Sigi's tips: A warning death

Sigi Heinrich has been a sports reporter and TV commentator for decades.

It is a never-ending stream of news and reports that hits us every day. Quickly turned the page in the still beloved newspaper (paper is patient after all) or hastily clicked on the Internet. The very next day or even just hours later, a dense carpet of forgetting spreads over events that had just seemed so current. An almost unheard of pace is set without us delving deeper into the stories because we can no longer master some of their fullness.

I was particularly touched by one message recently. By the way, a message that disappeared from all portals just one day after it appeared: Russian figure skater Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya dies after falling out of a window . She was only 20 years old. Depending on the medium in which this was published, there was talk of “great sadness” or “drama”. The International Skating Union (ISU) spoke of a “big shock”. A merciless system Of course, there is probably a personal tragedy behind this, which may also have its origins in the merciless system in which Alexandrovskaya grew up. Figure skating is almost a national sport in Russia. Many girls hope to have a great career with ice skates. Here’s to medals and the associated prosperity for themselves and their families. It is a merciless cut-throat competition that begins in childhood.

Regardless of physical development, the motto is: the sooner, the better. Even well before puberty, Russian girls have quadruple jumps in their repertoire. A feat that puts extreme strain on the musculoskeletal system and was not thought possible a few years ago. In addition, the best coaches in Russia – and there are a lot of them – fight for the most talented young talent. It can happen that potential medal contenders come face to face with each other every day and are actually watching each other. The pressure they are under is actually monstrous. Especially at this age. Many fail. Escape to Australia Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya was also a rising star and tried everything to assert herself in this world that promised so much glamor. She was denied a breakthrough, which is why she fled. Far away. To Australia. There she teamed up with Harley Windsor, got Australian citizenship because they knew in Russia that she would be safe for their own starters, and was probably happy for the first time in her life. The two became junior world champions in pair skating in 2017. The first in Australia's history. A year later they took part in the Olympic Games in South Korea. It was a respectable 18th place. Three couples from Russia were ahead of them, but without winning a medal.

I was able to observe both as a commentator. They were a wonderful unit. The fact that they couldn't be the best didn't seem to bother them. They loved their sport. That was obvious and touching. I spontaneously remembered her freestyle when I read the message. Because it was accompanied by the impressive music from the famous ballet “Spartacus” by Aram Khatchaturian, one of the greatest Russian composers. In this way, Alexandrovskaya has somehow remained true to her homeland. She apparently committed suicide in Moscow after being diagnosed with epilepsy in January. "I love"…. Those are said to have been her last words. It was probably also the last cry of a vulnerable soul for whom sport was the most beautiful, but at the same time perhaps the worst experience in a life that was far too short.

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Sigi's tips: A warning death

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