No PDAs for Zagitova

[Mad for Skating]

I don’t see anything wrong about how Alina reacted. She’s constantly in the public eye and meeting many strangers. She has no idea who they are. Of course it’s awesome to meet a skater like Jason Brown who hugs everyone and poses for tons of photos. However, the skaters don’t owe that to their fans. They’re athletes who skate for medals, not Walmart greeters or Disneyland workers. The public figure stuff is just a bonus.

From the interviews I’ve read, Alina just seems like an introvert. However, I’ve heard she’s a very sweet girl, just shy. Hotarek, on the other hand, is known for being more extroverted (just look at his skating programs!). Plus, he’s a large adult man who could handle himself if any trouble came up. She’s a petite teenage girl who might not be able to defend herself as easily. As a teenage girl myself, I would definitely feel uncomfortable if I was expected to hug all these strangers, especially after hearing about Kostornaia’s stalker.

I hate to put this idea out here, but for all we know, maybe she had an experience in the past where someone touched her without permission and she’s still uncomfortable with any form of contact. One of my friends was groped as a young girl and therefore she wasn’t much of a hugger/kisser because she was scared it might happen again. I’m not saying this happened to Alina, but you never really know what’s going on with a person.

Also, what’s this about Alina being Muslim? She was posting pictures with a Christmas tree a few days ago.

 

[canbelto]

I don’t see anything wrong about how Alina reacted. She’s constantly in the public eye and meeting many strangers. She has no idea who they are. Of course it’s awesome to meet a skater like Jason Brown who hugs everyone and poses for tons of photos. However, the skaters don’t owe that to their fans. They’re athletes who skate for medals, not Walmart greeters or Disneyland workers. The public figure stuff is just a bonus.

From the interviews I’ve read, Alina just seems like an introvert. However, I’ve heard she’s a very sweet girl, just shy. Hotarek, on the other hand, is known for being more extroverted (just look at his skating programs!). Plus, he’s a large adult man who could handle himself if any trouble came up. She’s a petite teenage girl who might not be able to defend herself as easily. As a teenage girl myself, I would definitely feel uncomfortable if I was expected to hug all these strangers, especially after hearing about Kostornaia’s stalker.

I hate to put this idea out here, but for all we know, maybe she had an experience in the past where someone touched her without permission and she’s still uncomfortable with any form of contact. One of my friends was groped as a young girl and therefore she wasn’t much of a hugger/kisser because she was scared it might happen again. I’m not saying this happened to Alina, but you never really know what’s going on with a person.

Also, what’s this about Alina being Muslim? She was posting pictures with a Christmas tree a few days ago.

its a myth that Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas. They don’t celebrate the religious part but trees and gifts are not religious but actually “pagan” traditions which is why Jehovah’s don’t celebrate Christmas. Many Muslims participate in Nutcrackers, food drives, secret Santa at work etc.

 

[Jarrett]

Discuss what? That someone doesn't want a bear hug from behind from a random fan?? The girl from the video put her arms around zagitova like they were best friends at a birthday party.

 

[TAHbKA]

@Nadya , let's discuss the headlines of the site you brought this masterpiece from:
'The heir of Abramovich does not mind showing off her 'assets' wearing the revealing cloths'
'The singer Slava showed her daughter's boyfriend'
'Ermakova: my fiance was cheating on me with 3 women at once'

Not every piece of rubbish written in the Russian sites for the clicks must be brought here....

 

[Spun Silver]

It's interesting to see the contrast between Alina and who I believe to be Ondrej Hotarek.

Hotarek is twice her age and a fairly tall guy in a bevy of cooing women. Of course he's going to be more at ease.

 

[Lanie]

I don't blame her. She doesn't owe anyone hugs or affection like that. I'd hate it too--but it sucks she gets criticized for not liking being touched by strangers. I'm noticing that a lot of celebrities, in general (not sure I'd class Alina as a celebrity, but whatever)--people think they own them and can film them in private, or ask for hugs/affection (or in the case of a certain celebrity I've met before, some chick grabbed his ass!), etc.

 

[Mad for Skating]

its a myth that Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas. They don’t celebrate the religious part but trees and gifts are not religious but actually “pagan” traditions which is why Jehovah’s don’t celebrate Christmas. Many Muslims participate in Nutcrackers, food drives, secret Santa at work etc.

Oh, my bad! Thank you for letting me know. That’s really cool!

 

[misskarne]

I feel like I literally lost brain cells reading this stupidity.

So someone is really, in this era, going to complain about a 17 year old girl's right to her bodily autonomy? Alina's fine. Not everyone's a hugger.

