KAZAN, February 17, Vadim Kuznetsov Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva deserves high marks and first place in the short program in the individual tournament of the Olympics, said the Olympic champion of the 1988 Games Natalya Bestemyanova. Previously, two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko in a column for Sport-Express and American judge Joe Inman in a USA Today commentary noted that Valieva's scores, who won the short program in Beijing were overestimated. «Everyone has their own opinion, which has the right to life. Zhenya Plushenko is a multiple champion and respected person in figure skating. But I have a different opinion. I believe that Valieva's estimates were not overestimated. The ultra-c element of the triple axel that Valieva performed is, of course, more expensive than the double axel that Shcherbakova jumped in. And Valieva’s spins should come with such pluses in relation to Shcherbakova’s spins that it’s not even discussed given. My opinion is in solidarity with the judges, but I respect the opinion of Zhenya,» Bestemyanova said. «The Olympic Games are coming. The judges were chosen to honestly figure out which of the athletes is better. The whole world is watching them. How can you say that someone can support someone?» — said the champion of the 1988 Games.
