Russian figure skater Anna Pogorilaya, who at this time last year was an Olympic medal favorite, said she will miss the rest of the season including the Pyeongchang Winter Games with a back injury, according to Russian media.
Pogorilaya, 19, was the world’s second-best skater in last fall’s Grand Prix series but dropped off and then plummeted to 13th at the world championships in March. She fell three times in a disastrous free skate.
This season, Pogorilaya was ninth in her only international event and withdrew before her last scheduled start with the injury.
She was unlikely to make the Olympic team for Russia, which should include two-time world champion Yevgenia Medvedeva, world junior champion Alina Zagitova and Maria Sotskova.
Medvedeva, who missed last week’s Grand Prix Final with a broken foot, plans to compete in next week’s Russian Championships, according to R-Sport, quoting a Russian figure skating federation official. She could miss nationals and still go to the Olympics.
Pogorilaya was the 2016 World bronze medalist, sharing the podium in Boston with Medvedeva and American Ashley Wagner.
Pogorilaya also made the exclusive six-skater Grand Prix Final three times in four years, including in the 2013-14 Olympic season.
But she was eighth at Russian nationals that season and bypassed for the two-woman Olympic team. She was named to the March 2014 World Championships team and was fourth.
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