Just 15: this incredible new superstar in figure skating is the second youngest Olympics Champion.
After defeating Evgenia Medvedeva, the two times of world champions and her senior under the same coach, Alina Zagitova's popularity has grown rapidly.
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Alina Kabaeva(online photo)
photo from Alina Zagitova instagram
photo from Alina Zagitova instagram
AP photo
She fifty thousand followers on Instagram before the Winter Olympics and now the number is over two hundred thousand.
Besides her excellent skating performance, here are five things you should know about her, the Russian new superstar in figure skating.
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Why is she called Alina:
Zagitova's parents decided to call her Alina when she was still 1-year-old after watching the performance of Alina Kabaeva, the Russian former gymnast Olympics Champions. Until now, Zagitova also regards the gymnast as an idol. "I know how strong her personality is, and I like her performance very much," she said.
Alina Kabaeva(online photo)
Born in a skating family:
Zagitova began to skate when she was 6 years old and her father Ilnaz Zagitov is an ice hockey coach, who once competed for Russia. Alina's sister Sabina is also a fancy skater. The whole family has a deep fate with the winter sports.
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The loneliness of figure skating:
In pursuit of her "skating dream", Alina has moved to Mosco, 800 miles from her home and received training there since she was 13.
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Being separated from her family for two years, Alina admits, "In the first month, it was really hard for me to accept that I can't meet my family and I felt that my soul is destroyed. But then we chat through Skype, and my mood began to recover. "She also said that she didn't have many friends around her at that time, and everyone she saw on the ice rink is rival.
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Under the same coaching with Medvedeva:
Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva respectively win gold and silver medal in Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. They are both the students of the famous skating coach Eteri Turberidze, the winner of 2014 Winter Olympic gold medal.
photo from Alina Zagitova instagram
The first season for her to participate in high-level games:
15-year-old Alina has been playing in the junior group before "stepping into" the senior group last summer vacation. After winning the gold medal in the European Championships held in Jan, she became an Olympic representative. This new Olympics Champion is young and promising.
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photo from Alina Zagitova instagram
MADRID (AP) — It's been almost two years since Kylian Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain to join Real Madrid, in part to try and win the Champions League.
The France captain and the Champions League's greatest club are still waiting for that win.
Meanwhile, PSG lifted the Champions League trophy right after his departure and is back in the semifinals this season.
Mbappé's latest hopes of breaking through with his first European title ended with Madrid's elimination by Bayern Munich in Wednesday's quarterfinals.
Madrid is on the brink of going a second straight season without a major trophy since adding Mbappé in one of the most high-profile signings ever.
The club's only triumphs with Mbappé came in the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, both in 2024. Madrid hasn't won a title in Spain since the forward arrived.
The only remaining chance for a trophy this season is in La Liga but Madrid trails leader Barcelona by nine points with seven rounds left.
Mbappé has received some criticism from fans despite his goals, and the pressure on him is expected to only increase after yet another failure in the Champions League.
Here's a look at how Madrid and Mbappé have fared during this rare trophyless run:
In his first attempt to win the Champions League with Madrid in 2024-25, a Mbappé getting used to his new team scored seven goals, six fewer than the top scorers. The defending champion at the time, Madrid was eliminated by Arsenal in the quarterfinals.
This season, a much more settle Mbappé has left the quarterfinals again but as the leading scorer with 15, two shy of Cristiano's Ronaldo record of 17 in a single season. Mbappé scored on Wednesday in the 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich.
In his debut in the league in 2024-25, Mbappé was the league top scorer with 31, four more than Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, his closest competitor. But Madrid finished four points behind the Catalan club in the standings.
Mbappé is the league leading marksman again this season with 23, two more than Vedad Muriqi of Mallorca. Madrid had been keeping pace with Barcelona but it didn't win its last matches and has lost ground.
Last year, Madrid got past Real Sociedad in the semifinals but lost to Barcelona 3-2 in the final, where Mbappé scored. This season, Madrid was shocked by second-division Albacete in the round of 16, with the elimination coming just after the team dumped coach Xabi Alonso for Álvaro Arbeloa.
Mbappé scored in the 2025 final but Madrid was routed 5-2 by Barcelona. The Catalan rival beat Mbappé's Madrid again (3-2) in the final this season.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe lies on the pitch after injuring during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe lies on the pitch after injuring during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, center, and Vinicius Jr., left, disagree with referee Slavko Vincic during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
