Tatiana Navka commented on the teenage figure skating sensation after her Olympic heartbreak
Figure skater Kamila Valieva has become even more beloved in her Russian homeland after her Olympic ordeal and now has popularity on a par with President Vladimir Putin, ice dancing queen Tatiana Navka has said.
Valieva saw her Olympic dream turn into a nightmare in Beijing after she won gold in the team event only to be caught up in the middle of a doping case based on a sample taken back in December.
The drama surrounding the 15-year-old became the biggest talking of the Beijing Games, and although the star returned home distraught after missing out on a medal in the individual event, she was welcomed warmly by her compatriots upon arriving in Moscow last week.
On Monday, Valieva joined other Russian Olympians in a celebration of their Beijing success at a glitzy concert at the VTB Arena in downtown Moscow, after the final contingent of athletes arrived home from China.
Valieva was seen smiling as she greeted fellow stars, including figure skating teammate Anna Shcherbakova, who won the women’s individual gold.
Valieva and other Russian figure skaters were not awarded their gold medals for the team event in Beijing after the ceremony was postponed following the news of Valieva’s positive sample.
But on Monday, Valieva and fellow stars Mark Kondratiuk, Victoria Sinitsina, Nikita Katsalapov, Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov were all given necklaces bearing hearts in the same alignment as the Olympic rings.