He left his native Belarus for Norway when he was four years old. Rybak’s grandmother Zinaida Gurina, who lives in the Belarusian capital Minsk, was planning to go to the Eurovision final to support her grandson in Moscow, but recently had heart surgery and had to stay at home.

The 77-year old woman told Komsomolskaya Pravda daily that she didn’t expect her grandchild to win. “On the eve of the final, rumors had it that the main shoo-ins for the victory were the UK, Greece and France. All I could dream of was, I wish he’d make it to the top ten!” Zinaida Gurova said.

Alexander Rybak

She hasn’t seen Alexander for almost a year. According to Zinaida, Alex has changed a lot since last summer: he lost weight and became skinny. Perhaps, that’s down to stress.

“I’m happy and I feel sorry that I tried to talk Sasha out of taking part in Eurovision. A year ago when he turned to me for advice I thought it’s not for him. I reckoned my grandson should rather practice classical music. But he decided to try it and won!’ Gurova said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda.

“I wish him not to fall victim to star sickness. I want him to stay honest, fair and responsible. To be close to his friends, gallant and sweet.”