Idman.biz
Russian figure skater Veronika Zhilina announced that she has received an Azerbaijani passport.
İdman.biz reports that the 16-year-old athlete shared about this on her social media account.
In her post, Zhilina wrote that she is ready to start a new stage of her career under the flag of a new country: "Dear friends, thank you all for your concern. Many of you are aware that I suffered a severe spinal injury and underwent long-term treatment and rehabilitation. For this reason, I have not participated in any official competitions in Russia for two seasons (2023/24 and 2024/25) and I am not a member of the Russian national team.
Thanks to my family - my mother and father, my sister and my coach Evgeni Viktorovich, I was able to withstand all the trials. I want you to know that I am very grateful to Russia and everyone who helped me here, I highly appreciate the contribution and support of those who contributed to my development and formation as an athlete. I trained at a private academy, but I always felt like part of a larger figure skating community.
For several years now, my life has been connected with Baku, I often fly here and recently received a passport. Azerbaijan is a country that I fell in love with and consider my second home. I have gained many friends and colleagues here. Now I will be happy to represent Azerbaijan in the future, not only with my soul, but also with my heart. I am looking forward to permission to perform in the national team! Tomorrow I will also be 17 years old and I am very grateful to everyone who supports me on this new path."
It should be noted that the day before, the leadership of the Russian Figure Skating Federation announced that they would not allow Zhilina to change her citizenship and that she is a member of the Russian national team.
İdman.biz
