Whatever Alina is missing socially is true for every elite skater, from novice to senior, and not just elite, but most skaters who are aiming for elite level, and not just a skater but an athlete in many sports. In several russian interviews during this past 6 month Alina said she is starting to make friends and buddies (I'll post the link if i find it quickly).
Radionova still does not have "true friends whom she can trust" except her mother and sister, as per her own comments (in a few interviews, which have been translated).
Elite skaters meet a lot of people, most of their fans want to be "buddies", people at competitions and shows want to get close to them, some try to befriend them for personal gain or status, etc. Does not mean they are "true friends and buddies".
Skaters do have friends often, and what i noticed.... their friends are often skaters too...
Alina just seems very lonely. It would be nice for her to experience "normal" teen girl things.
Most of young elite athletes don't have time or opportunity to experience "normal" teen things. The Mamun sisters (R. Gymns.), who both win gold and silver interchangeably, and lived in the same house, once in an interview said that sometimes for months they don't talk to anyone but parents, each other, coaches and team-mates, and journalists/media occasionally.
"Normal teenage things" are so subjective....... and varies by culture and country... I came to North Am. when i was 13 and never found "typical activities of teenage girls" interesting. Going to a shopping mall, or to a movie theater to watch "Ataque of the Killer Tomatoes" are not the most mind triggering activities for a teenager. I personally rather go to some hole in the wall film house ALONE to watch De Sica or Godar; or read a great book instead of mall-scouting. It is a waist of time to wonder around aimlessly if you don't have a list what to buy. And when you have a list of items to buy, you walk into the store buy them, and get out. Window shopping is a nasty purposeless and mind numbing activity - I personally HATE shopping since the age of 13, and yet that is the most common activity after school proposed to me by girls in high-school who were trying to befriend me. Befriending men especially older guys was so much more rewarding... they have more interesting activities and they think more logically, and most of them HATE shopping too.
I also know young teenager (kids of my friends) who rather engage during free time in their hobby, painting, bike-riding, arts, reading, etc., than spend time with kids their age. I know a lot of such kids....
I wish Alina many many male friends....
and to remain best friends with her Grandmother as a primary friend.
Grandparents in Russia are subjects, historically, of great reverence and symbols of wisdom. Grandmothers are the critical element in raising grand-children when mother/father have to work. Russian fairy tales often have Old Wise Grandfather or Grandmother, who advised the hero. It is true in most Old World/Traditional countries/cultures.
Drinking evening tea with "Babushka" is a classic way to spend an evening for a young person.... and to some degree a tradition.
... and not so young ones too
Some of you people really need to lighten up. There are plenty of threads for 
and sometimes this thread, but this particular comment of mine? Nah.
