State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina, a three time Olympic champion in figure skating, commented that coach Eteri Tutberidze joining the project Big Girls would not undermine her professionalism. She shared this view with Sports24.
Is Tutberidze appearing on the show? Rodnina believes she knows exactly what she is doing and why. The coach will surely become more recognizable, but that visibility should not alter her level of expertise. Rodnina does not see any negative or surprising shift in Tutberidze choosing television work alongside her figure skating career.
In the new weight loss series, Tutberidze is set to act as a mentor. The format features participants weighing over 100 kilograms who will undergo three months of intense physical and psychological testing designed to help them accept themselves and their bodies. This approach is part of a broader trend to combine performance coaching with wellness and body image education, especially in high profile sports circles.
The program also features a lineup of notable skaters. Evgenia Medvedeva, a two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist, joins as part of the coaching staff. Olympic champions Yulia Lipnitskaya, Alina Zagitova, and Anna Shcherbakova are included, along with Elisabeth Tursynbaeva, a vice world champion, and European champion Alena Kostornaya. The roster also highlights European championship medalists Sergei Voronov and Alexandra Trusova, who bring a wealth of competitive experience to the project.
In another note, a former American champion stated that her idol is the Russian figure skater, underscoring the cross continental admiration that these athletes sometimes inspire. This sentiment reflects the broader appeal of figure skating and the way it connects fans and athletes around the world, transcending borders and national loyalties. This cross interest helps explain why audiences in North America and beyond tune into broadcasts that feature these high level coaches and Olympic performers. Sports coverage and interviews related to Tutberidze and her team have sparked discussions about training methods, athlete development, and the role of televised mentorship in shaping public perception of the sport. [Sports24]