Sofia Samodelkina: “I’m proud that Rafael Arutyunyan agreed to work with me. When such a legendary professional believes in you, it’s a huge vote of confidence — one that I need to live up to.”
Sofia Samodelkina bout her debut World Championships.
original source: Sports / Instagram
Sofia Samodelkina, representing Kazakhstan, finished 14th at the World Championships in Boston. She commented on her performance at her debut Worlds. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Sports and Instagram.
In a conversation with Sports correspondent Maya Bagriantseva, Sofia Samodelkina commented on her free program where she scored 117.78 points:
“Of course, I’m upset. And not even because of the scores, but because of that last jump. The performance overall was really good, but the final impression of the program and the scores suffered greatly because of that jump.
Naturally, I’m still happy to have been able to compete at the World Championships and secure a spot at the Olympics, but I’m undoubtedly dissatisfied with myself. That’s not how I should have skated my free program. I know I can skate it cleanly, and I do. Perhaps I lost concentration toward the end or got distracted — I’ll need to review it.
It’s also frustrating because I was in really good shape, and the performance itself felt very calm for me. I had enough energy to finish the program strong. Normally, my legs get a little tired toward the end, but in this case, I approached the last combination confidently and without fatigue.
Performing after such a long break is, of course, challenging — I hadn’t competed for two years, and this season was very intense. Still, I feel like it’s obvious that I’ve become stronger in many aspects.
What upset me the most, though, is that so much work went into this, and I failed to fully show the results of that effort.
That just means I’ll be stronger next season, and at the next World Championships, I’ll come out with a different performance. I need to improve everything: my jumps, my spins, my transitions, and even my programs themselves.
I’ll trust my coach 100% and follow everything Rafael Vladimirovich [Arutyunyan] tells me to do. I trust him completely, and I’m proud that he agreed to work with me. When such a legendary professional believes in you, it’s a huge vote of confidence — one that I need to live up to.”
Later Sofia also posted on her Instagram:
“My first World Championships — a significant milestone is complete, but everything is just beginning.
If someone had told me two years ago that I’d be here, I wouldn’t have believed it. But here I am — with experience, emotions, and the realization that nothing is impossible. As I reflect on this moment, I would like to express my immense gratitude to everyone who supported me, helped me, and stood by my side.
I finished in 14th place at this important competition, and for me, it is a huge step forward. This isn’t just a result — it’s valuable experience, motivation, and proof that I’m moving in the right direction. I see clearly what needs to be improved.
I want to give my heartfelt thanks to my coaches — thank you for helping me become better and stronger! To my family and friends, my most loyal fans, Altinai, and of course Elmira Sarsengaliyevna — without you, I wouldn’t have made it. Thank you for your support, Kazakhstan!
I am incredibly happy and proud to have secured the Olympic spot for Kazakhstan! It’s an incredible feeling to know that my hard work, dedication, and the support of everyone around me led to such an important achievement.
This moment is not just my personal victory but also a step forward for our sport as a whole. Thank you for believing in me! I will do everything I can to get better. I am simply overjoyed.”
Related topics: Sofia Samodelkina, world championship
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