helped to achieve result, but at the same time I missed something.”
Interview with Alina Zagitova for Voice magazine.
source: Voice
Anna Shcherbakova and Alina Zagitova shot and interviewed together. This part will be about Alina.
The part about Anna you can read here: Anna Shcherbakova: “I think not a single athlete needs direct support from each other; it is perceived as a kind of pity from a competitor.”
Was it easy for you to work together today?
Alina Zagitova: Figure skating as an individual sport makes us think of ourselves first. But outside of the rink, we all communicate well. It’s easy for me to communicate with Anya, so we quickly find a common language during our joint work. Everything is positive in a friendly atmosphere.
Tell us what Alina Zagitova is like in real life.
Alina Zagitova: On the ice, I am a concentrated, one might say, angry in a positive way, but outside of sports, I am more calm.
Do you often feel sad, and is it easy to make you laugh?
Alina Zagitova: Funny videos or comedies cheer me up (Have you read the haters’ comments under them? Hilarious!). In general, it’s easy enough to make me laugh, which is great because laughter prolongs life.
The athlete’s schedule is literally scheduled by the minute. Are you able to find time for yourself?
Alina Zagitova: I really like to take time for myself; for me, this is an obligatory condition for a comfortable life. For example, I started taking care of my skin at the age of 12, and since then it has been my special ritual for relaxation. I also dedicate free time to drawing, learning English, and studying the structure of the galaxy.
What does your ideal day off look like?
Alina Zagitova: Sleep, have breakfast, go for a massage, and watch a good movie. I also like shopping and hanging out with friends. It is also very important for me to spend time with my family over a delicious lunch or dinner. Of course, 24 hours is not so much, and they are often not enough for everything that I would like to do, but I try to fit the above into my day.
Your success in figure skating has made you a celebrity. How do you feel about your popularity?
Alina Zagitova: What is happening to me now is great! Although sometimes people treat me as if I were not a living person, they communicate as if it was my job to be a star, take pictures with everyone, and sign autographs. But, fortunately, there are still more positive moments.
Looking back, have you ever regretted choosing the profession of an athlete?
Alina Zagitova: I am 100% satisfied with the way my life has developed and continues to develop. As a child, I did not dream of any medals, and as I got older, I could no longer imagine my life without skating. So this choice is more than conscious.
For every second teenager, the transitional period was marked by rebellion. How do athletes deal with this?
Alina Zagitova: As a professional athlete, I saw nothing but the ice rink and my home. I didn’t have any friends, and I focused entirely on figure skating. This certainly helped in achieving the result, but at the same time I missed something. And at some point, the rebellion started to manifest itself in training; it was difficult for the coaches to work with me, but fortunately, that period passed quickly enough.
How would you describe your childhood?
Alina Zagitova: Most of all, I remember that we often moved from city to city; my dad is a hockey player. Some athletes remember nothing but training in their childhood, but even with trainings, I had time for another life. I just did what was required of me at the rink while remaining an ordinary child who does not think about any Olympics. A serious attitude toward sports appeared only at the age of 12-13, and until that moment, I was no different from other children.
What can’t you imagine your morning without?
Alina Zagitova: Without care procedures: I do masks and facial massages.
The best way to deal with a bad mood is…
Alina Zagitova: Eat something delicious.
What was the last movie you watched that you both cried and laughed at?
Alina Zagitova: I cried while watching “Hachiko”. Also, I have recently watched the movie “1 + 1,” which evoked a lot of emotions and moved me to tears. And laughed watching the “Mask”.
Related topics: Alina Zagitova
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