Tutberidze’s speech
Famous Russian trainer Eteri Tutberidze talked about the exclusion of Russian skaters and figure skaters from international competitions. Recall that the International Skating Union (ISU) decided on March 1 to exclude athletes from Russia from competitions under its auspices, as they have already missed the World Championships. In the summer, this decision was approved for the new season.
“World Championships, distribution of Grand Prix stages, ranking updates etc. All this is very, very frustrating. I understand a lot, but I do not accept the removal of our athletes and children from international competitions. Sure, it’s easier to share medals and enjoy the little things, but where are the basics – fair play? — Wrote in the Tutberidze social network.
Or is that what our athletes are worried about, as they explain to us? I think ratings shouldn’t be updated and titles shouldn’t be given while we’re gone – that’s ridiculous. I know it’s the sport that erases borders and unites all athletes in the world. I think this is a terrible mistake of a group of people who find themselves empowered to make decisions. God help us all to get out of this situation.
“Athletes can’t be blamed”
Tutberidze’s words instantly blew up the knowledge space in the figure skating world, at least in Russia, and caused a stormy reaction. They were commented on by colleagues, journalists and politicians.
“Eteri Tutberidze’s name is quite logical. It would be fair for our skaters and other participants in the competition, – Sport24 quotes Ilya Averbukh, an Olympic silver medalist and now a sought-after choreographer.
“The participation of the Russians will strengthen the position of all other athletes, and in the absence of our men all this becomes invalid.”
“I completely agree with Eteri Georgievna, international ratings should not be updated in the absence of Russian skaters,” said Alexei Yagudin, Olympic champion in men’s skating and now TV presenter, in a comment to Sport-Express.
Alexei Zheleznyakov, the choreographer of the Tutberidze group, gave a detailed speech in support of his leader in an interview with Match TV.
“Of course these requests will go unheard and yet I agree 100% with Eteri Georgievna. The slogan “Sport is outside politics” has always existed, but it has long been lost. Now this is bullshit and bullshit. Sport in politics – now such a slogan needs to be put forward, because what is happening now is pure politics, says Zheleznyakov.
“They punish athletes who have not committed any crime. Athletes from all over the world – not only Russian, but in general – sorry for the tautology, people of the world. Those who roam the planet perform with each other. Sport should come together and lead people to peace, but in the end it is just the opposite.
A group of pro-Western officials who arranged all this… To me, it’s just chaos. I don’t think this should happen either in sports or in art. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin is read all over the world – let’s ban him? Let’s ban everything Russian! This is madness.
Children and young people in particular suffer from it. We adults do not understand what is happening, and children even more so. From the age of four they work hard in blood and sweat, get injured and go to their medals. And they spoil the fate of their politician uncles who grow their asses on the couches.
It is interesting that Tutberidze found support even from an unexpected side – from Evgeni Plushenko, the wife of producer Yana Rudkovskaya, with whom the coach had a long-standing enmity due to the competition of figure skating schools.
“I agree 100% with Eteri Georgievna Tutberidze! It is impossible not to agree, his suggestion is very constructive.
Western sports officials intervened in politics in sports and forgot the main ideology of sports, sports goals and objectives, destroyed the fate of not thousands, but hundreds of thousands of young Russian athletes in all winter and summer sports! How many of them?! – says Rudkovskaya.
– What would be the ratings in figure skating without Russian teenagers and adult girls? Let’s just get one of a kind! Yes, none! Any of our top 10 girls, not only adults, but also teenagers will defeat all these world elites in one door, God forgive me! If we are talking about fair sports, then there can be no ratings without Russian athletes. This is complete discrimination and a crime against all Russian athletes, coaches and federations.”
“Did Tutberidze think before speaking?”
But the famous skater, past Olympic champion, and now State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina has no illusions and is sure that Tutberidze’s words will not change anything.
“All federations do this, unfortunately. It is impossible to distinguish any of them. That is what the majority do. This is the current political situation and attitude towards Russia in the world,” Rodnina told Metaratings.
Four-time Olympic biathlon champion Alexander Tikhonov categorically disagreed with Tutberidze’s words and even criticized his statement.
“If we could manage the ball, we would have the right to say something. Did Tutberidze think before he spoke like that? No, I didn’t, thinks Tikhonov.
“Today we are nothing in world sport. There are good examples in biathlon and athletics. We are fired from everywhere, we are disturbed, we make statements that are not our right. Idle talk. We will create more problems for ourselves.
When all Europe cries for the winter, we will talk to them. They will come to us on their own, but now there is no need for that.”
“It is unlikely that the ISU will take this measure, but you can turn to the athletes, you can say, ‘Yes, we do not want to compete without the Russians.
– Then it all depends on whether the politicians put pressure on them, how much the athletes themselves adhere to the principles of sports. They still want to represent their country, they can be banned for supporting Russia, you need to have special courage here.
I’m afraid that in figure skating and speed skating it is unlikely to be the same as in tennis, but you can ask for support and let the Russians.”
“Let’s Motivate Athletes”
Russian figure skating officials did not back down from Tutberidze’s words.
“We must start with the fact that all the adjectives have already been said about the exclusion of our athletes from participation in international competitions. We can offer everything. In any case, the proposal was accepted by the international federation, Alexander Gorshkov, head of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, told Match TV.
— Naturally, we also wrote that we applied to CAS on this issue. We are against the decision. We have planned our competition calendar that will take into account all the necessary requirements to maintain the necessary competitive practice and motivation for the athletes. We will do our best to keep this motivation going. I can’t tell you anything more now.”
Valentin Piseev, Honorary President of the FFKR, supported Tutberidze’s speech.
“He’s absolutely right. What else can be added to this? When the best coach in the world talks about it, you should listen to it, – Piseev told Metaratings.
– Another thing is how the ISU and the International Olympic Committee reacted to it. I support what you’re saying. There is no doubt here. He knows what he’s talking about.”