Alena Kostornaya
Olympic medalist in figure skating, choreographer Ilya Averbukh appreciated the shape of the Russian figure skater Alena Kostornaya after leaving her coach Eteri Tutberidze. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
Averbukh considered that at the test skates Kostornaya appeared in a “raw form”, unable to show either choreography or high-quality jumps. “Refusal to execute the triple axel, barely saved by Lutz … This is not the same Kostornaya, which was during the victory at the European Championship,” he said.
On September 13, Kostornaya withdrew from the test skates of candidates for the Russian national team, which were held at the Megasport arena in Moscow, performing only with a short program. According to Plushenko, the athlete performed with an injury.
Kostornaya's transfer to Plushenko's academy became known on July 31. Under the leadership of Tutberidze, she became the European champion and the winner of the Grand Prix finals of the 2019/2020 season.