 

[LarrySK8]

Fans can be self-entitled jerks.
Just don't touch her.
She isn't yours to touch.

 

[Spikefan]

I could never be any sort of celebrity and this is why (good thing I have no discernible talents). Good for Alina for standing her ground.

 

[Nadya]

I would prefer a total ban of PDA from all skaters except those in dedicated monogamous relationships, especially the Knierims, Grantoline, ChartReynolds, and Nathan and Karen Chen.

You made me think of an old bill that never came to the floor - "On John Zimmerman Never Skating With a Shirt On".

 

[Nadya]

I don’t see anything wrong about how Alina reacted. She’s constantly in the public eye and meeting many strangers. She has no idea who they are. Of course it’s awesome to meet a skater like Jason Brown who hugs everyone and poses for tons of photos. However, the skaters don’t owe that to their fans. They’re athletes who skate for medals, not Walmart greeters or Disneyland workers. The public figure stuff is just a bonus.

From the interviews I’ve read, Alina just seems like an introvert. However, I’ve heard she’s a very sweet girl, just shy. Hotarek, on the other hand, is known for being more extroverted (just look at his skating programs!). Plus, he’s a large adult man who could handle himself if any trouble came up. She’s a petite teenage girl who might not be able to defend herself as easily. As a teenage girl myself, I would definitely feel uncomfortable if I was expected to hug all these strangers, especially after hearing about Kostornaia’s stalker.

I hate to put this idea out here, but for all we know, maybe she had an experience in the past where someone touched her without permission and she’s still uncomfortable with any form of contact. One of my friends was groped as a young girl and therefore she wasn’t much of a hugger/kisser because she was scared it might happen again. I’m not saying this happened to Alina, but you never really know what’s going on with a person.

Also, what’s this about Alina being Muslim? She was posting pictures with a Christmas tree a few days ago.

Alina identifies as Muslim. With the way Islam is practiced in her family, I suspect this is primarily a cultural, not religious identification - she most certainly does not present as an observant Muslim.

The tree she posed with is almost certainly described as a "New Year's", not Christmas tree. Most Christmas-like festivities in the USSR and post-USSR space are tied to December 31st, not any date of Christmas, and thus carry no religious flavor. Muslims who live in the USSR and post-USSR space participate in New Year's activities freely (although there IS a push by the newly observant away from that holiday due to its obvious christmassy flavor). Russian Orthodox Christmas occurs on January 6th or 7th, and to most Russians, is just another holiday. New Year - Dec. 31st - is THE holiday.

Strict Muslims won't partake in any Christmas stuff or let their children figure skate competitively. That interpretation of Islam is not native to the USSR space; yet there are many Muslim ethic communities who live there and would not let their children into the sport. Just one of these things.

 

[Frau Muller]

Discuss what? That someone doesn't want a bear hug from behind from a random fan?? The girl from the video put her arms around zagitova like they were best friends at a birthday party.

Just like Pope doesn’t want hand grabbed and shaken by crazy lady.

 

[Nadya]

Just like Pope doesn’t want hand grabbed and shaken by crazy lady.

Well that one did apologize you know.

 

[hanca]

Well that one did apologize you know.

Who, the crazy lady or the Pope?
It looked pretty bad on TV. I thought his reaction was quite mild, I would be much worse if someone yanked me that way.

 

[Finley]

It's interesting to see the contrast between Alina and who I believe to be Ondrej Hotarek.

It's almost as if there is a difference between being a 17 year old girl and a 35 year old married man who is a veteran of ice shows at this point in his pair skating career.

 

[Nadya]

Who, the crazy lady or the Pope?
It looked pretty bad on TV. I thought his reaction was quite mild, I would be much worse if someone yanked me that way.

Pope Francis apologizes for slapping woman's hand on New Year's Eve

Pope Francis has apologized for slapping a woman's hand to free himself from her grip while greeting children and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on New Year's Eve.

www.wfsb.com

 

[hanca]

Wow, one would think that the Pope is English! English people have the tendency to apologise when someone does something to them. You step accidentally on someone’s foot here and they apologise to you (probably for having their foot at the wrong place...).

 

[Nadya]

Wow, one would think that the Pope is English! English people have the tendency to apologise when someone does something to them. You step accidentally on someone’s foot here and they apologise to you (probably for having their foot at the wrong place...).

You think? No one classically English would ever say, "sometimes we all lose patience, EVEN ME." The British practice self-effacement as a form of national sport.

