Among all Olympic sports, figure skating stands out as one of the most stunning and expressive. While mastering the technical elements of a routine is incredibly challenging, the skaters make it seem effortless as they glide over the ice. The top skaters don’t just perfect their jumps, spins, and tricks.
They also learn to convey the emotions of the music they skate to. If you want to meet someone who truly represents the essence of skating, look no further than Veronika Zhilina. Veronika is a Russian figure skater whose breathtaking performance to Alexandra Burke’s version of Hallelujah has taken the internet by storm.
It’s one of the most heartfelt and moving performances you’ll ever see, and it’s even more impressive considering she was just ten years old at the time.
Veronika Vladislavovna Zhilina was born on May 15, 2008, in Arkhangelsk, Russia. She’s already achieved a lot in her skating career, but she did start at a very young age. Her mother, Ludmilla, began teaching her to skate when she was only three.
Veronika displayed a natural talent for skating, and even as a small child, she never felt lonely. Before long, her younger sister Alena joined her and their mom. Building a career in figure skating demands a lot of hard work, but both girls were eager to commit because skating is their true passion.
They lived in Arkhangelsk until 2018 before relocating to Moscow to train with renowned Russian figure skating coaches Sergei Dudakov, Sergei Rozanov, and Eteri Tutberidze. Just a year later, Veronika entered the junior category of the Russian Younger Age Championships and won! She proved that it wasn’t just beginner’s luck by successfully defending her title the following year.
Around this time, one of her coaches, Sergei Rozanov, transferred to the Academy Angels of Plushenko. Veronika and Alena followed him, joining another gifted figure skater, Alexandra Trusova. In the years that came, Veronika has either won or placed highly in competitions across Russia and may soon be ready to compete internationally.
If her performance to Hallelujah is any indication, she will score well, especially in artistic expression. When she steps onto the ice, she carries a light that she waves elegantly above her head. The audience joins in with their own lights, creating a connection between the skater and the spectators.
Veronika sets her light down on the ice as she starts to skate. It’s a breathtaking performance. Veronika glides across the ice, almost appearing to merge with it. Her white dress beautifully complements her blonde hair, and her expression is angelic. Veronika’s skating is impeccable, her transitions as fluid as if she were made of water instead of flesh and blood.
The routine has been flawlessly choreographed and perfectly captures the mood of the song. It’s a performance you absolutely cannot miss. And if you’re curious whether her little sister is just as talented, be sure to check her out too. It seems certain that these two gifted young ladies have incredible careers ahead of them.
