“I Deserve to Be Successful and Happy”: 17-Year-Old Russian Figure Skater Vouch to Be Strong After Olympic Doping Controversy Left Her Disgraced

Kazan-born figure skater Kamila Valeryevna shot to fame after the 2022 Winter Olympics. Apart from also being the European champion, Kamila is one of the youngest Olympians involved in a drug scandal. Kamila, 16, was tested positive for trimetazidine, just a few weeks before her performance in Beijing. The Russian Olympic Committee had become the center of a controversy surrounding the athlete after the news broke.

Valeryevna was taking a banned heart medication which resulted in legal action against her. After a delayed medal ceremony, a suspension notice, and a subsequent legal appeal for reinstatement, the Russian minor had her fair share of traumatic experiences. The athlete recently spoke to PeopleTalk to share her experiences after facing pressure, provocations, and unending disputes at only 15. Additionally, with a positive attitude, she states how she plans to shape the coming days.

Kamila Valeryevna is ready for whatever awaits her in 2023

The young athlete has already become a master of figure skating. And she has managed to get her name etched in the history of the sport. In her interview, she shares her thoughts and talks about transformation.

“I’m still in the process of transformation,” she states. “You can’t just turn a blind eye to everything in my life and start a new one. Any event that is emotionally hooked leaves its mark, and painful reactions to traumatic events need to be worked through. Of course, everything that happened will not disappear, but it will become a distant memory.”

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Kamila’s positive attitude remains a testament to the grind and endurance of all great athletes. The Russian prodigy is ready to reach new heights as she prepares herself for the coming year with newfound maturity and resilience. “I believe that, like every person on earth, I deserve to be successful and happy,” she explains her mantra, “The main thing is not to stop fighting, not to give up, to believe in yourself and in justice.” Her doping scandal put her in a tight spot, but there is much debate about whether it was justified or not. 

What made Valeryevna one of the most relevant contemporary sports figures?

Kamila Valeryevna secured the gold medal for the team event figure skating in Beijing. Besides being the European champion, she also won the 2021 Skate Canada International championship. While representing her country with the ROC, she became the face of a media frenzy. It all revolved around a doping controversy involving a heart medication that supposedly improved one’s stamina.

The controversy may have had bigger significance than what initially met the eye. A regulation change in 2004 compensated competitors for doing leaps near the conclusion of their routines. As a result, the medication’s impact on enhanced endurance could have ended up being beneficial. Due to the difficulty of doing jumps on weary legs, the current scoring system gives leaps executed in the second part of the free skate a 10% bonus. 

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After a plea to pin the blame on contamination from her grandfather’s medication, and facing a series of trials, the athlete is finally ready to face what lies ahead. “I learned that I’m surrounded by so many good people who support me,” she states as she gears up for 2023.