Alina Zagitova: 5 things you should know about her, the new Olympics Champion

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. 

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.

AP photo

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.

AP photo

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. 

online photo

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.

online photo

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.

online photo

photo from Alina Zagitova instagram

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)