Winter Olympics: Kamila Valieva shrugs off doping controversy to finish top of figure skating short programme
- The 15-year-old recorded the highest score of 82.16 to comfortably send her through to the next round with 24 other skaters
- Valieva’s presence in the competition is under fire after she tested positive for a banned substance in December
With most of the world expressing outrage that Russia’s Kamila Valieva was even allowed on the ice for Tuesday’s women’s short programme, the waiflike 15 year-old weighed down by a crushing doping scandal simply shut the world out while she went to work.
Valieva, under untold pressure after she was cleared to skate despite a positive doping test in December, kept her emotions in check while she performed her routine, seemingly oblivious to the disbelief, despair and conspiracy that surrounds her very presence at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Her score of 82.16 sent her top of the qualifying standings and into the next round, where she will attempt to go for another gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics to add to the team title.
It was only when she left the dreamlike state of gliding and spinning over the ice that the pent-up feelings were released: tears of joy, relief and no doubt forbearing over what the future holds.
Valieva underwent a doping test in December last year but the result was only announced on February 8, a day after she helped Russia to team gold.