“Alina was an extraordinary girl on the platform, we called her ‘the contortionist’. But, after the race, she was shy. Sunny, but very shy”. Alina, teammate in Fano in ’98 of the blue Laura Zacchilli who today remembers her like this, with her last name being Kabaeva: 38 years old, she was a star of Russian rhythmics, Olympic gold medal in Athens and numerous other medals on the showcase. Then a deputy to the Duma, today she defends the athletes of Moscow “from the shame of the IOC disqualification” and says that Russia “has decided to protect the Donbass and Lugansk from the Nazis”. Exactly like Vladimir Putin, of whom she is credited by international media gossip as a ‘secret’ partner and mother of four children. Much of the former rhythm star’s private life is shrouded in privacy, apart from the close connection with
No confirmation and no denial at the news of his transfer to Switzerland. But in an interview with TASS, dated Moscow and relaunched by Kabaeva on his Instagram profile 48 hours ago, the defense of Russia from the West is all clear. “I believe that there has never been a more shameful page in the history of world sport”, Kabaeva’s accusation regarding the ban on sports. “They did not worry and did not remove from the competition any country that participated in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Syria. But sports officials got very angry when Russia decided to protect the Donbass and Lugansk as Nazis “. Kabaeva, who was also a torchbearer in the inaugural ceremony in Sochi, he cites the case of Russian doping as proof of persecution, of a desire to “humiliate the Russians”. A sporting defense, in short, with clearly political implications.
“Kabaeva was an absolute star of our sport”, says Zacchilli, who for two years had her as a teammate at Aurora Fano: born in Uzbekistan, Alina was coached by Viner, Uzbek from Samarkand, now president of the federation Russian and wife of Aliser Usmanov, the richest man in Russia. She came to Italy as a foreigner in 1998, at the age of 15, giving Fano two championships. “At the time she was not yet famous, but you could immediately see that she had great skills – says Zacchilli, now coach – She didn’t train all the time with us: she arrived two or three days before, we worked together, the match, and the day after he left for Russia. Little English, smiles and affection among many teenagers “. Zacchilli remembers that little Alina “had a expressiveness and a fluency of movement rare, on the platform: but then when she came out she transformed into a shy girl. I remember that the applause of the audience started, she lowered her head and her coach had to push her on her back and drag her by force to the center of the scene to take that tribute “.” With us – the former blue still remembers – she was sunny and sociable: she wasn’t one of those champions who avoid you because they feel superior. She greeted everyone, and even after when she became a star. ” With us – the former Azzurri still remembers – she was sunny and sociable: she was not one of those champions who avoid you because they feel superior. She greeted everyone, and even after when she became a star. ” With us – the former Azzurri still remembers – she was sunny and sociable: she was not one of those champions who avoid you because they feel superior. She greeted everyone, and even after when she became a star. ”
Zacchilli and Kabaeva in fact crossed again twice, and on both occasions they were greetings and a hug. “Alina had to win gold already in Sydney, a small mistake and it was silver. But in 2004, in Athens, I dominated the scene. I was competing too – recalls Zacchili, who touched the final – and we met on the platform: it was also that time friendly and nice, a quick greeting and a mutual good luck “. In 2017 she returned to Pesaro as World Cup ambassador, delivering the ‘Kabaeva prize’ to the blue Milena Baldassarri. “There too it was a quick crossroads, and a hug between smiles.” But the bond, sunny and affectionate, was cooled by distances, not only geographical. “For the rest – Zacchilli closes – We didn’t keep in touch: I don’t know much about her life outside of gymnastics. Putin
I think she is happy, and I am happy for her. Her private life belongs to her … “.
