American journalist David Lees sought input from the renowned Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze after her figure skating pupil Diana Davis and her partner Gleb Smolkin announced a shift in their sports allegiance. The pair, long a fixture in the skating world, have agreed to compete for the government of Georgia, joining the national team and representing the country on the international circuit.
The remark directed at Tutberidze from a figure skating commentator during the summer of 2022 sparked notable attention. The journalist Lis, who covered developments around Davis and Smolkin, shared on social media that the skaters were weighing a switch in national representation and had expressed a desire to perform under the U.S. flag someday. The social media discourse intensified when it was revealed that the Russian Figure Skating Federation had signaled openness to citizenship changes for athletes. Official confirmation from federation sources followed the next day, clarifying the policy stance on athletes seeking a switch in national allegiance.
Background on the athletes and their competitive journey reveals a pattern of strong performances across major events. Davis and Smolkin earned a silver medal at the 2022 Russian Championships, a finish that earned them a berth at the Beijing Winter Games. At the Olympics, they placed 14th, marking a solid showing amid a highly competitive field. In the years surrounding this breakthrough, the couple captured the Warsaw Cup Challenger title and the Russian Cup final, contributing to a growing reputation on the international ice. Their career also included multiple podium finishes on the Grand Prix circuit, with silver medals earned during events hosted in the United States and Russia, underscoring a consistent level of high performance across major stages.
Following the 2022 Olympic season, a broader policy environment affected the opportunities available to Russian skaters. A sequence of penalties restricted participation in international competitions for a period, disrupting plans for competition abroad. In addition, the Russian season as a whole faced disruptions, with athletes often choosing to step away from domestic and international events rather than participate under continuing sanctions. This climate of constraint influenced the strategic decisions of athletes like Davis and Smolkin as they navigated potential citizenship changes and national representation options. The decision to align with Georgia represents a new chapter, opening opportunities for competition on a fresh national stage while continuing to pursue excellence within international figure skating. The transition illustrates how governance, eligibility rules, and national sports policies intersect with the personal ambitions of elite athletes and the guidance provided by renowned coaching figures in the sport’s modern era.