The General Director of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, Alexander Kogan, expressed regret over Elizaveta Tuktamysheva’s decision to pause her skating career. He acknowledged the personal nature of such choices and praised Tuktamysheva for the hard work, dedication, and milestones she achieved during her career, noting that athletes make their own choices about the timing of stepping back from competition. Sports Express provided the remark.
Kogan’s comments came as a reflection on a skater who has left a lasting imprint on the sport in Russia. Tuktamysheva, who claimed the world and European titles in 2015 and earned a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships, also secured two Grand Prix event wins in the 2022/23 season and finished on the podium at the season-ending finals. Her contributions to national competitions include a bronze at the Russian national championships, underscoring a career of consistency and impact.
Although she never qualified for an Olympic Games, Tuktamysheva’s competitive journey included a notable 2021/22 national championship. During the qualifying phase for the 2022 Games, she initially placed seventh, with a standings adjustment moving her to sixth after the championship winner, Kamila Valieva, faced a ruling related to a positive doping test. The shifting results reflected the turbulent and highly scrutinized environment surrounding Olympic selections during that period.
In related commentary, Tatyana Tarasova previously offered perspectives on the crisis affecting figure skating, touching on broader themes around preparation, fairness, and the pressures athletes face within the sport. These discussions form part of the ongoing dialogue about how elite skaters navigate transitions, health, and ambition in competitive figure skating.