The word “prodigy” is not one that is quick to be thrown around in the realm of figure skating, but 15-year old Yulia Lipnitskaya has garnered an impressive amount of attention following her controversial program set to the score from the film “Schindler’s List” and the sheer athleticism of which catapulted Russia to a gold medal in the team figure skating event during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Clad in a red outfit reminiscent of the iconic child in Spielberg’s award-winning film centered around the Holocaust, Lipnitskaya has been both praised and criticized from vastly differing points of view from around the world. Skeptics of the intent of the routine point out that a child of Lipnitskaya’s age could not possibly comprehend the symbolism being displayed, while others have voiced certainty that the routine was a tasteful tribute to Holocaust victims.
Regardless of one’s opinion of the message being displayed, it can not be ignored that this young Russian is an extremely talented individual and a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Be sure to follow Yulia Lipnitskaya and the rest of the Olympic figure skaters as they continue with their individual events in Sochi.
Career highlights (via nbcolympics.com):
- 2014 European Championships – Gold
- 2013 Grand Prix Final – Silver
- 2013 World Junior Championships – Silver
- 2012 World Junior Championships – Gold
- 2012 Russian National Championships – Silver
