PyeongChang gold medalist Alina Zagitova planned to open the 2018-19 season by competing this weekend at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy in Bratislava, Slovakia.
However, she withdrew from the competition due to issues with her travel documents, according to the Russian Skating Federation.
Instead she is slated to compete in next weekend’s Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany. She’ll be a heavy favorite in Germany; her biggest threat is Japan’s Mai Mihara, who won a silver medal at the 2018 Four Continents. Both events are part of the International Skating Union’s Challenger Series, one set of competitions lower than the Grand Prix Series.