Russian figure skating star Zagitova wins 2019 ISU World Championship in SaitamaThe Russian figure skater scored 237.50 points after the short program and free skating
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SAITAMA, March 22. /TASS/. Russia’s famous figure skater Alina Zagitova won gold on Friday in ladies singles competition at the 2019 ISU World Championship, which is currently underway in Japan’s Saitama.
The Russian figure skater scored 237.50 points on the aggregate after the short program and free skating. Kazakhstan’s Elizabet Tursynbaeva took the silver with the result of 224.76 points and the bronze went to Russia’s Yevgeniya Medvedeva (223.80 points).
"I want to thank my coaches and everyone who helped me and my coaches for their support," Zagitova told journalists after winning the World Championship’s gold. "My friends and relatives also rendered great support."
"I was expecting a warm welcome here," she continued. "This is simply an unparalleled audience and its support helped me to perform my jumps."
On Wednesday, the panel of jurors awarded Zagitova with 82.08 points for her short program. The next best result was shown by Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (76.86 points). Kazakhstan’s Elizabet Tursynbaeva was 3rd with 75.96 points.
In addition to the gold of the 2019 ISU World Championship, Zagitova, 16, is the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics gold medalist in singles and the silver medalist in team event.
Zagitova is now the first Russian female figure skater to win all awards in ladies singles competitions as she is also the winner of the 2018 European Championships in Moscow and the gold medalist of the 2017-2018 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya.
Medvedeva, who showed 4th best result after the short program on Wednesday (74.23 points), is two-time Olympic silver medalist, two-time world champion, two-time European champion and two-time Grand Prix Final champion.
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), told TASS he was extremely happy with the gold and bronze medals of the Russian female figure skaters.
"I want to congratulate our marvelous female figure skaters with their successful performance at the World Championship," Pozdnyakov said. "Our athletes have once again demonstrated their highest level of skills and artistry with the spirit for victory above everything."
"One can only imagine how tough it was for them to skate in Japan with all this serious competition, considering the popularity of figure skating in Japan and the strength of Japanese figure skaters," Pozdnyakov stated. "I only guess, how hard it was for them during the trainings for the championship."
The 2019 ISU (International Skating Union) World Skating Championships is hosted by Japan’s Saitama between March 20 and 24.
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