Adelina Sotnikova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adelina Sotnikova
Sotnikova at the 2014 Sochi Olympics podium
Personal information
Native name	Аделина Дмитриевна Сотникова
Full name	Adelina Dmitriyevna Sotnikova
Country represented	Russia
Born	(1996-07-01) 1 July 1996 (age 29) Moscow, Russia
Residence	Moscow, Russia
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Coach	Evgeni Plushenko
Former coach	Elena Vodorezova (Buianova)
Choreographer	Emanuel Sandhu
Former choreographer	Tatiana Tarasova, Peter Tchernyshev, Irina Tagaeva
Skating club	CSKA Moscow
Began skating	2000
Retired	2 March 2020
World standing	103 (2017–18) 79 (2016–17) 19 (2015–16) 9 (2014–15) 4 (2013–14) 9 (2012–13) 14 (2011–12) 37 (2010–11)
Season's bests	7 (2015–2016) 1 (2013–2014) 5 (2012–2013) 13 (2011–2012) 9 (2010–2011)
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	224.59 2014 Winter Olympics
Short program	75.57 2015 Mordovian Ornament
Free skate	149.95 2014 Winter Olympics
Medal record Representing  Russia Figure skating: Ladies' singles International competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 0 0 European Championships 0 2 0 Winter Youth Olympics 0 1 0 World Junior Championships 1 0 1 Junior Grand Prix Final 1 0 0 Total 3 3 1 Olympic Games Gold 2014 Sochi Ladies' singles European Championships Silver 2013 Zagreb Ladies' singles Silver 2014 Budapest Ladies' singles Russian Championships Gold 2009 Kazan Ladies’ Singles Gold 2011 Saransk Ladies’ Singles Gold 2012 Saransk Ladies’ Singles Gold 2014 Sochi Ladies’ Singles Bronze 2013 Sochi Ladies’ Singles Winter Youth Olympics Silver 2012 Innsbruck Ladies' singles World Junior Championships Gold 2011 Gangneung Ladies' singles Bronze 2012 Minsk Ladies' singles Junior Grand Prix Final Gold 2010–11 Beijing Ladies' singles

Adelina Dmitriyevna Sotnikova (born on July 1, 1996) is a retired figure skater from Russia. She is famous for winning the gold medal in ladies' singles at the 2014 Olympic Games. She also earned two silver medals at the European Championships in 2013 and 2014. Adelina was a four-time Russian national champion in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014.

As a junior skater, she won a silver medal at the 2012 Youth Olympic Games. She was also the Junior World champion in 2011 and the Junior Grand Prix Final champion in 2010. Adelina stopped competing after the 2015–2016 season. She officially announced her retirement on March 1, 2020. She later shared that she had a positive drug test during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but a second test showed no signs of doping.

Adelina Sotnikova's Skating Journey

Starting Young: Early Years in Figure Skating

Adelina Sotnikova began skating at just four years old. She practiced at the Yuzhny ice rink near her home in Moscow. Anna Patrikeeva was her first coach until Adelina was seven. After that, she moved to CSKA and started training with coach Elena Buianova (Vodorezova) a year later.

In the 2008–2009 season, Adelina competed at the senior level for the first time. She was only 12 years old when she won the gold medal at the 2009 Russian Nationals. A month later, she also won the 2009 Russian Junior Championships.

Adelina could not compete in the Junior Grand Prix in 2009–2010. This was because of rules that require skaters to be 13 before July 1st. She was born just a few hours into July 1st. During this time, she also grew a lot, which can make skating harder. She finished fourth at the Russian senior nationals and sixth in the junior event that year.

Junior Success: 2010–2011 Season

Sotnikova with medalists Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Li Zijun at the 2010–11 JGP Final

Adelina made her Junior Grand Prix debut in the 2010–2011 season. She won gold medals in Austria and the U.K. These wins helped her qualify for the 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final, which she also won.

At the 2011 Russian Championships, she placed second in the short program. She then came first in the long program, winning her second national title. She was chosen to compete at the World Junior Championships. There, she won the gold medal, beating her teammate Elizaveta Tuktamysheva.

Moving Up: 2011–2012 Season

Adelina was old enough to compete in the senior Grand Prix circuit in the 2011–2012 season. However, she was not yet eligible for senior ISU Championships. She was assigned to two Grand Prix events: the 2011 Cup of China and 2011 Rostelecom Cup. She had to withdraw from an earlier event due to a leg injury.

She won bronze medals at both the Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup. This made her the first alternate for the ladies' event at the Grand Prix Final.

