Olympic champion Natalya Bestemyanova weighs in on the ongoing discussion about the Russian ice dancing pair Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin, who now compete for Georgia. She echoes the assessment made by coach Tatyana Tarasova, suggesting that the duo has not yet established a distinct national identity on the ice for Georgia. The commentary shared by Bestemyanova aligns with a broader narrative circulating in sports media and commentary circles, including insights from Sports Express that emphasize the dynamics of national representation in figure skating.
Bestemyanova affirms Tarasova’s perspective, noting that the current chatter in the press is driven more by the fact that Davis is the daughter of renowned Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze than by a clear assessment of the skaters’ abilities. This observation reflects a common tension in international figure skating when lineage and coaching pedigrees intersect with the competitive performances on the ice. The coach’s points, as echoed by Bestemyanova, center on how media narratives shape public perception of athletes who train across borders and later compete under a different flag.
Looking ahead, the European Figure Skating Championships scheduled for January 2024 in Kaunas, Lithuania, represent a pivotal stage for Davis and Smolkin as they debut for Georgia at a major continental event. Such assignments often test athletes’ ability to adapt to new team dynamics, national expectations, and the pressure of representing a country that is newly associated with their skating programs. The event in Kaunas will provide a clear measure of their competitive readiness and the degree to which they have integrated into the Georgian skating federation’s development plans.
Since the Beijing Olympics, the pair has continued training in the United States, a path that many skaters pursue to access high-caliber coaching and competition opportunities. Their citizenship change occurred in the summer of 2023, enabling them to compete under the Georgian flag. Earlier this year they demonstrated their progression by winning the Ice Dance International in Lake Placid, a result that underscored their capability to perform under international pressure and against a broad field of seasoned dancers. This victory is often cited as a milestone in their transition from competing under a Russian affiliation to representing Georgia on the world stage.
Context around Davis includes her connection to Eteri Tutberidze, a figure whose coaching legacy is well known within the sport. The public record notes that Tutberidze’s influence extends through her students and their teams, a factor that naturally stimulates discussion about training environments and national eligibility. A 2023 report from an American journalist indicated that the U.S. Figure Skating Federation evaluated the potential for Davis and Smolkin to perform under the American flag, though they have not pursued that route. This illustrates the complexities athletes navigate when deciding where to compete and how national identity is formed within the context of international sport.
Georgia has publicly indicated an interest in medals at the European Championships, signaling a strategic focus on leveraging the talents of Davis and Smolkin as part of a broader effort to elevate the nation’s standing in ice dance. The situation highlights how federations balance the allure of high-profile athletes with the long-term goal of building a competitive program capable of contending for medals on the European stage. The evolving narrative around the pair continues to attract attention from fans, commentators, and national sports bodies alike, illustrating the intricate interplay of talent, coaching networks, citizenship, and national representation in contemporary figure skating. [citation: Sports Express and related sports media discussions]
Related posts:
On Davis’ citizenship change and Tutberidze’s potential move to the United States Davis and Smolkin Switch to Georgia, Impact on Ice Dancing Explored Davis and Smolkin: Citizenship Rumors, Georgian Prospects, and Russian Skating Reactions Georgia Bound: Davis and Smolkin’s Citizenship Change and New Chapter in International Figure Skating Natalya Bestemyanova on Tarasova, her career, and the changing world of ice skating Georgia’s Davis and Smolkin gear up for European Championships in Kaunas Diana Davis and the Question of a National Change in Figure Skating Davis and Smolkin: Citizenship Shift and Implications for International Ice Dance Georgia-bound pair mark a modern shift in figure skating allegiances, with sport-led decisions shaping careers Rewritten Article on Georgian Figure Skating Duo and Competitive Prospects Davis Smolkin: Georgia’s Ice Dance Duo at US Grand Prix Davis and Smolkin: Georgian Citizenship, Coaching Ties, and Their European Ambitions