Yulia Lipnitskaya, Russia’s youngest ever Winter Olympics gold medalist, retires at 19 after anorexia struggle – Telegraph.co.uk

Dubbed the “girl in red” for her bright costume, Ms Lipnitskaya won the free skate and short programme to give Russia the team figure skating gold in Sochi at the at the age of 15. Russia went on to win the medal count at the games that were seen as a cornerstone of Vladimir Putin’s legacy, and Ms Lipnitskaya, the youngest figure skating gold medalist in 78 years, became the star of the show.

A beaming Mr Putin patted Ms Lipnitskaya on the head and embraced her after the competition, and she was later declared a master of sport, the country’s highest sporting honour.