Alina Zagitova

Russian figure skater who won Olympic gold at PyeongChang 2018, becoming the youngest Olympic champion in ladies' singles since 1998 at age 15.

Born in Moscow on August 18, 2002, Alina Ilnazovna Zagitova began figure skating at age five after her grandmother suggested the sport. Of mixed Russian and Tatar heritage, she moved to Moscow from Izhevsk to train at the prestigious Sambo 70 skating school under renowned coach Eteri Tutberidze. Her early development was marked by exceptional technical ability and a disciplined approach to training that set her apart from her peers. Zagitova's breakthrough came during the 2017-18 season when she burst onto the international scene as a junior skater. She won the 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final before making her senior debut, immediately establishing herself as a contender for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Her innovative strategy of placing all jumping elements in the second half of her programs to maximize scoring under the International Judging System became her signature tactical approach. The pinnacle of Zagitova's career came at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where she won gold at just 15 years old, becoming the second-youngest Olympic champion in ladies' figure skating history. Her technically demanding performances featured seven triple jumps, including difficult combinations executed flawlessly under immense pressure. She also claimed the 2019 World Championship title and won the European Championships twice, in 2018 and 2019, during her brief but dominant competitive peak. Following a hiatus that began in late 2019, Zagitova announced her retirement from competitive figure skating in December 2020, citing motivation challenges and the physical demands of the sport. Despite her relatively short competitive career, she revolutionized technical approaches in women's figure skating through her strategic back-loading of jumping elements. Her impact extended beyond medals, inspiring a generation of young skaters while demonstrating how tactical innovation could be combined with artistic excellence. Zagitova remains involved in skating through shows and coaching development, cementing her status as one of the sport's most influential recent champions.

Known for back-loading jumps in second half of programs and exceptional consistency

Revolutionary back-loading technique and youngest Olympic ladies champion in 20 years

• 2018 Olympic Champion
• 2019 World Champion
• 2017-18 Grand Prix Final Champion
• 2018 European Champion