Sofia Samodelkina — figure skater with roots in the Russia
Sofia Samodelkina is a Russian-born elite figure skater who transferred her sporting representation from the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan to continue competing in international Grand Prix and championship events following Russia's sports suspension. A technically accomplished skater with multiple quad jumps, she represents the depth of talent Russia has lost to the diaspora.
Tracing the roots — Russia
Born and developed through Russia's elite figure skating system — the most productive in the world — Samodelkina's switch to Kazakhstan represents a direct export of Russian skating investment to a neighbouring country. Kazakhstan, with strong Russian cultural ties and a shared Soviet athletic heritage, has become a major beneficiary of Russia's sports isolation.
Russia. Today, the former Soviet space comprises fifteen sovereign independent states.