How a strategic technical advantage forced a change in figure skating rules
In short: In 2018, Alina Zagitova dominated the ice by performing all her jumps in the second half of her program. This tactic maximized her bonus points, but it was so effective that the International Skating Union eventually implemented a new rule to limit the advantage.
Alina Zagitova, born on 18 May 2002 in Izhevsk, became a dominant force in women's singles figure skating by mastering a specific technical strategy. She was known for 'back-loading' her programs, which meant performing all her jumps during the second half of a routine to receive a bonus on the base value of those jumps. This provided a significant technical advantage over her competitors during her rise to the top of the sport.
This tactical approach was so successful that it led to the implementation of a new rule by the International Skating Union (ISU), unofficially referred to as the 'Zagitova rule,' which limits the number of jumps that can receive the base value bonus. Her ability to maintain technical precision under fatigue helped her achieve a historic 'Super Slam,' becoming only the second women's singles skater to do so after Yuna Kim.
Zagitova's career reached its peak during the 2017–18 season. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she won the gold medal at the age of 15 years and 281 days, making her the second-youngest Olympic champion in the discipline, trailing only Tara Lipinski by 28 days. She followed this success by winning the 2019 World Championships in Saitama, Japan, becoming the first skater since Katarina Witt in 1985 to win the World title the season immediately following an Olympic gold.
After announcing a break from competitive skating during the 2019–20 season, Zagitova has not returned to competition as of 2025. She has since transitioned to media roles, co-hosting seasons of the Russian show Ice Age and providing commentary for various figure skating competitions.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Alina Zagitova
- Also: Wikidata — Alina Zagitova · CC0
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