Kamila Valieva: “During the two years [of disqualification], the first six months were really great for me. Why? Because I stopped being weighed. Daily weigh-ins impose various eating disorders, which I experienced.”

Kamila Valieva reflected on the positive aspects of her doping disqualification, highlighting relief from daily weigh-ins and the impact on her mental and physical health.

original source: Sport24

Kamila Valieva said that not being weighed was a positive aspect during her doping disqualification. Here’s a translation of her comments.

“Q: You mentioned that your adolescence coincided with your absence from competitions, and that it actually benefited you, giving you time to process everything calmly and return renewed – with new strength and new opportunities. Can you elaborate on that?

Kamila Valieva: Yes. I believe that if you look for positives in everything, you can find them even in disqualification. During the two years [away from competitions], the first six months were really great for me, in every sense – physically and otherwise.

Why is that a plus? Because I stopped being weighed. Daily weigh-ins impose various eating disorders, which I experienced. This is something that always needs to be talked about, because for most girls in figure skating, it’s a very acute issue.

Of course, I felt relieved. There were no weigh-ins, no training, no strict schedule. Plus, with hormonal changes, I gained a significant amount of weight.

Over time, my mindset normalized. I no longer had the obsessive thoughts that come with that “state of mind.” It’s as if I finally understood why I want to maintain my weight, why I want to look good, and why it’s important…

It’s not about being told that an extra 200 grams means you won’t make it, you won’t land your jumps, and so on. No, you’ll always be able to jump. But this self-suggestion, reinforced daily – that 100 grams is holding you back – only creates psychological complexes and various disorders.

For us, the main trigger is weigh-ins. For girls, it’s always the weigh-ins, and people think it’s important. For me – maybe it’s just my personality – I don’t need to be reminded a hundred times a day that something is wrong with me. I know it, I see it. I understand if I have, say, extra weight.

But at that moment, it’s important that at least at home, the family doesn’t say anything: “Where are you going? Are you drinking tea with sugar? You can’t have sugar!” No, please, let home be a cozy, safe place. At least somewhere should be safe.

And weigh-ins… It’s very hard to overcome this trigger. All our legends – female skaters – have gone through this stage when their bodies change. Everyone was overweight, so to speak, for figure skating and even for people in general. Because everyone loved to comment: this one isn’t right, her arms are big, that one’s legs are big, and so on…

But eventually, it passes, because the trigger is gone.”

Related topics: Kamila Valieva