Aleksandra Boikova: “When I switched to pairs skating, after two years, my weight started to go up. I couldn’t do anything about it. I was on strict diets, to the point where I could eat just one apple a day and still gain weight.”
Aleksandra Boikova, a figure skater, shares her struggles with constant pain and strict diets in pursuit of her athletic goals.
original source: Sports / Sports
Aleksandra Boikova, who competes in pairs with Dmitri Kozlovskii, revealed that she experiences constant pain due to an infection in her leg. Boikova and Kozlovskii were featured in the third episode of the series “Tutberidze Method” on Okko. Here’s a translation of their comments.
“Alksanra Boikova: I was breaking in new skates and got a blister on my leg, which became infected. The infection affected my ligaments and shin. Because athletes’ ligaments are somewhat weakened from the strain, and my joint isn’t in the best condition – it’s not exactly fresh – the infection settled in that area.
It’s harder to get rid of it because that spot is a bit worn out and depleted of its resources. I can still jump, as long as the skate doesn’t squeeze the area. I can’t apply any mechanical pressure to it.
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Professional sports are not about health at all. Any professional sport is about the fact that the human body gets worn down.
In any case, by a certain age, every athlete who practices different sports has a set of chronic injuries. Some have knee pain, others have back pain – and it lasts a lifetime. Even flying on airplanes for a long time becomes unpleasant.
Alekandra Boikova: I have a big goal – to perform a quadruple throw in competition. Many people think I’m crazy, say it’s unjustified, it’s dangerous, it’s not worth it, the difference in points is small. But it’s a little dream and goal that keeps me afloat. Thanks to it, I want to skate, and I’m ready to fight for it. <…>
Yes, we had a huge emotional breakdown, when even Stanislav [Morozov] wanted to leave the ice. After practice, I was literally hysterical. Dima understood that he needed to calm himself down in order to calm me.
The reason? Pain. I endure pain 24/7, it’s hard. Plus, there’s the physical load, plus competitions – which are stressful. All of this creates a huge snowball that eventually just bursts.
Dmiri Kozlovskii: It’s not worth trying to control your emotions 100% during training. Sometimes you need to let your emotions out. Because our work isn’t in an office. When you keep emotions inside, it starts to affect your muscles, your psyche—and eventually leads to technical failures.”
Boikova on Diets: I could eat just one apple a day and still gain weight.
European pairs champion Aleksandra Boikova shared that she followed strict diets, but they didn’t help her.
“When I switched to pairs skating, after two years, my weight started to go up. I couldn’t do anything about it. I was on strict diets, to the point where I could eat just one apple a day and still gain weight.
During puberty, I ran wrapped in plastic film, tried everything. I think everyone goes through this in sports like rhythmic gymnastics, figure skating, ballet—anything connected to aesthetics,” said the skater in the series “Tutberidze Method” on Okko.
Related topics: Alexandra Boikova Dmitri Kozlovski
Does she say things for some sort of dramatic effect? Nobody eats an apple which is 100 cal and gains weight. I imagine these skaters burn 3 to 4000 cal a day at least.
And what about muscle mass you can’t keep that up with a low calorie diet