| Russian snowboarder Date of Birth: 27.05.1989 Country: Russia |
Alena Zavarzina is a Russian snowboarder known for her perseverance and optimism. Despite facing serious injuries throughout her career, she has always managed to bounce back and achieve great success in her sport. As she prepares for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Zavarzina finds herself once again dealing with an injury. However, many believe that her determination and love for the sport will see her through and allow her to compete in the Games.
Born in the spring of 1987 in Novosibirsk, Russia, Alena Zavarzina began her athletic journey in artistic gymnastics as a young child. But at the age of ten, she discovered her passion for snowboarding. Initially specializing in big air, which involves various tricks and jumps, Zavarzina eventually transitioned to parallel disciplines that offered more speed and competitive opportunities. In 2006, at the age of nineteen, she made her debut in the sport in the Netherlands.
Zavarzina's breakthrough came in 2008 when she won bronze at the Junior World Championships and placed third overall in the European Cup. In the following years, she achieved victory in four European Cup stages in 2008 and 2009. By the start of the 2009-2010 season, Zavarzina solidified her position as one of Russia's top snowboarders, finishing eighth overall in the World Cup standings for parallel disciplines. She also claimed her first victory in the United States and won silver in Canada that season.
Unfortunately, Zavarzina faced disappointment at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, finishing 17th. However, she quickly redeemed herself by winning the parallel slalom competition at the 2011 World Championships in La Molina, Spain. She was on track to potentially become a double world champion in the same event but suffered a knee injury during her second run. The injury forced her to miss the rest of the season.
During her recovery, Zavarzina married American snowboarder Vic Wild, who switched his citizenship to compete for Russia. Despite rumors that her injury affected her performance, Zavarzina remained focused on her goals and looked to her husband's example of resilience. She trained separately and diligently to regain her form.
In 2013, Zavarzina won gold at the Russian Championships, further boosting her confidence and preparation for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi. Though snowboarding experts recognized her potential for success, Zavarzina acknowledged that luck plays a significant role in her sport.
Just before the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Zavarzina suffered a broken radius bone during a World Cup event in Austria. Despite this setback, her coaches believe there is still a possibility for her to compete in Sochi. Inspired by the stories of athletes who returned to the sport after injuries, Zavarzina remains optimistic about her future. She looks to tennis player Andre Agassi as an example of someone who overcame a serious back injury to win Grand Slam tournaments. With her determination, Zavarzina's journey as a remarkable athlete is far from over.