A 17-Year-Old Russian Figure Skater Has Gone Viral In Japan Because Of This Anime Show
She's just like the rest on the internet right now. WARNING: spoilers ahead!
Back in October, an anime called Yuri!!! on Ice premiered on Japanese TV.
In it, a Japanese figure skater called Yuri Katsuki is taken under the wing of his idol, a famous Russian skater called Victor Nikiforov.
The show has gained a particularly large online fandom, thanks in part to the romantic relationship between the two main characters.
View this video on YouTube
One notable fan of the show is 17-year-old Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva. She is the 2016 World, European, and Grand Prix champion.
Medvedeva has shown an interest in anime in the past. At a figure skating exhibition earlier this year, she performed in a Sailor Moon costume and spoke of her love of the show.
View this video on YouTube
And here she is with a plush toy of Luna from Sailor Moon.
Recently, though, Medvedeva has shown herself to be a huge fan of Yuri!!! on Ice.
#YuriOnIce
She regularly posts screenshots and moments from the show, as well as cosplaying as the title character.
Mother is shocked, dog is shocked. I'm happy and can't stop my laughter #YuriOnIce
My opinion about 7th episode #yurionice
Aghrshgvsbdjsjzttdjhebah #dreamcometrue
Twitter users in Japan have noticed Medvedeva's love of the show. One of its creators even sent her personalized fan art of her and Viktor.
💕😍💕 @JannyMedvedeva #yurionice
メドベちゃんほんとに金メダルおめでとう🎊 もうめっちゃ好き。ラブ。 ただの自己満足だけどせっかく描いたから呟いちゃう Поздравляю!! @JannyMedvedeva
In fact, loads of people have sent her fan art.
@JannyMedvedeva was amazing at the #GPFinal I was so happy for her that I made this drawing of her with Victor from… https://t.co/w9PTS24PSt
She was even given a plush rice ball like the one Yuri holds in the show after the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final last weekend.
@kubo_3260 嬉しいですね(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, Medvedeva said that she loves the anime because it reminds her of real life.
"Similar places, arenas, and even room in the hotel," she said.
#yurionice
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Rachael Krishna is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
Contact Rachael Krishna at rachael.krishna@buzzfeed.com.
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バズフィード・ジャパン ニュース記者
Contact Haruna Yamazaki at haruna.yamazaki@buzzfeed.com.
