Millions of skating fans have watched a little Russian girl perform an adorable routine thanks to the reach of YouTube. In fact, since her routine was uploaded it has been viewed a whopping 18.5 MILLION times!
That’s pretty amazing! As the little skater prepares for her big moment, she looks very serious warming up off to the side (presumably with her coach or father looking on).
She’s all business!
Well, until she realizes someone’s recording, that is. Perhaps mom is in the audience?
She’s skating to music from the popular Russian animated show “Masha and the Bear,” which is based on an old children’s folktale.
It’s no surprise that music from this popular show would be chosen as it appears to be a perennial favorite for Russian children, following the adventures of a little girl and a kind, fatherly bear. In fact, she is using the theme from the special “Holiday on Ice” episode.
As she takes the ice, it’s clear she’s been doing this for at least a little while – she’s confident and steady (which is more than we could say for ourselves at 4!).
She looks small but mighty out there on the ice all alone.
After leaping into action, Milena takes a few adorable hops across the ice before she begins to show off her formal skills.
And those formal skills start with what’s called a “forward swizzle.”
On the inside edges of her skates, she moves her feet in and out, using her knees to glide across the ice.
It looks like Milena has skills from multiple levels in the Basic class of movements up her sleeve.
It’s all pretty advanced for a 4-year-old!
She can even skate backward!
If you’ve been sitting all day, watching her stand up from this little maneuver is probably enough to make your back crackle!
And while might look like an unsteady glide, she’s actually waving her hand while she’s doing it.
It makes us wonder when balancing while moving just one body part became so hard for us!
Some spins and twists from Milena show off yet more of her skills.
In fact, we wonder how many little ones are watching her video getting some tips on how they can begin their own skating careers.
And perhaps the most important moment – though certainly not a favorite for the little skater herself – was a little tumble.
Even the best figure skaters fall, but they all have one other thing in common: they get right back up and skate.
And that’s precisely what little Milena does as well.
Her toughest maneuvers come at the end – and while she struggles a bit, she gets the job done!
Regaining her confidence, she ends on a high note, looking perfectly steady and ready to earn the bow and round of applause that comes after.
We can’t help but think of all the little ones whose training and practice for activities they love has been interrupted by the pandemic. Figure skating in particular is one of those skills that you certainly can’t practice at home in the same way, even if there are remote lessons that can help with flexibility and choreography.
All we can do is hope that skaters like Milena find a way to get back on track!
Be sure to scroll down below to see the little girl’s viral performance.
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