Increasingly, there are rumors that the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) will launch their own analogue of the Olympic Games. These competitions will be an alternative to the most famous in the world and will take place regardless of the political situation, the decisions of the International Olympic Committee and the suspension of athletes. Imagine that such games will take place this winter. How is figure skating in the BRICS countries? Who are the most brilliant representatives of this sport?
Brazil: Isadora Williams
isadora williams
Photo source: Maddie Meyer / Gettyimages
She is the only Brazilian figure skater to have the honor of representing the country at the Olympic Games. In 2013, she became the best representative of winter sports in the whole country and was selected for the Sochi Games. There she performed under the Russian composition “Black Eyes”, but only became thirtieth in the short program and could not present an arbitrary one.
For the second time, she traveled to the main international competitions of the world in 2018 in Pyeongchang. After confidently skating the short program with the 17th result, she also entered the free program, but only entered the top thirty.
Russia: Kamila Valieva
Kamila Valieva
Photo credit: Catherine Ivill/Gettyimages
At the moment, she is number one in Russian figure skating. Despite the doping scandal, unsuccessful performances at the Olympics and lack of gold medals at national championships. Her main competitors – Evgenia Medvedeva and Anna Shcherbakova – ended their careers, although they did not officially announce it, Alexandra Trusova almost completely missed last season. The boundless love and support of the fans and the enormous talent of Camila help her to reach the podium again and again.
Russia: Yevgeny Semenenko
Yevgeny Semenenko
Photo credit: Catherine Ivill/Gettyimages
Recently it has not been heard so often, but the title speaks for itself: Semenenko is the current champion of Russia, which means that he is the strongest figure skater in the country. Although in the championship final, he and Petr Gumennik scored the same number of points – 295.07. However, it was Semenenko who was the best in the free skate, and according to the rules, if the points are tied, the gold goes to him.
India: Harshita Ravtani and Vansh Bhatia
The most unusual representatives of the rating are a couple of Indian dancers, Harshita Ravtani and Vansh Bhatia. The skaters managed to set an anti-record during the Grand Prix stop in the United States, having received five points for rental (2.08 for equipment and 2.92 for components). How did the couple make it to the World Tournament with such success? It’s simple – at the junior stages there is no minimum threshold for grades. Each country has a map, according to which the federation decides who to send to the competition. Considering that the national championship of India is not so rich in figure skaters, it is difficult to imagine what other representatives of the country would have shown at the Grand Prix. At the time of his participation in the stage, Harshita had been skating for only three years, starting at the age of 10. It’s too late for professional sports.
India: Tara Prasad
But lately there has been a breakthrough in the Indian figurine. Tara Prasad, 23, wants to be like Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and does not rule out her participation in the 2026 Olympics. The figure skater lives in two countries – India and the United States – and sets programs for herself. She performs Axel in two and a half rounds and trains triples. Moreover, Prasad has participated in the Four Continents Championship twice and also won the Indian Championship twice.
China: Sui Wenjing and Han Cong
Sui Wenjing and Han Cong
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Gettyimages
The current Olympic champions in pair skating. The duo have been skating together since 2007. Among their titles are world champions, four continents championship winners, Chinese champions, Olympic Games and world championship silver medalists. Their programs are always filled with complex elements: quadruple twists and throws, the couple is always as artistic as possible.
South Africa: Michaela du Toit
Michaela Du Toit
Photo source: Tom Dulat / Gettyimages
South Africa is the only country in Africa where figure skating is developing. Michaela du Toit has won the national championship twice, although she is from England and grew up in Canada. Initially, the athlete was a hockey player, but later changed direction and moved with her family to South Africa. She started her career in 2013 at the junior championship, but did not reach great heights there. But on the republic’s indoor ice, she was one of the best at both junior and adult level.
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