Five years ago Adelina Sotnikova dazzled the world en route to winning a figure skating gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Injuries prevented the Russian athlete from defending her Olympic title in 2018, but the 22-year-old still possesses remarkable talent and a passion for performing.
That became evident during a recent practice session on ice-covered Lake Baikal in southern Siberia, a portion of which was put to music and quickly became a hit on social media.
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Viewers will note Sotnikova’s youthful exuberance as she seems to be skating purely for fun – amid spectators and cars driving on the ice – while still displaying some of the power and grace that propelled her to Olympic glory.
Sotnikova, a silver medalist at the 2012 Youth Olympics and four-time Russian national champion, is mostly performing in exhibitions these days.
–Photo of Adelina Sotnikova is via Getty Images
