‘Simply unbelievable’: Russian teenage figure-skating phenomenon Valieva scales new heights with victory in Sochi (VIDEO)
Russia’s Kamila Valieva cemented her status as the dominant force in women’s figure skating as she broke two more world records with a near-perfect performance on the way to victory at the Rostelecom Cup in Sochi.
Having already registered a world-record score for her short program on Friday, Valieva followed that with a tally of 185.29 points for her free skate on Saturday at the Iceberg Skating Palace – breaking her own previous record of 180.89 set in Canada earlier this season.
That put the 15-year-old on a total of 272.71, clinching first place and also surpassing her previous world-record mark of 265.08.
???? Just one word: WOW! Kamila Valieva takes the top spot in the Women at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup! #GPFigure #FigureSkating pic.twitter.com/P7IywH1ivQ
— ISU Figure Skating (@ISU_Figure) November 27, 2021
It was a clean sweep on the podium for Russia at the sixth and final ISU Grand Prix of this season’s series as former world champion and fan favorite Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, 24, finished second on an overall score of 229.23 points.
Countrywoman Maiia Khromykh, 15, recovered from a disappointing fifth-place finish in the short program to land 154.97 points for her free routine, which was enough to place her third overall on 219.69 points.
Kamila Valieva beats her own world record in the free skate and dominantly wins at the Rostelecom Cup!
— The Skating Times (@theskatingtimes) November 27, 2021
1. Kamila Valieva ???????? - 272.71
2. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva ???????? - 229.23
3. Maiia Khromykh ????????- 219.69 pic.twitter.com/y79aMXvzXO
All three Russian stars have secured spots at the ISU Grand Prix Finals in Osaka, Japan, which run from December 9 to 12. Five of the six Grand Prix slots will be filled by Russians, with Anna Shcherbakova and Alena Kostornaia having also qualified. Sakamoto Kaori of Japan will take the other place.
Coached by the revered Eteri Tutberidze, former world junior champion Valieva has made an impressive step up to the senior ranks, and her performances this season have marked her out as the strong favorite for the Grand Prix Finals title in Japan and the Olympic gold at the Winter Games in Beijing in February.
87.42
— daily kamila valieva (@kamiIavalieva) November 27, 2021
185.29
272.12
just thank you ????♥️
❥ #камилавалиева | #kamilavalieva pic.twitter.com/nXcUcA1SHh
triple axel ✨
— daily kamila valieva (@kamiIavalieva) November 27, 2021
❥ #камилавалиева | #kamilavalieva pic.twitter.com/J3wNfGaClY
Skating to Maurice Ravel's 'Bolero', Valieva landed three quad jumps and a triple Axel in her performance on Saturday.
It was pointed out online that Valieva’s score in Sochi would have been enough to win the men’s event, where the title was claimed by Russian-Georgian skater Morisi Kvitelashvil with an overall score of 266.33.
congrats to kamila valieva for winning both the women and mens event at rostelecom cup !! pic.twitter.com/MkL7MRWCBe
— risa (@arixhc) November 27, 2021
“Count me among those who just stood to applaud Kamila Valieva. That was simply unbelievable, even with a minor, minor mistake. It’s her world, and everyone else can just marvel,” said journalist Philip Hersh.
Count me among those who just stood to applaud Kamila Valieva. That was simply unbelievable, even with a minor, minor mistake. It’s her world, and everyone else can just marvel. #RostelecomCup2021
— Philip Hersh (@olyphil) November 27, 2021
Valieva has reached her peak this week in Russia, pitch perfect landings and flow. The question is whether she can maintain this through February. #RostelecomCup2021
— David Kane (@DKTNNS) November 27, 2021