Sochi figure skating gold medalist Adelina Sotnikova‘s competitive break will extend at least another year.
The 22-year-old Russian said she will not compete at all this season but hopes to come back next year, according to TASS.
Sotnikova said she does not want to compete until she is physically and psychologically 100 percent. To return and place sixth at the Russian Championships (as she did at her last event in December 2015) is pointless, she said, according to the report.
Sotnikova has skated just once on the international Grand Prix circuit since taking the 2014 Olympic title over Yuna Kim. Sotnikova has not announced retirement, though, unlike her Sochi teammate and fellow gold medalist Yulia Lipnitskaya.
Sotnikova hired four-time Russian Olympic medalist Yevgeny Plushenko as a coach in 2017 but has so far under his guidance strictly performed in non-competitive shows.
In 2014, Sotnikova became the first female singles skater to take Olympic gold without any prior individual Olympic or world championships medals. This year, countrywoman Alina Zagitova matched the feat.
If Sotnikova returns, even at 22, it will be difficult to keep up with Russian women’s skating. Every Russian entered at the Olympics and world championships the last five years has been a teenager.
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