Elena Kostyleva took a break from training at the Plushenko Academy

Two-time Russian junior figure skating champion Elena Kostyleva has temporarily stopped training at the Plushenko Angels Academy. The reasons for the break in the work of the 15-year-old athlete were reported by her mother Irina Kostyleva.

According to the skater's mother, Elena has an inflammatory process in two gluteal muscles. Irina Kostyleva clarified that the academy does not compensate the family for the current costs of the examination in the amount of 15 thousand rubles.

"Starting today, unfortunately, Lena does not go on the ice of the Plushenko Angels due to an inflammatory process in two gluteal muscles. I had an MRI scan last night. Nothing critical, but we need to give a break until the end of the week to relieve the inflammatory process," Irina Kostyleva wrote on her Telegram channel.

It was only in early November that the athlete resumed ice training at the Evgeni Plushenko Academy. Earlier, she was forced to miss the start of the current season due to similar health problems. According to the RIA Novosti Sport agency, in August 2026, Kostyleva withdrew from the junior stage of the Grand Prix in Xi'an, China, due to inflammation of the gluteal muscle, then Sofia Dzepka replaced her in the application.

After the first exacerbation of the injury, the figure skater was in a state of complete muscle rest and was recovering in Voronezh from September 14 to October 19. According to a statement by the co-owner of the academy, Yana Rudkovskaya, quoted by RIA Novosti Sport, at that stage the school fully funded the examinations and treatment of the athlete in two specialized clinics.

This season, a number of disciplinary and financial difficulties have arisen around the figure skater. In November, the Angela Plushenko Academy terminated the scholarship agreement with the athlete, according to which she received 65 thousand rubles a month. Elena Blagoderova, the skater's manager, explained that the decision was made due to a violation of the terms of the contract: Kostyleva attended training sessions on outside ice, and her mother spread negative information about the school.

The conflict at the academy also affected other students. According to Sport-Express, 13 parents of Plushenko's Angels students have filed a collective complaint with the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) about Irina Kostyleva's behavior. The appeal claims that the athlete's mother posted negative comments about other children.