Olympic medalist insults journalist for early morning call

Figure skater Alexander Galliamov from Berezniki became angry with a news channel journalist when she called him on Sunday morning after the Russian Championships. The athlete wrote an angry post on social media and suggested retaliating by «leaking» the correspondent«s number. Commentator Dmitry Guberniev condemned the skater. Here is everything known about the scandal.

Alexander Galliamov was born on August 28, 1999, in the Perm Krai, in the city of Berezniki. Alexander is a Russian figure skater who competes in pair skating with Anastasia Mishina. They are bronze medalists of the 2022 Olympic Games in the team event, bronze medalists of the 2022 Olympic Games in pair skating, 2021 World champions, 2022 European champions, bronze medalists of the 2019 Grand Prix Final, three-time Russian champions (2022, 2024, 2025), two-time Russian national silver medalists (2023, 2026), 2019 World Junior champions, winners of the 2018 Junior Grand Prix Final, and winners of the 2019 Russian Junior Championships. Galliamov is a Honored Master of Sports of Russia and a Knight of the Order of Friendship.

On the evening of December 20, after the competitions, a post appeared in Galliamov«s Telegram channel: »Apparently, this is a hint that it«s time to hang up the skates.» This was the skater«s hint at ending his sports career. On Sunday morning, a journalist from the St. Petersburg channel »78« called Alexander Galliamov to ask the athlete to comment on the publication. The skater responded to the call with aggression.

After the call, Galliamov posted a voice message in his Telegram channel in which he called the journalist «out of her mind.»

«I»m thinking: «And where are your brains?»« Galliamov says in the video. »Did she forget when she calls? After the mess, when I wanted to get some sleep. Well, that«s, damn it, so mean, I think. To let me recover, today we also have the gala. Well, just completely nuts, I swear. Should we then expose her number so she gets calls now? So she understands what she»s doing. Well, just not normal. I don«t know.»

Channel «78» responded to the skater«s complaints. In its Telegram channel, the editorial staff explained that the journalist called Alexander at 09:54—a few minutes before the first news broadcast. The girl wanted to get the athlete»s comment and clarify whether he wrote the post about ending his career or if his account was hacked.

«Alexander, hello. Sorry to bother you so early. I wanted to ask if you could comment on what you wrote in your Telegram channel,» the channel quotes its employee.

In response, the skater threatened to publish the journalist«s phone number.

«We would like to address the »great athlete« that if he doesn»t know how to set his phone to silent mode—let him contact us, we«ll help!» writes the Telegram channel «78». «Publishing the phone number of an editorial employee could lead to criminal liability, as there is a law for disclosing personal data.»

The skater«s behavior was condemned by journalist and sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev. In a conversation with Channel »78«, he noted that Galliamov could have turned off his phone if he didn»t want to be disturbed in the morning.

«I understand, of course, that this person invented figure skating. He practically, like Protopopov, like Zaitsev, like Ulanov, like Bobrin, like Vasiliev, like many legends, promotes this sport to the masses,» said Guberniev. «But seriously: you were woken up, you»re a grown boy already—learn to set your phone to silent mode. At least turn off the sound to rest. But no one gives you the right to talk to people like that. To flaunt the number—what kind of kindergarten is this?«

The sports commentator added that the skater should be ashamed of such behavior. Commentator and journalist Vasily Konov supported his colleague«s views. In his Telegram channel, he wrote that he does not understand the complaints against the journalist who was doing her job. In Konov»s opinion, the personal attacks and threats indicate Galliamov«s inability to assess the situation adequately. The journalist believes that Alexander must apologize.

On Sunday evening, journalists from Channel «78» spoke with Alexander Galliamov on camera. The skater did not apologize but said he is not vindictive.

«You understand, you also need to think with your head when you pick up and call,» Galliamov answered the journalists. «That»s not my problem... Well, we can meet in person, as an option, talk, we can discuss this situation. I have a show right here, at «Yubileyny». And then we need to skate first, and then we«ll sort everything out.»

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