Of all the Olympic sports, figure skating is one of the most beautiful and expressive. Although it is extremely difficult to master the technical steps required in a program, dancers effortlessly accomplish this by gliding across the ice. The best skaters don’t just master the jumps, spins, and tricks. Instead, they also learn to truly express the emotion of the songs they perform. If you want to meet someone who personifies skating, meet Veronika Zhilina. Veronika is a Russian figure skater whose magnificent performance of Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah went viral. It’s one of the most moving and touching performances you’ll ever see, and it’s even more incredible considering she was only ten years old at the time. Veronika Vladislavovna Zhilina was born on May 15, 2008 in Arkhangelsk, Russia. She’s already a successful skater, but admittedly, she started out very young.
Her mother Ludmilla started teaching her to skate when she was just three years old. She showed real aptitude for figure skating and, even though she was just a child, she couldn’t feel alone. Soon her little sister Alena joined her and her mother. A career in figure skating requires intensive training, but both girls were happy to commit because skating is their passion. They stayed in Arkhangelsk until 2018 before moving to Moscow to train with prestigious Russian figure skating coaches Sergei Dudakov, Sergei Rozanov and Eteri Tutberidze. A year later, Veronika competed in the junior category of the Russian Junior Championships and won.
She then proved that it was no beginner’s luck and successfully defended her title a year later. At that time, one of her coaches, Sergei Rozanov, joined the Angels of Plushenko Academy. Veronika and Alena followed him, joining another talented figure skater, Alexandra Trusova. In the years since, Veronika has won or performed well in competitions in Russia and will soon be ready to skate internationally. If her performance in Hallelujah is to be believed, she will perform well, especially in artistic expression. As she steps onto the ice, she carries a light that she gracefully waves above her head. The audience joins in with their own lights, forging a bond between skater and audience. Veronika places her light on the ice as she begins to skate. It is a stunning performance. Veronika glides across the ice, almost seeming to be one with it.
Her white dress perfectly complements her blonde hair and her face is angelic. Veronika’s skating is flawless, her transitions as fluid as if she were made of water rather than flesh and blood. The routine was perfectly choreographed and perfectly expressed the tone of the song. This is a performance not to be missed. And if you’re wondering if her little sister is just as talented, check it out too. It seems guaranteed that these two talented young women have incredible careers ahead of them.
