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Sports correspondent — about the life philosophy of the Olympic champion, which helps her turn a minus into a plus.< br>
I had one unsuccessful text. More precisely, I think there were many more of them, but this one is especially etched in my memory. Because after it I received a portion of criticism not only in the comments, but even in other media. This happened about 12 years ago, but I remember the terrible insult, as if it was inflicted yesterday. Yes, I admit, there was something to scold for, but the person who particularly vehemently attacked the material was also not Leo Tolstoy, but, as they say, a simple journalist.
Unfortunately, the wisdom “he who does nothing makes no mistakes” was not enough to get through the current situation without unnecessary worries. But I didn’t know Alina Zagitova then. She was only 10 years old, and even if she dreamed at that time of becoming a champion of Europe, the world and the Olympic Games, she certainly did not imagine that after achieving all this she would be faced with a colossal flow of negativity addressed to her. And I didn’t think how I would cope with this.
But life taught me. “We need to accept and understand people who hate me,” Zagitova said during one of her recent meetings with fans. “I came to the idea that I help people. Maybe they lack attention, they are trying to assert themselves. I help them with this too I think that this person who writes to me that I put on some wrong shoes is throwing out negativity that he could bring down on others. Let him take it out on me, but he won’t say nasty things to his loved ones, parents, children.” .
In general, figure skaters are probably in second place after politicians in terms of the degree of susceptibility to criticism. Judge for yourself: in this sport it is customary to publicly discuss not only programs and costumes, but also weight and even personal life, without any regard for ethics. The comments that are accepted in this environment will give a head start to anything in terms of toxicity. Football fans are like kindergarten compared to especially ardent figure skaters.
Therefore, it is probably not surprising that it was the figure skater who learned to turn negative into positive. Well, the fact that it was Zagitova who became her is also logical. After an ambiguous victory (and what else could it be if the advantage is only 1.31 points) over Evgenia Medvedeva at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, Alina was attacked by the hatred of an army of thousands of her rival’s fans. It was useless to explain to them that it was not the champion herself who put herself on the top line of the podium, but the referees. “It’s your fault that I want to eat,” said the Wolf before dragging the Lamb into the forest. Zagitova's fault with the haters is simply that she exists.
And besides, she not only exists, but is constantly in sight — even after she stopped competing on the ice. No matter what she does, she always gets screwed. He hosts «Ice Age», sings, dances in a New Year's children's fairy tale — there will definitely be those who will say that he asks bad questions, does not control his voice, much less his body. And Zagitova, moreover, also boxes, fencing, plays hockey, produces her own merch and does many other things, for which she is subject to obstruction. Of course, and for the way he dresses — see above about boots.
Zagitova’s reservations are a different story. It is absolutely obvious that not all people on this Earth have a tongue, so to speak, without bones. Not everyone can make sparkling jokes — otherwise everyone would become a stand-up comedian. Which, by the way, are too many. But it is just as obvious that the Olympic champion, who also has a stunning appearance, will be invited to talk shows and interviews. Why should she refuse, if every appearance in public is awaited by a huge army of her fans, who are not embarrassed by either reservations or other, as Zagitova herself recently put it, “fakapchiki”?
The figure skater’s verbal exercises have long been firmly established in the media. At one time, the concept of “Bushisms” — ridiculous expressions of former US President George W. Bush — became a household word. It is quite possible to expect that someone will introduce the term “zagitism” into use. But how brilliantly Alina reflects the attacks of those who want to trample (probably unsurpassed masters of artistic expression) on her reservations! I actually made a big splash out of “inevitably” by producing merch with this word. And the other day she admitted that she also has a philosophical attitude towards the authors of mocking headlines: «I give them a new job so that they earn money and feed myself and my children. I help them, I came up with the same idea as they did for me.”
Honestly, you have to have an endless supply of kindness (by the way, the experience of communicating with Alina demonstrated that this quality is one of the main ones in her personality) in order to be grateful for ridicule. But people with an open heart are very often vulnerable. Zagitova admits that negative energy directed at her from others sometimes achieves its goal.
“Hate leaves a negative imprint on you,” she stated on the same recent talk show. “Psychological problems may begin.” But there are also ways to deal with this. You can simply send the offender away.”
This also happens to the Olympic champion – and not only to herself. So, after performing at the Muz TV award together with Lyusya Chebotina, she sharply responded to Nikolai Baskov’s joke about “expensive backup dancers” on social networks, advising him to take tape instead of a microphone and find time to paint his roots. Zagitova was also offended by the harsh criticism to which her exhibition performance at the Russian Challenge tournament was subjected — few people accepted her image of Marilyn Monroe, although Alina herself, and this was felt, tried to get used to it with maximum sincerity. She didn’t even perform a show program next year — although one controversial production did not deprive her of her status as one of the most sought-after figure skaters in Russia at gala concerts.
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Finally, the Olympic champion does not accept the caustic commentator Dmitry Guberniev. It all started once with an interview with Alina, who was still inexperienced and not ready for harsh questions, and continued with absentee jabs from the presenter — and despite the demonstrative reconciliation a year ago, according to some information, Zagitova set the condition that at the Saturday Moscow Sports Day an interview would take place at a meeting with It was not he who took the fans.
But, probably, these reactions of the skater are understandable. After all, in our imperfect world, the commandment “if someone hits you on your right cheek, offer him the other as well” is unattainable. But finding mental balance, inner harmony, living in peace with yourself is possible. One can hate Zagitova — but for the way she finds zen in this and sets an example for others, one can only be grateful to her.
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