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PyeongChang 2018 figure skating gold medalist won’t defend medal in Beijing

Russian Alina Zagitova won gold four years ago, but the 19 year old stars in a different ice event now

Por Bradley Smith

Figure Skating - ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - 2020 Rostelecom Cup - Megasport Sport Palace, Moscow, Russia - November 22, 2020 Russia's Alina Zagitova in action during the Exhibition Gala REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Figure Skating - ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - 2020 Rostelecom Cup - Megasport Sport Palace, Moscow, Russia - November 22, 2020 Russia's Alina Zagitova in action during the Exhibition Gala REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Russian figure skater Alina Zagitova dazzled audiences with her gold medal winning performance at PyeongChang four years. Just 15 years old at the time, Zagitova also won the silver medal in the team competition. She then added a gold medal in the 2019 World Championship as well.

But she won’t be defending her gold medal in Beijing this coming February. She has other plans.

Instead Zagitova will be skating in Dubai, UAE December 4-5 as the star of Sleeping Beauty: Ice Show

The Russian is not actively competing this year, and in fact has not competed competitively since 2020. She is currently ranked 36th in the world by the International Skating Union.

2019 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final - Torino Palavela, Turin, Italy - December 7, 2019 Russia's Alina Zagitova in action REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

2019 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final - Torino Palavela, Turin, Italy - December 7, 2019 Russia's Alina Zagitova in action REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

The Russian Figure Skating Federation confirmed Zagitova and two-time world champion Evgenia Medvedeva have not been included on the national team and their participation in the Beijing 2022 Games is unlikely.

The Dubai show is the creation of 2006 Olympic ice dance champion Tatiana Navka.

ATRH Alina Zagitova Beijing 2022 PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating

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