MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated figure skating star Alina Zagitova on winning gold in ladies singles competition at the 2019 ISU World Championship in Japan’s Saitama on Friday.

"You won a beautiful, highly-skilled and confident victory. You skated your program ‘in one breath,’ conquering millions of fans and spectators with your brilliant skill. Such triumphal achievements create sports glory of our country. Well done!" Putin said in a telegram published on the Kremlin website.

Putin noted that Zagitova, who is strong in spirit and character and has a ‘make it happen’ mindset, is able to deal with the toughest and most ambitious challenges and goals.

The figure skater’s father Ilnaz Zagitov told TASS: "We are very proud, this has been a tough season."

Russia’s Alina Zagitova won gold on Friday in ladies singles competition at the 2019 ISU World Championship, which is currently underway in Japan’s Saitama. The 16-year-old Russian figure skater scored 237.50 points on the aggregate after the short program and free skating. Kazakhstan’s Elizabet Tursynbaeva took the silver with the result of 224.76 points and the bronze went to Russia’s Yevgeniya Medvedeva (223.80 points).

In addition to the gold of the 2019 ISU World Championship, Zagitova is the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics gold medalist in singles and the silver medalist in team event.

Zagitova is now the first Russian female figure skater to win all awards in ladies singles competitions as she is also the winner of the 2018 European Championships in Moscow and the gold medalist of the 2017-2018 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya. Besides, Zagitova currently holds world records for points earned in woman’s free skating (158.50) and for her combined total score (238.43).