The media reports centered on Diana Davis, the daughter of the renowned Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze, who skates in pairs with Gleb Smolkin, as she may continue competing under the United States flag.
Tutberidze confirmed Davis’s status, according to Skating Lesson. Davis, born in the United States in 2003, holds American citizenship. The pair has recently trained exclusively in the United States, under the coaching of Igor Shpilband.
In the previous season, Davis and Smolkin achieved a notable breakthrough by finishing second at the Russian Championships. It is believed they would have placed third, but Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov withdrew after the rhythm dance due to a back injury to their partner.
Their performance drew mixed reactions among fans and skaters. Some competitors behind them alleged judging bias stemming from Davis’s mother’s high profile. No confirmations of such rumors emerged, and the duo went on to compete at the European Championships where they placed seventh, and then at the Olympic Games where they finished fourteenth.
The pair did not participate in the team tournament, which Russia won. Some detractors argued they might have skated in the free dance instead of Russia’s second pair, Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin, prompting Sinitsyn and Katsalapov to perform in both portions. These discussions signaled a broader debate about selection and national representation.
Davis has not confirmed any change in citizenship. She responded to the rumors with restrained humor on social media, noting interest in what information might unfold about herself. Meanwhile, Dave Leese, author of The Skating Lesson, claimed that Tutberidze preferred to work more in North America, suggesting plans to study in the USA but noting practical barriers due to the depth of talent elsewhere. Tutberidze responded to the speculation with remarks on social media describing the chatter as a fraud.
Given Tutberidze’s prominence and Davis’s status as a national team athlete, the Russian Figure Skating Federation was asked to comment. The federation stated that a transfer requires an official request from the destination country, in this case the American Federation, and the athlete’s consent. At the time, no such request or consent had been received. Renat Laishev, head of the Sambo-70 school and Khrustalny’s former department, commented that Tutberidze and Davis were together in the United States but cautioned against any definitive move toward a permanent departure.
Here is what Laishev shared about their status: both Eteri and Diana have been connected to the United States while still acknowledging their roots at home, and gratitude was expressed for the opportunities they had provided. He noted that Tutberidze’s daughter had trained at Sambo-70 and remained deeply committed to her homeland.
Match TV reported that Davis underwent surgery in 2021 and was recovering from hearing issues diagnosed earlier in childhood. Davis denied these reports, calling them false. Some observers speculated about the potential for Davis and Smolkin to skate for the USA if Eteri Tutberidze could influence their path on the international stage, an idea seen by some as unpatriotic but discussed openly by others in the figure skating community. Prominent Russian coaches offered varied perspectives on the possibility of a switch, with some questioning whether Russia would be deprived of major competitors for an extended period and others emphasizing the risk and personal considerations athletes face in choosing their competitive future.
One veteran coach suggested that the life of an elite skater is short and that athletes must weigh opportunities against long-term goals. The sentiment reflected a broader tension in national sports between recognizing individual aspirations and maintaining a strong, stable national program. Regardless of potential changes, the conversation underscored how a single team and one athlete can influence perceptions of national strength and international status in figure skating.
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