Olympic champion in figure skating Alina Zagitova on Saturday at the Day of Moscow Sports showed another talent — took part in a show duel in fencing with swords. About how it was — in the material of the correspondent Sport.
Changing roles in Zagitova's public appearances has become such a common occurrence that they practically stopped joking about it. Well, they stopped. Of course, someone continues to slander, but, basically, everyone is waiting for what else the Olympic champion will come up with so unusual to surprise the fans.
But it all started, in fact, just on the Day of Moscow Sports a year ago, when Zagitova tried herself in boxing. That is, she didn’t quite try: she started training in the ring a few months earlier and did not hide her new hobby. And then it turned out that this was not just so — at the summer sports festival Alina took part in sparring with Olympic champion Oleg Saitov. interview… — I wanted to try myself in boxing — I decided to act. They also offered to try diving. But I'm not sure, acrobatics are needed there. «
Instead of jumping into the water, Zagitova experienced bungee jumping, or, in simple terms, a jump into the abyss on a rope: the skater risked jumping from a tower from a height of 207 meters in an extreme amusement park in Sochi. But this entertainment is also available to mere mortals — those of them who are ready to shell out a tidy sum and are not afraid. But to put on the uniform of a fencer and go on the track against the two-time Olympic champion, as happened on the Moscow Sports Day already in 2023, is already a challenge of a new level.
Of course, Zagitova's fight against epee fencer Karina Aznavouryan could not be serious, this is quite obvious. But fencing is a sport that requires a certain amount of technique. It is impossible to take a weapon from a sheet and not look like a complete «teapot» here.
It was noticeable that Alina was prepared. She herself later admitted that she took a master class before the fight from a future rival. And the fight looked at least beautiful, which was recognized by everyone who watched it. And the entire avant-garde of her fan club came to look at Zagitova with a sword.
As it should be according to the scenario of such show-fights, everything had to be decided by the last round. To be completely honest, Aznavourian inflicted it twice, but both times she asked not to count the action, calling it a «reflex». The two-time Olympic champion in fencing, like Alina's fans, clearly wanted the Olympic champion in figure skating to win. And Zagitova coped, on the third attempt, inflicting a victorious injection, which the fans met with a standing ovation.
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“It was not difficult to show oneself well with such a mentor,” the figure skater paid tribute to Karina Aznavouryan, who prepared her for the fight. “Last year I boxed, but I can say that fencing is much more difficult in terms of concentration, every fraction of a second can lead you both to victory and to defeat. I really liked it. It is difficult, but if you train, it is possible. «
Then Zagitova added that she might continue fencing.
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“Of course, the master class was not enough for me to defeat her as a professional,” the Olympic champion noted, admitting that the fight «I was presented with equipment, a sword. If there is a mood, I will improve in this sport.»
Surely the fencing gurus watched the show with the participation of Zagitova with a smirk. I spoke to one of them. «Either Alina is an outstanding talent, or all of this … — choose the option that you like,» he said ironically. But it is quite obvious that the main result of such demonstration meetings is not at all in the sports result. Let's be honest: fencing is far from the most popular sport. If we take the same Day of Moscow Sports: the Small Sports Arena, where Zagitova performed on the ice that day, was bursting with the influx of spectators. Around the fencing platform, both before the duel of Alina and after the hype, to put it mildly, was not observed. the role of a fencer, perhaps they themselves will want to pick up a sword. Or send your children to fencing. This is the meaning of «dressing up» sports stars. And it really works. And when such reincarnations are interesting to the star herself, the efficiency is doubled. After all, people see that she is not just serving a number. Alina was beaming for 15 minutes while her fight lasted — her smile also shone through the mask. And before the fight, the figure skater was happy to take a picture with the young fencers who participated in the Saturday holiday. appearance at the Day of Moscow Sports in a new role. Alina boxed, fenced, ran a sprint during the recent Athletics Week — what else will the skater come up with? Basketball, towns or maybe chess? The time to think about the next move is exactly one year.