“When they pulled him out and showed to me, I was lying there thinking, ‘Oh my God, what is this?’ He was all blue and swollen. I was happy, of course, but he didn’t look very cute at all.” Alena Kostornaia on becoming a mother
Alena Kostornaia: On Becoming a Mother and the Birth Experience
Alena Kostornaia, the 22-year-old European figure skating champion, recently became a mother to a baby boy with her husband, Georgi Kunitsa. In an interview, Kostornaia shared her experience of early motherhood, her plans to return to training, and how she balances her new role as a parent with her figure skating career. Here’s a translation of her comments.
The skater revealed that she initially wanted her husband to be present during the birth, but hospital protocols prevented it:
“I believe that if a couple feels ready and thinks it will help them both, it’s wonderful. We planned for partner-supported childbirth, but since everything took place in an operating room, Gosha wasn’t allowed to be there – that’s just the policy. Still, he stayed right outside the door, supporting me the entire time. I could feel his presence and support even though he wasn’t physically there with me,” Kostornaia shared.
She described the birth as going smoothly: “I had an excellent medical team whom I trusted completely, so I felt calm throughout. Everything was handled quickly and professionally, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. Most importantly, both the baby and I are doing great,” she said.
While still adjusting to her new role as a mother, Kostornaia admitted that it feels natural: “Honestly, everything feels very natural – it’s like another very important part of life has appeared. When people ask me what’s changed, I think about it and realize that apart from new responsibilities and incredible emotions, not much has changed overall. We’re parents now, and it’s an amazing feeling,” Kostornaia explained.
Kostornaia also shared the challenges she’s facing, particularly sleepless nights: “The baby constantly needs attention. I try to do everything I can to make him comfortable. When he is, he’s an absolute angel,” the skater said with a smile.
Although her husband, Georgi, offers support, Kostornaia strives to handle most of the nighttime responsibilities herself: “My husband has a packed schedule with competitions, work, and training, so I try not to wake him up at night so he can recover and stay in good shape. During the day, though, he’s fully involved – helping, participating in everything,” she added.
Kostornaia is already planning her return to figure skating and has missed her routine: “I stayed active throughout my pregnancy, continuing to work on the ice and keeping myself in shape. Now, I’m gradually returning to full training. I plan to start more intensive training after the October 12th,” she shared.
Kostornaia and Kunitsa, now married for two years, made the switch together from singles to pair skating. She has also officially taken her husband’s last name and is now known as Alena Kostornaia-Kunitsa.
When speaking to journalists, Kostornaia described her emotions while meeting her son for the first time:
“Everything is good now. We stayed in the hospital a little longer than planned – we initially thought we’d be discharged earlier, but we had to spend some time in the pathology department. Once all the examinations were finished and it was confirmed that everything was fine, we finally shared the photo [of our baby].
When they pulled him out and showed him to me, I was lying there thinking, ‘Oh my God, what is this?’ He was all blue and swollen. I was happy, of course, but he didn’t look very cute at all. I had never seen a newborn baby before, and for some reason, I hadn’t thought to check online what they look like. Then they cleaned him up, and he cried loudly. Now, every time I look at him, I’m completely in awe.”
She also explained her routine when she travels for work: “How do I manage my schedule when traveling for competitions? Well, I’m not currently on the ice performing full programs. Yes, I do work, but it’s a bit different. As for the baby, right now he’s with our parents my mom, Gosha’s mom, and his grandmother,” Kostornaia said.
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