Sofia Samodelkina's career has taken a remarkable turn following her decision to switch national representation from Russia to Kazakhstan. After receiving Kazakh citizenship in the summer of 2023, the figure skater faced numerous challenges, including a coaching change and bureaucratic hurdles that delayed her official transfer to the Kazakh national team. Despite these setbacks, she has remained focused on her goal of competing internationally.
In July, Samodelkina made her debut at the Kazakhstan Summer Championship, where she secured a victory despite a fall during her performance. However, her journey took another unexpected turn when the Astana Figure Skating Federation requested her to leave Evgeni Plushenko's academy to train in Kazakhstan. This decision, made without her direct involvement, aims to better support her career aspirations.
Now based in Astana, Samodelkina is training under local coaches and has access to a variety of specialists. She plans to maintain some of her previous programs while also adapting to new training methods. As she prepares for upcoming competitions, including the Junior Grand Prix in Ankara, she reflects on her health and mental strategies for weight management. Despite the challenges, Sofia is optimistic about her future in figure skating and looks forward to her collaboration with Rafael Arutyunyan in the USA.
