Stefan Lambiel: the great Swiss figure skater

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Switzerland is not considered the leading country in figure skating, but from time to time there appear truly outstanding masters of one of the most beautiful sports. The most famous among them is Stephane Lambiel, who delighted figure skating connoisseurs with his fantastic spins, step sequences and understanding of music. Twice he became the world champion, and in an epic fight with Evgeni Plushenko he won the silver of the Olympic Games.

Stefan Rising

Stefan Lambiel was born in Martigny, Switzerland, in 1985. He began to figure skating at the age of seven, and this happened quite by accident. Having come to the training of his older sister, the boy put on skates for fun and rolled on the ice, trying to repeat the movements of professionals. He did it so well that the coach suggested that he seriously go in for sports.

Stefan Lambiel progressed rapidly - at twelve hewon the youth championship of the country, and a few years later he was not equal among adult figure skaters in Switzerland. Already at that time, his recognizable feature was the insanely beautiful spins that he made at high speed, in different positions and positions.

From the age of fifteen, the young Swiss performs at the World and European Championships, gradually working on his jumps and gradually pulling himself up to the group of the strongest skaters. In 2002, he made his debut at the Olympic Games, where he entered the top twenty.

Idol

Stéphane Lambiel's finest hour came in 2005, when he won the World Championships in Moscow in brilliant style, shocking the local public, who were accustomed to the dominance of their single skaters in figure skating. This event was the beginning of the great rivalry between Lambiel and Evgeni Plushenko, which, unfortunately, lasted only a few years.

Stefan, by all accounts, had flawless spins, was the best step sequence in the world, constantly improvising and inventing something new. Plushenko, on the other hand, was a real ice acrobat, capable of making dizzyingly complex jumps and cascades. It was insanely difficult for the judges to choose between the best artist and the best athlete in a subjective sport like figure skating.

At the 2006 Olympics, there was a decisive battle between them, where Evgeni Plushenko turned out to be stronger. Stéphane Lambiel, whose photo adorned the rooms of all Swissgirls, did not lose heart and said that this silver for him was equivalent to gold. In the absence of his main competitor, who retired from the sport, the Swiss won the 2006 World Cup, after which he took a break in his career. He explained this decision with moral fatigue and loss of incentives for further performances in competitions.

Departure and return

Stefan returned to the ice to take part in the 2007 World Championship. Here he became only the third, which did not reduce the degree of love and adoration of the fans of the Swiss artist on ice. Nevertheless, a new generation of skaters has already grown up, who skated insanely complex programs and gradually pushed Lambiel off the podium. In 2008, he became only fifth in the world championship, after which he decided to change his mentor.

Stefan's new coach was an authoritative specialist Viktor Petrenko, who began to prepare him for the 2008-2009 season. However, unexpectedly for everyone, the Swiss skater announced his retirement from the sport in October 2008, explaining this with a groin injury.

Having learned that Evgeni Plushenko decided to return to the sport to compete at the 2010 Olympics, Stefan also began to prepare for the main starts of the four years in order to fight his main rival again.

The return of Lambiel was one of the highlights of those Games. He was still just as good and in a bitter struggle with young, hungry newcomers to win, he took fourth place, after which he finally ended his sports career.

Stefan's personal lifeLambiel

The Swiss athlete has maintained a warm relationship with Italian figure skating prima Carolina Kostner for many years, but, according to him, they are connected only by a strong friendship. He does not speak about his private life out of principle, defending his right to personal space.