Maria Sharapova Led Russian Athletes In Olympic Opening Ceremony Torch Lighting

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova led five other athletes from the Olympics host country to light the torch at the opening ceremonies for Sochi 2014.

Alongside Sharapova were hockey goalkeeper Vladislav Tretiak, pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and wrestler Alexander Karelin. They were also joined by figure-skater Irina Rodnina, who tweeted the controversial photograph of Barack Obama last year, and alleged former Putin fling, gymnast Alina Kabaeva.

After the opening cermonies, Sharapova took to Twitter to share her delight in getting the chance to run with the Olympic torch.

Did this really happen!? #pinchme #OpeningCeremony #Sochi12014 pic.twitter.com/BjNKGaDpB9

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) February 7, 2014

Sharapova, the top rated women’s tennis player in Russia and currently ranked third in the world, didn’t actually light the torch to kick off the Winter Games. That honor was given to Rodnina and Tretiak. With the Soviet Union, Rodnina won three gold medals at previous Olympic Games. Tretiak is frequently referred to as the best goalie in the history of hockey.

The lighting of the torch came at the end of the opening ceremonies on Friday for the most expensive Olympics to date.

– Chelsea Regan

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