Adelina then won the gold medal at the 2011 Golden Spin of Zagreb. At the 2012 Russian Championships, she won her third national title. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 Youth Olympic Games. At the 2012 World Junior Championships, she earned a bronze medal. Adelina was part of the Russian team for the 2012 ISU World Team Trophy. She finished fourth overall in the ladies' event.

Continued Growth: 2012–2013 Season

Adelina started her 2012–2013 season by winning a silver medal at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy. At her first Grand Prix event, the 2012 Skate America, she won a bronze medal. At her next event, the 2012 Rostelecom Cup, she finished fifth.

At the 2013 Russian Championships, she won the bronze medal. She then competed at the 2013 European Championships. She placed first in the short program and third in the long program, earning a silver medal overall. Adelina and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva were the first Russian medalists in the European ladies' event since 2006.

Adelina made her World Championships debut and finished ninth. She also placed fourth in the ladies' event at the 2013 World Team Trophy, where Team Russia finished fourth overall.

Olympic Glory: 2013–2014 Season

Sotnikova at the 2013 Cup of China podium

Adelina began her 2013–2014 season at the 2013 Japan Open. Her first Grand Prix event was the Cup of China, where she won a silver medal. At her next event, the 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard, she also won a silver medal. These results helped her qualify for her first Grand Prix Final, where she finished fifth.

At the 2014 Russian Championships, Adelina won her fourth national title. She then competed in her second European Championships. She won a silver medal with a score of 202.36 points. This made her the second Russian skater to score over 200 points in ladies' singles.

Winning Gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics

The figure skating events at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics started with a team competition. Adelina was not chosen for the team event.

However, Adelina went on to win the gold medal in the ladies' individual event. Her total score was 224.59 points. She became one of the youngest Olympic figure skating champions. She was in second place after the short program, just 0.28 points behind Kim Yuna. But she won the free skate, which helped her take the gold. After her win, Adelina said that not being chosen for the team event made her even more determined to win the individual competition. She received the Order of Friendship from Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2014. Adelina did not compete in the 2014 World Championships.

Later Seasons and Retirement

Adelina was chosen for the 2014 Rostelecom Cup and 2014 NHK Trophy in the 2014–2015 season. However, she had to withdraw due to a torn ankle ligament. She also withdrew from the 2015 Russian Championships. While recovering, she focused on the dance part of her performances. She appeared with Gleb Savchenko in the Russian version of Dancing with the Stars.

In the 2015–2016 season, Adelina placed fourth at the Japan Open. She won a silver medal at the 2015 Mordovian Ornament and finished sixth at the 2015 Golden Spin of Zagreb. On the ISU Grand Prix circuit, she competed at the 2015 Rostelecom Cup and won a bronze medal.

Adelina competed at the 2016 Russian Championships and placed sixth. She was named as an alternate for the 2016 European Championships.

After 2016, Adelina faced ongoing injuries. She did not compete in any events. In April 2017, she started training with former Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko. However, her health problems continued to prevent her from competing.

In the summer of 2019, Adelina experienced back pain during a skating show. The pain became more serious, and she was advised to have surgery. She had surgery in late February 2020, where she received spinal implants.

On March 1, 2020, Adelina officially announced her retirement from competitive figure skating. She hopes to perform in skating shows in the future, thanks to her surgery.

Life Outside the Rink

Personal Life and Family

Adelina Sotnikova was born in Moscow on July 1, 1996. Her father, Dmitry, works as a police officer. Her mother, Olga, has worked as a homemaker and in merchandising. Adelina has a younger sister named Maria, who has Treacher Collins syndrome. Adelina has said that Maria is the most important person in her career. She sees figure skating as a way to support her sister.

Adelina attended a high school where many students are athletes. In 2013, she started studying at a sports university. She plans to become a coach in the future.

In 2015, Adelina opened a beauty salon in Moscow called "Studio Be Happy." It was later renamed "Studio Adelina Sotnikova." On October 30, 2022, Adelina became a mother to a baby boy named Adrian.

Skating Performances: Programs

Adelina Sotnikova at the 2014 Winter Olympics podium

Competitive Highlights

Sotnikova with President Vladimir Putin after Olympics, 24 February 2014

• GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Detailed Results

Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships – Worlds, Europeans, and Junior Worlds. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

Senior Level Results

Sotnikova performing her gala at the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard

Sotnikova at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup

Junior Level Results

Sotnikova at the 2010–11 JGP Final

See also

In Spanish: Adelina Sótnikova para niños