Kamila Valieva took to the ice in Beijing after she was only cleared to compete on Monday
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva moved into the lead in the women’s individual event in Beijing after completing an emotional short skate routine on Tuesday.
Gold medal favorite Valieva scored 82.16 points for her program, some way off her world record best but still impressive given the immense pressure the 15-year-old had endured heading into the event.
Valieva stumbled on a triple axel, landing on both feet, which meant she was marked down for the element.
But the Russian youngster’s other elements were superb, including a flawless triple flip and a triple lutz-triple loop combo, which she landed in the second part of her routine.
Valieva was tearful at the completion of her performance, but kept control of her emotions and was seen smiling while hugging coach Eteri Tutberidze before waiting for her result to be announced.
The score was enough to put Valieva ahead of Japan’s Wakaba Higuchi, who had earlier recorded a tally of 73.51.
After a week-long ordeal, Valieva was finally cleared to complete in the women’s individual event after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected appeals to impose a suspension on the Russian skater.
The Russian champion tested positive for a banned heart medicine in a sample taken in December, but the result was only reported last week in Beijing – after Valieva had already helped the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to gold in the team event.
Valieva had admitted on the eve of the competition that the doping case – which included a lengthy late-night hearing at which she testified at the start of the week – had left her feeling “emotionally tired.”
All eyes were on the teenager as she took to the ice as the 26th competitor in Tuesday’s field of 30 at the Capital Indoor Stadium in the Chinese capital.
Valieva is the official world-record holder for the short program points tally with the tally of 90.45 she registered at the European championships in January.
Skating to ‘In Memoriam’ by Kirill Richter in a routine dedicated to her late grandmother, Valieva was short of her best but still produced an admirably composed and elegant skate, particularly given the circumstances.
MORE TO FOLLOW
Source: RT