Anna Sidorova Should Become a Star in Curling for More Than Just Her Looks

Anna Sidorova became an internet sensation heading into the 2014 Winter Olympics for her looks. However, her skill in curling is what should truly make her a star.

The Russian only began curling when an injured leg ended her career as a figure skater. According to her official Sochi profile, she picked up the sport in 2005 and was an Olympian just five years later. This meteoric rise did not stop there.

After becoming a skip (the captain and most pressure-filled role of a curling team), Sidorova led Russia to a win at the 2012 European Championships. This was only the second title for Russia in either men's or women's curling at an event that started in 1975. 

She will now lead Margarita Fomina, Alexandra Saitova and Ekaterina Galkina in the hopes of winning an Olympic medal in front of her home fans in Sochi. 

However, this is not exactly what fans care about at this point. The only thing that has taken center stage is her looks, especially after posing for a number of risque photos prior to the start of the Olympics. Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News provides a couple of them, but they are certainly not safe for work.

Despite the obvious boost to her popularity, Sidorova is not thrilled with all of the exposure, telling Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports:

"

It is pleasant to hear that people know us and like us, for sure. [But] it is much more pleasant when they will like our game and when they appreciate what we are doing. First of all, we are professional [athletes] and then we're pretty girls or [whatever] you want.

"

Galkina was even more offended, wanting the fans to focus specifically on what she does on the ice, via Sean Fitz-Gerald of Canada.com:

"

We want more serious attitudes towards us. Even today, there were a couple of comments from the stands like, ‘you look good girls.’ OK, so what? I mean, this has nothing to do with the game or with the athletes or sportsmanship at all.

First of all, she’s an athlete. That’s what we’re trying to bring to the people: ‘You’re a nice girl, but first of all, you’re an athlete.’

"

It is completely understandable that these ladies want more respect as athletes. No matter what happens in Sochi, they have reached the pinnacle of sports by being named Olympians. This is an accomplishment that demands recognition in any event.

On the other hand, there is no problem with fans appreciating both skill and looks.

Wong Maye-E/Associated Press

Maria Sharapova has become one of the most popular females in tennis for what she does both on and off the court. Even male athletes like Tom Brady or Cristiano Ronaldo have gained plenty of fans for more than just their accomplishments in their respective sports, especially from the opposite sex.

Sidorova can be the latest to gain popularity from her looks, but she'll keep it thanks to her play.

While the curling round robin in the Olympics is still just a few days old, there has already been a noticeable jump in popularity among the Russian fans. Canada Curling captured some of them outside the Ice Cube Curling Center:

Cathal Kelly of The Toronto Star described the arena on the first day of competition:

"

The crowd at the Ice Cube Curling Centre may be the most consistently loud in the history of the sport, mainly because they have no idea what the hell is going on. 

It’s an oasis of agitation in what is otherwise an Olympic experience of depressing calm. Outside, it’s The Day After. In here, it’s Thunderdome. 

This crowd screams at everything. They screamed in the (Moscow-based) bagpipers. They screamed when any Russian curler twitched. At one point, they were screaming across the arena at each other.

"

The fans might not know exactly what is going on and might be breaking etiquette, but they are having fun. This is because curling is a fun sport to watch, and it is quickly growing around the world.

Bleacher Report's Dan Levy discussed why people love it so much:

"

Curling has everything you would want in a winter Olympic sport. ...There is an incredible amount of strategy involved in each end, as blocking and screening are an integral part of winning. The crowds can get incredibly raucous, making the entire competition feel like a giant party on ice. And the personalities! Who would have thought that men and women sliding on the ice could be so…so…cool?

"

Russia is apparently the latest to hop on the bandwagon, and they are ready for a new star for the sport.

Sidorova has become somewhat of a household name thanks to her pictures, while her impressive performances should help make her that star the sport needs.

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