by sportswriters Niu Mengtong and Zhao Ziyu
SHENZHEN, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dressed in red and black, with dark eye makeup and a fierce expression, Alexandra Ignatova looked every bit the warrior as she took to the ice for Saturday's women's free skate at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Shenzhen.
Yet the arena's giant screen showed a softer image: Ignatova smiling as she cradled her baby son, Mikhail, in her arms.
Four years ago, she was Alexandra Trusova, a 17-year-old who stunned the figure skating world by attempting five quadruple jumps at the Beijing Winter Olympics, winning the free skate but settling for silver overall.
Now 22, she had returned to China after a five-year absence from the Grand Prix circuit, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, with a new surname and a new role as a mother.
To her fans, though, she was still Sasha.
"I've always seen Sasha Trusova as a superhero with extraordinary abilities," her choreographer Daniil Gleikhengauz told Russian media in September.
The description seemed fitting for Ignatova's new free skate, inspired by the Netflix series "Stranger Things" and set to arrangements of "Separate Ways" and Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."
Third after Friday's short program with 72.37 points, Ignatova opened Saturday's free skate with a quadruple Lutz, drawing thunderous cheers.
The jump earned 14.29 points, including a grade of execution of 2.79. All 11 elements of her routine received positive grades of execution, helping her win the free skate with 148.90 points.
Yet, as in Beijing, winning the free skate did not mean winning the title. Japan's Mone Chiba took gold with 224.48 points, ahead of Ignatova on 221.27.
Four years ago in Beijing, Trusova had been in tears after missing out on Olympic gold. This time, she appeared more at peace with the result.
"Now, what matters most is skating cleanly and consistently, and that's what I did," she said at the press conference.
Asked whether fans could expect another five-quad performance, she said: "I don't think I'm going to do that again, so people don't have to wait for that."
The years since Beijing had brought major changes to Ignatova's life, both on and off the ice.
She married fellow figure skater Makar Ignatov in August 2024 and gave birth to their son a year later. After years away from international competition, returning to the elite level meant rebuilding her jumps and finding a new balance between training and motherhood.
The road back was not easy. The demanding training schedule she once knew now had to fit around family life, while regaining the difficult jumps that had made her famous required time and patience.
"Before, there was only figure skating. It was easier," she said. "Now I don't have enough time to recover."
Asked how much she had changed since Beijing, her answer was telling.
"It's easier to ask what hasn't changed. The feeling of being on the ice and competing hasn't changed. Everything else has."
Her love of quadruple jumps was one thing that remained.
In a Q&A video shared on social media, Ignatova was asked why she wanted to regain the jumps when many skaters could win without them.
"Because I'm not like everyone else," she replied. "I'd get bored without quads."
For other skaters, she had become an inspiration.
Chiba recalled looking up to Ignatova since her junior years and credited her with helping usher in the era of quadruple jumps in women's figure skating.
"She is also the reason for me to push the limits of myself," Chiba said.
South Korea's Lee Hae-in, who took bronze, was struck by Ignatova's return to competition after becoming a mother.
"It's just so amazing," Lee said. "I feel like she's telling us that women are so strong, and she is so strong."
The affection of the fans in Shenzhen was just as evident.
After Ignatova's free skate, fans showered the ice with toys for nearly a minute. The cheers were as loud as ever, even without five quadruple jumps or a gold medal.
They were for Sasha. ■
