Aliona (Aljona) Savchenko is named 2017-18 icenetwork Person of the Year

[Sylvia]

IN tweeted today: "She persevered through years of heartbreak before finally attaining her ultimate goal, and for that, she is the 2017-18 icenetwork Person of the Year.

Read Jean-Christophe Berlot's profile of Aliona Savchenko": http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2018/04/27/273798642

Excerpt from the beginning:

Aliona Savchenko's story is like that of a Greek epic, one that reached its climax when its heroine finally fulfilled her destiny at the top of the Olympic mountain range Feb. 15 in Gangneung, South Korea.

As in all good epics, Savchenko's journey is marked by waves and revivals. She went through multiple partners before finding the one who could lift her to new heights. She had to endure years of heartbreak and frustration before she could taste victory on the sport's biggest stage. Even when she did achieve her ultimate goal, she did so in unlikely fashion -- when the odds were stacked against her and almost everyone had counted her out.

Everyone, that is, except Savchenko herself.

Yet another well-deserved acknowledgement of her greatness!

 

[Sylvia]

The five other 2017-18 "icenetwork Person of the Year" nominee articles:

• New-look Virtue, Moir redefine ice dance greatness (by Lynn Rutherford)
  
• Inimitable Hanyu driven to push limits of greatness (by Philip Hersh)
  
• Nathan Chen showcases ability to overcome adversity (by Nick McCarvel)
  
• Charismatic Rippon shines on grandest of stages (by Sarah Brannen)
  
• Osmond cements herself as Canada's leading lady (by Lois Elfman)

ETA the previous winners (articles linked):
2017: The Comeback Skater
2016: New Quad Kings
2015: Eric Radford
2014: Brian Orser
(using a points-based ranking system):
2013: Volosozhar & Trankov
2012: Patrick Chan

 

[Ohyes]

Congrats! Wow, a lot of worthy nominees too. this has been quite the season.

 

[Wyliefan]

I was rooting for Kaetlyn, but Aljona is certainly deserving!

 

[Yazmeen]

Absolutely the correct choice among great contenders.

 

[cocotaffy]

No other choice was possible. Such an incredible career, such will and those programs

 

[whiteskates]

I'm glad Aljona won. I can't think of anyone more deserving. Five Olympics! She never gave up.

 

[kwanfan1818]

 

[Bellanca]

What an impressive group of nominees they had this year! Wowza! Kind of makes one wonder who came in second? A close second, maybe? I don’t know, but each one had a great case, imho.
At the end of the day (or season), Aljona was able to rise to the occasion and make it all happen for herself. Bruno may have helped a little, too.

 

[MsZem]

Absolutely the right choice. The rest of the Olympics was completely secondary to Aljona's OGM. I will say that the account of the ending of the S/S partnership seems like something of a revisionist history

Shout out to Bruno for making all of it possible. There's been a lot of talk about how lucky he was that she chose him as her partner, but Aljona was fortunate to find someone who was so supportive and hardworking. It's clear that she's a happier person and skater these days.

 

[Yazmeen]

Absolutely the right choice. The rest of the Olympics was completely secondary to Aljona's OGM. I will say that the account of the ending of the S/S partnership seems like something of a revisionist history

Shout out to Bruno for making all of it possible. There's been a lot of talk about how lucky he was that she chose him as her partner, but Aljona was fortunate to find someone who was so supportive and hardworking. It's clear that she's a happier person and skater these days.

Hear, hear!!!!

 

[kittyjake5]

Well deserved. The other nominees were special but pale in comparison to Aliona’s journey. Congrats!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Poor Bruno. Bit insensitive not to award it to them as a team.

Or does Aliona do solo split triple twists, solo triple throws, and death spirals?

 

[DreamSkates]

She deserved it! Great article on IN as well.