Natalia Aleksandrovna Zabiiako is a Russian-Estonian competitive pair skater. Competing for Russia with Alexander Enbert, she was the 2019 World bronze medalist, 2018 European bronze medalist, 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki champion, 2018 NHK Trophy champion, 2016 Rostelecom Cup silver medalist, and three-time Russian national medalist.
Medal Record
Olympic Games Representing Russia
Silver medal – second place 2018 Pyeongchang Team
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Saitama Pairs
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Moscow Pairs
World Team Trophy
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Fukuoka Team
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Natalia Zabiiako, competitive pair skater, competing for Russia she was the 2019 World bronze medalist, 2018 European bronze medalist, 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki champion, 2018 NHK Trophy champion, 2016 Rostelecom Cup silver medalist, and three-time Russian national medalist, here she talks about her fitness routine, , her diet, her beauty secrets and success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Tallinn, Estonia. You began skating when you were four years old. At the age 15, you switched from singles to pairs, partnering with Sergei Muhhin. You made your international debut at the 2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Belarus. This later propelled your career to the height where you have been at the top of the world as a competitive pair skater. You won the Olympic Silver medal in 2018 at Pyeongchang in the Team skating event. Tell us more about your journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Natalia Zabiiako:
It was an incredibly interesting and very difficult journey. A lot of serious injuries, change of partners, coaches, countries. But all this fades, when you climb the pedestal, and realize that all these difficulties and pain were not in vain, this is an indescribable feeling.
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
You have been a member of the Russian Competitive Pair Skating Team and had competed in many Championships and won. Tells how you were drawn to this sport of speed skating and your meteoric rise to be a member of the Russian Competitive Pair Skating Team?
Natalia Zabiiako:
My parents brought me to the ice rink in order to improve my health. I immediately really liked figure skating, although when I was very little, sometimes I went to the open skating rink at -15C in the early morning with tears. About 10 years I was single skater, but then I realized that I was much more interested in pair skating. All these elements, lifts, throws, attracted me very much. But in Estonia it was incredibly difficult to find a partner. And I started searching without saying anything to anyone. I decided to write to one of our singles, we met, talked, and then went to the coaches to report that we would like to try to become an ice pair.
From that moment I began my journey into the sport of the highest achievements. International competitions, failures, victories, then followed by a change of partners, citizenship. Hard work, severe injuries, but despite this, an insanely great desire to achieve something. And at the moment when it seemed that it could not be worse, an important and turning point in my career was a meeting with the coach of the Russian national team Nina Mozer, who offered me a partner and all the conditions to achieve what I was striving for.
Namita Nayyar:
You have won the Olympic Silver medal in 2018 at Pyeongchang in Team skating event, World Championships Bronze medal in 2019 at Saitama in Pairs, European Championships Bronze medal in 2018 Moscow in Pairs, World Team Trophy Bronze medal in 2019 at Fukuoka in Team and many more. Tell us more about your experience of these spectacular exceptional achievements?
Natalia Zabiiako:
All these achievements become much more valuable when you get it with huge difficulty. When you go through failure, pain, devastation, sometimes even despair. And when you finally reach the goal that you have been walking for so long, you see the eyes of your family and friends who were always with you, helped, supported, believed, sometimes even more than you yourself, then you feel an indescribable feeling of euphoria, satisfaction and happiness and you realize that you could go all this way again, for this.
Namita Nayyar:
You won the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki champion, 2018 NHK Trophy champion, 2016 Rostelecom Cup silver medalist, and three-time Russian national medalist in competitive pair skating. How do you manage such a remarkable achievement and what has been a catalyst to your exceptional sporting achievements in competitive pair skating?
Natalia Zabiiako:
Any achievements in sports are a lot of work, dedication, rejection of something, struggle with yourself inside yourself, love for what you are doing and a huge faith in yourself. I have always been as concentrated as possible on what I am doing, on where I am going. I was so consumed in it! And at the age of 14, when I become a pair skater, I realized that the world pedestal is not something ephemeral, it is reality, something that I can achieve if I work without sparing myself. A major head injury in 2016 was also a huge catalyst.
