Alina Zagitova: 5 things you should know about her, the new Olympics Champion

Just 15: this incredible new superstar in figure skating is the second youngest Olympics Champion.

After defeating Evgenia Medvedeva, the two times of world champions and her senior under the same coach, Alina Zagitova's popularity has grown rapidly. 

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She fifty thousand followers on Instagram before the Winter Olympics and now the number is over two hundred thousand.

Besides her excellent skating performance, here are five things you should know about her, the Russian new superstar in figure skating.

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Why is she called Alina:

Zagitova's parents decided to call her Alina when she was still 1-year-old after watching the performance of Alina Kabaeva, the Russian former gymnast Olympics Champions. Until now, Zagitova also regards the gymnast as an idol. "I know how strong her personality is, and I like her performance very much," she said.

Alina Kabaeva(online photo)

Born in a skating family:

Zagitova began to skate when she was 6 years old and her father Ilnaz Zagitov is an ice hockey coach, who once competed for Russia. Alina's sister Sabina is also a fancy skater.  The whole family has a deep fate with the winter sports.

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The loneliness of figure skating:

In pursuit of her "skating dream", Alina has moved to Mosco, 800 miles from her home and received training there since she was 13. 

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Being separated from her family for two years, Alina admits, "In the first month, it was really hard for me to accept that I can't meet my family and I felt that my soul is destroyed. But then we chat through Skype, and my mood began to recover. "She also said that she didn't have many friends around her at that time, and everyone she saw on the ice rink is rival.

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Under the same coaching with Medvedeva:

Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva respectively win gold and silver medal in Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. They are both the students of the famous skating coach Eteri Turberidze, the winner of 2014 Winter Olympic gold medal.

photo from Alina Zagitova instagram

The first season for her to participate in high-level games:

15-year-old Alina has been playing in the junior group before "stepping into" the senior group last summer vacation. After winning the gold medal in the European Championships held in Jan, she became an Olympic representative. This new Olympics Champion is young and promising.

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photo from Alina Zagitova instagram