Sokolova Elena: "disgusting little girl" of figure skating

It often happens that athletes, opening early at a young age, then stop in their development and very quickly disappear from the memory of their fans. Career of the famous figure skater Elena Sokolova developed quite differently. Having achieved her first successes, she ceased to progress and, without really winning anything, went to nowhere.

Already when everyone forgot about her, overcoming the problems of the transitional age, she turned into a high-class athlete, able to win everything. However, problems with discipline and character led to the fast completion of speeches by one of the most emotional and feminine representatives of Russian figure skating.

The beginning of the way

Sokolova Elena was a contemporary of the famous Irina Slutskaya, but spent most of her career in the shadow of her famous girlfriend. Born in 1980, she began figure skating at the age of four. The first mentor of the girl was V.Tumanov. Elena since childhood was distinguished by a shy character and, eventually, passes to the tandem of Marina and Victor Kudryavtsev. Sokolova is rapidly progressing, there are first victories in competitions. In the season 1996-1997 she became a silver medalist at the junior world championship.

The first successes and a black streak after coaching leapfrog

In 1998, Sokolova Elena - a figure skater, a photo of which already appear in leading sports publications. On her account, the awards of the Russian championship, a successful debut at the World Championships. Young talent is included in the national team to participate in the Olympics in Nagano, where it takes seventh place. After a successful start, everyone expects progress from a talented figure skater.

However, then there comes a decline in Elena's career. Disagreements begin with her coach V. Kudryavtsev. At the Russian championship in 1999, she does not fall in the number of prize-winners. According to Sokolova, the mentor does not pay enough attention to her, giving preference to Victoria Volchkova, whom he brought up from childhood. The clarification of the relationship ends with the fact that in 2000 she turns to Alexei Mishin and moves to St. Petersburg. In these years, she does not work, she does not fall in the number of winners of the national championship and does not qualify for the biggest international tournaments.

To sport failures are added and stupid injuries. In one of the trips she gets serious damage due to the fall of a suitcase with skates.

Having moved to St. Petersburg, Sokolova Elena can not establish a dialogue with Alexei Mishin. Again, according to the figure skater, the coach does not give her enough time and attention, depriving her of her pupil Evgeni Plushenko. In response, Mishin claims numerous problems related to discipline and compliance with the regime athlete.

Second wind

Two years after moving to St. Petersburg Sokolova Elena returns to her former mentor, Viktor Kudryavtsev. "Negative girl" figure skating, growing up, takes over the mind and suddenly for all again declares itself. The 2002-2003 season was the most successful in her career. She wins the Russian championship and after a long break is again selected for the world championships and Europe. At these competitions, Elena does not slow down. At the World Championships held in Washington, she is second only to the hostess of the tournament - the legendary Michelle Hwan. Again, she earns silver and at the European Championships, losing to Irina Slutskaya, who has already won the figure skater at the championship of Russia.

The next three years, Sokolova Elena continues a series of successful performances, winning at the championships of Russia, successfully rolling back at international tournaments. All experts note the truly elegant feminine style of the sportswoman, who successfully overcome the growth problems of young figure skaters who, having lost their maiden flexibility, then can not move to a new level and find themselves at an adult level.

Sunset career

When Irina Slutskaya withdrew from the big sport, everyone expected that Elena Sokolova would take the place of the leader of the Russian team. The figure skater, however, was already exhausted by years of training. By 2006, she lost shape, increasingly giving time to performances in various ice shows. Many experts note her rasrenirovannost, weight problems.

Again, disagreements with Viktor Tumanov begin. In the end, Elena Sokolova leaves him and trains on his own. In the 2006-2007 season, the sportswoman pays less and less time for sports, speaking in the ice shows of Ilya Averbukh. This concludes the great sports career of the 2003 vice-champion of the world.

Elena Sokolova's career consisted of a whole series of ups and downs, the sports results reflected her numerous disputes and scandals with coaches. Nevertheless, it will always remain in the hearts of connoisseurs of figure skating as one of the most emotional and expressive sportswomen.