 

[Nadya]

@Nadya , let's discuss the headlines of the site you brought this masterpiece from:
'The heir of Abramovich does not mind showing off her 'assets' wearing the revealing cloths'
'The singer Slava showed her daughter's boyfriend'
'Ermakova: my fiance was cheating on me with 3 women at once'

Not every piece of rubbish written in the Russian sites for the clicks must be brought here....

That same story is on a thousand other websites, take your pick.

All sites except the self-funded write for clicks, don't kid yourself. Web sites exist to sell your eyeballs to the advertisers, nothing else.

 

[slicekw]

Discuss what? That someone doesn't want a bear hug from behind from a random fan?? The girl from the video put her arms around zagitova like they were best friends at a birthday party.

IMO, it looked more like she was trying to suck the life out of Zagitova.

 

[Frau Muller]

Well that one did apologize you know.

Yes, he did!
Maybe Alina can find a balcony that overlooks Red Square?

 

[quiqie]

If you have any information about her cultural and/or ethnic group's position on hugs from female strangers, do share.

Some of us are fine with it, others would prefer if said strangers kept their hands to themselves

 

[once_upon]

Honestly would we even have this conversation IF the fan was male?

We are teaching, rightly so, that no one has a right to touch you if you don't want touch. Over enthusiastic fandom, even if not threatening or meant to be anything other than innocent behavior, does not entitle anyone to be touched or hugged.

No one needs to accept or be expected touch by strangers. NO ONE

 

[Tinami Amori]

The Russian interwebz is aflutter with the recent news of Zagitova being standoffish with fans during the after-show autograph session.

a) This is another hit job on Alina and the "group that started this" are "fans of another girl". It's been traced already..

b) It is a Security issue. when people come into contact with a high profile amateur athlete, there is a potential risk of a substance/chemical placed on their body or clothing, especially when an athlete is being touched close to an uncovered part of the body, which can cause problems during testing. There are also issues with "bugs" and "tracking devices" that can be placed inside the athlete's clothes, those devices are very small.

Such provocations are not just about "water bottles" and "food".

Alina, since spring 2018, has receive death threats, violence threats, and direct wishes to "have her face split" and "acid thrown".

c) Alina loves hugging her fans, when she feels safe. She and many athletes are instructed on "what is safe".

When she feels safe, and/or there is security, she hugs her fans... a lot!

... and when she feels safe, she'll do it...

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https://i.imgur.com/D8hQhRd.jpg

She goes out of her way to hug a kid when she can... and fans document it.

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Alina Zagitova Russian Figure Skater GIF - Alina Zagitova Russian Figure Skater - Discover & Share GIFs

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She loves kids, but needs to make sure the interaction is safe....

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Normal people ask permission if they can hug her, and she usually agrees..

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[karmena]

By the way, is this whole smear campaign against Zagitova some EVILLE plot launched by her coach?
[/QUOTE

I wish you would be far aou may be not far form the truth

 

[TAHbKA]

That same story is on a thousand other websites, take your pick.

All sites except the self-funded write for clicks, don't kid yourself. Web sites exist to sell your eyeballs to the advertisers, nothing else.

Right. So why bring this shit here?? Why help them sell??

 

[FunnyBut]

I’ve seen autograph sessions with Kristi and Sarah Hughes . I think they are both extremely gracious to do it, yet I can’t help seeing how forced their smiles look as they greet stranger after stranger after stranger. It’s almost like they are forcing their cheek muscles to keep that mouth open . I don’t blame Alina at all for putting limits on what makes her uncomfortable

(And yet Kristi dutifully signs autographs at all the big US events, she is still such a trooper for her sport.)

 

[Nadya]

I’ve seen autograph sessions with Kristi and Sarah Hughes . I think they are both extremely gracious to do it, yet I can’t help seeing how forced their smiles look as they greet stranger after stranger after stranger. It’s almost like they are forcing their cheek muscles to keep that mouth open . I don’t blame Alina at all for putting limits on what makes her uncomfortable

(And yet Kristi dutifully signs autographs at all the big US events, she is still such a trooper for her sport.)

I've seen Schwarzenegger man a 4-hr autograph/meet&greet session at Planet Hollywood many years ago. I mean, four hours of hugging, that's a workout all right, plus all these smiling muscles working overtime. In fairness, he seems like an outgoing type, plus he's a grown ass man.

 

[Skibean]

I just saw a video on Instagram where Alina had a young child sitting on her lap and she was smiling and very friendly with the child and mother. This appears to be from the same event.

Not being there we can’t really judge her actions based on whichever select video clip is posted showing her being aloof/friendly etc. I’m sure she is a pleasant girl. She seems to be shy but very sweet in interviews