Winter Olympics: ‘Lived a lifetime in the last week’ – Kamila Valieva praised after topping short program

Kamila Valieva shouldered immense pressure to post the leading score in the short program in the women’s singles at Beijing 2022. The spotlight was fixed on the 15-year-old Russian after she tested positive for a banned heart drug last week – barely 48 hours after she had helped ROC to team gold. Ad/> The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cleared Valieva to compete on Monday after protests from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Skating Union (ISU).

Beijing 2022Tearful Valieva summons up remarkable skate to lead short program44 MINUTES AGO Back on the ice, an emotional Valieva topped the standings with 82.16 to lead going into Thursday’s free skate despite a little stumble attempting a triple axel. “Just beautiful. No she didn’t land the triple axel but there was so much there that reminded us of what a sensational skater she is,” said Simon Reed on Eurosport commentary.

“No wonder the emotion. Can you just imagine what she’s been through. And all through it just remember, she is just 15.” IOC athlete group pushing for entourages to be 'punished more severely' in doping cases ‘The only difference I see is I’m a Black young lady’ – Richardson hits out after Valieva decision IOC confirms no medal ceremonies for events where Valieva is on podium He added: “Not a flicker of the sign of what she’s been through… she’s lived a lifetime in the last week.