Olympia 2022 - figure skating: The inhuman tragedy about talent of the century Kamila Valieva

The final chord of the legendary sounds of Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero” had sounded when Kamila Valieva waved her hand and tried to hide her tears behind her red gloves.

The Russian suspected of doping, 15 years young and already celebrated as a runner of the century, stayed behind a faulty freestyle at the Olympics in Beijing as fourth without a medal. She was beaten, beaten to death and in the end it was clear: the superhuman pressure was too great.

Eurosport-Commentator Sigi Heinrich, who at the age of 68 has seen almost everything in sport, struggled with the version. He said what guaranteed many shocked viewers in the world thought of these sad pictures from Beijing.

Olympics – figure skating

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“If you hadn’t let her go,” said Heinrich, adding: “Everyone involved in this affair is guilty. They have driven a mega-talent to the brink of destruction. Many are Didn’t live up to their responsibilities. Neither the judges of the CAS nor their environment, their trainers, physiotherapists, their doctor. It’s incomprehensible.”

In the end, his conclusion was as clear as it was understandable: “It was a stab in the back for this girl. I could puke!”

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As Valieva sat there in the merciless spotlight, she was no longer a centenary or an alien ice princess. She was a petite child who broke under inhuman pressure in Beijing and just cried bitterly. So heartbreaking that even the great Katarina Witt in the distant “ARD” studio couldn’t hold back her tears.

The missed medal, the faulty freestyle, the suspicion of doping that weighs on her, plus her trainer Eteri Tutberidze, who – instead of showing sympathy – confronted her immediately after the run – Valieva seemed all alone. So alone that it must have shaken every viewer inside. A girl thrown to the world to eat, as Kati Witt put it.

Kamila Valieva (right) with her trainer Eteri Tutberidze

Fotocredit: Getty Images

After the grades were awarded, Valieva just wanted to get out of the “Capital Indoor Stadium”. With a stony face and empty eyes, she passed the mixed zone without a word, it looked like a walk to the scaffold.

Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova felt very sorry for her teammate. “It was obvious from the first moment that the freestyle wasn’t going well. I know what that means for an athlete at that moment,” said last year’s world champion. Somewhat surprisingly, Valieva’s training partner had won gold, Alexandra Trusova came second and no longer understood the world because of the rating. “I hate this sport,” she yelled again and again and initially refused the award ceremony.

However, given the tragedy surrounding Valieva, the scene remained a side story. The decisive question is how to proceed in this explosive case.

Witold Banka, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA, had made it clear the day before and had even called for prison sentences for people who administer doping substances to children in the Eurosport interview.

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Meanwhile, the Russian team doctor Filipp Schwezki is getting more and more confused. As the head of a cardiology department of a Moscow hospital confirmed to the Russian website “Dossier Center”, neither the banned doping substance trimetazidine nor the permitted substance hypoxene have a performance-enhancing effect.

However, since both drugs could be easily detected, the doctor continued, the medical care of the Russian figure skaters had to be classified as incompetent. “Dossier Center” is an investigative website of an exiled Russian businessman, blocked in Russia. A hair sample could possibly bring more clarity.

Scandal after freestyle: Trusova weeps bitter tears and refuses the award ceremony

Hopefully Valieva will be able to continue – if possible without dubious drug cocktails. And – very important – under new specifications. The current regulations favor the burning of young miracle runners whose jumps no longer work properly during puberty and who are often sorted out at the age of 17.

The increase in the minimum age from 15 to 18, also demanded by Witt, has not yet won a majority, but a lower limit of 16 years would be an important sign.

Valieva herself should make the jump quickly now, in every respect. The only question is whether you will let them. “I can only hope that she will get over it and come back. I want to see her again in four years,” said Witt.

Every observer felt this desire as well.

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