Olympic figure skating champion Anna Shcherbakova has publicly shared that she is not yet ready to transition into coaching. Her remarks were disseminated by TASS as a guiding statement about the next chapter in her remarkable career.
When asked whether she had considered coaching, Shcherbakova admitted that offers have come in from both Russia and other national teams. Yet she emphasized that she feels she needs more time before committing to a coaching path, choosing to focus on personal development and ongoing performance goals first.
Shcherbakova claimed the gold medal in single skating at the Beijing Olympic Games, finishing ahead of her fellow Russian skater Alexandra Trusova and the Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto. The victory marked a pinnacle in a season that showcased her precision, artistry, and consistency on the grandest stage of the sport.
Although she did not declare an end to her professional skating career, Shcherbakova chose not to participate in the competitions of the 2023/24 season. She announced that she had recovered from an injury sustained in 2022 and planned to continue performing in ice shows. Among those ventures, the show Ice Age featured Shcherbakova alongside notable peers, highlighting her continued influence in the figure skating world beyond traditional competition.
Her achievements span a global spectrum: world champion in 2021, Olympic champion in 2022, and silver medalist at the European Championships in 2020. She also played a key role in leading their team to victory at the World Team Figure Skating Championships in 2021. Domestically, Shcherbakova claimed the Russian Championship title three times (2019, 2020, 2021) and placed second in 2022, underscoring a sustained level of excellence across multiple seasons.
Beyond the podium, Shcherbakova has occasionally discussed a possible return to full-time competition, signaling that the doors to future participation remain open while she pursues other aspects of her career in the nearer term. Her ongoing influence in the sport continues to be felt through public appearances, exhibition programs, and the mentorship of younger skaters who look to her as a benchmark of grace and technical prowess.