As soon as I came to my senses in reanimation, I realized even more that I want to win; I want to train and do what I love so much. It took almost three more years to do this, but it happened, my partner and I began to win. Olympic silver medal, Gold grand prix, bronze of the world championship. And of course, the support of loved ones played a huge role.
Namita Nayyar:
In your professional career in Competitive Pair Skating you have paired with Sergei Kulbach, Alexandr Zaboev, and Alexander Enbert. How have they influenced your skating skills and what did you learn from each one of them?
Natalia Zabiiako:
Each of them absolutely influenced me in one way or another. Someone brought positive emotions and experience into my life, someone on the contrary, some kind of wisdom, probably. But nevertheless, they all played a role in my formation.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Natalia Zabiiako:
At the moment, my daily routine is cardio exercises – running, swimming, jumping rope. Strength exercises for whole body. From time to time I practice dancing, playing tennis. I love cycling or rollerblading.
Namita Nayyar:
What is your fitness routine in such pandemic times?
Natalia Zabiiako:
During the pandemic, I did more Pilates. During the training camps, one amazing woman — Susan Pepper Arena worked with us, she taught me the basics of Pilates, so these skills were very useful to me on self-isolation.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Natalia Zabiiako:
For the abs, I have a lot of different exercises. As usual, on the mat, and various with rubber band, ball. In total, per workout, I do 6 different exercises 50 times each of them. A toned body is achieved due to constant movement, healthy and happy lifestyle. You need to combine workouts and constantly be in tone, okay, you can do nothing for one day, although it’s difficult for me :)))
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Natalia Zabiiako:
I will not say that I have a special diet. The only thing is that I do not eat meat, but otherwise I try to consume more vegetables, fruits, cereals, seafood. In fact, I also love sweets, but I try to choose the most useful ones. In such things as pizza or delicious pasta, ice cream, I also do not forbid myself. But this is certainly not every day. And the main thing is not to overeat and send all the energy in the right direction.
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you absolutely love and five you keep to a minimum.
Natalia Zabiiako:
I really love: avocado, vegetarian ice cream, coffee, fresh tuna and hummus. I try to keep it to a minimum: milk, eggs, cheese, chocolate bars, and cakes.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine. What special care do you take for both during extreme winter weather?
Natalia Zabiiako:
My routine in this regard is not very difficult. For cleaning my face I use just water, or sometimes cleansing oil, because my skin is dry, I can apply a serum with vitamin C on top. I rarely use creams, only in winter, when it is very cold and the skin needs additional nutrition. For my body I use body milk. I moisturize my hair with balms, and use water with sea salt for styling in everyday life. Of course, after the competition, when you pour half a bottle of hairspray on your head, you should apply a good mask to restore the structure.
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Natalia Zabiiako:
I love Nike, from the sports brands – this one dominates. There is also Adidas, I love their classic Superstar sneakers.
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list?
Natalia Zabiiako:
I have been to many places, but from what I have not yet been able to see, but I would very much like to – this is definitely Australia, Maldives, Bora Bora, Lapland and … probably Norway. Although there are so many of these places! Here a whole shopping list for a super huge party will come out! :))
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding Competitive Pair Skaters, who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of Competitive Pair Skating?
Natalia Zabiiako:
The most important and most difficult thing is an unshakable faith in you. Ability to endure, work hard and love what you do.
Namita Nayyar:
You have 13.3 followers on Instagram. A message for your Instagram followers.
Natalia Zabiiako:
I am extremely grateful to everyone who follows supports and believes in me. This betrays incredible strength! And I really appreciate everyone, who does this! You are the best! Well, those who will experience some kind of negative towards me, you only temper me.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and the message for its visitors?
Natalia Zabiiako:
I discovered this website not so long ago, but I’ve already made sure that there you will find a lot of useful information and motivation!
Natalia Zabiiako Social Media Presence
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/natalia_zabiiako/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness