Three-time Olympic champion in figure skating, State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina spoke about the decision of the Russian figure skater Artur Dmitriev to join the US national team. Her words are quoted by Sport24.
Rodnina refused to consider the desire of an athlete who performed unique jumps a betrayal. She drew attention to the fact that Dmitriev was unable to break into the Russian national team, and the presence of American citizenship gave him the opportunity to try himself in the team. “Where is the reason for sadness? First, he needs to get into the US national team. Nobody is waiting for him there with open arms, ”the deputy assessed the transition.
Earlier on November 10, Dmitriev said that he had received an offer from the American federation and is currently being selected for the national championship. He clarified that he has US citizenship, since his parents moved there in 1998, and in Russia he was not considered as a promising skater.
Dmitriev is the only skater in history who attempted to jump a quadruple axel in competition. He also performed for the first time a unique combination of triple lutz and flip at the Challenger Series in Oberstdorf. The last time the skater played for Russia was in 2018 at the Rostelecom Grand Prix stage, where he took the penultimate, 11th place.
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