Kamila Valieva, once the world junior champion, rejoined coach Eteri Tutberidze on what marked his pupil’s 50th birthday in a moment that drew big attention from fans and critics alike. Valieva publicly wished Tutberidze a happy birthday, sharing a message on social media with a trio of fireworks emojis to emphasize the celebratory mood. Tutberidze then echoed the post on his own account, amplifying the moment for observers who follow the high-profile training group.
Valieva, now 17, has trained with Tutberidze’s team since 2018, a period that saw her rise to prominent international notice. At the moment, she is not actively competing with the main training group due to a suspension that has kept her from certain activities. The suspension stems from a disqualification that has limited her ability to compete and participate in some events. In spring 2024, she was scheduled to appear in Tutberidze’s show, but that opportunity was reallocated to another skater, Alexandra Trusova, prompting questions about Valieva’s future appearances and the direction of the team’s performances this season.
The duration of the disqualification extends through December 24, 2025, affecting her competitive timeline and public appearances. During her collaboration with Tutberidze, Valieva achieved notable accomplishments, including winning the 2020 Junior World Championships. She also claimed gold in the junior Grand Prix series final and earned victories in two stages of the senior Grand Prix circuit in Canada and Russia in 2021, underscoring the early peak of her career and the potential that fans and analysts anticipated would continue once the rules and timelines allowed a return to competition.
Valieva faced a severe setback after testing positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, which led to the stripping of several medals. The consequence included the loss of gold in the team event at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games and the forfeiture of victories at national and European championships during the 2021/22 season. This episode became a defining moment in her career, prompting widespread discussion about doping controls, athlete eligibility, and the broader pressures faced by young skaters training under intense scrutiny and high expectations.
Before the suspension and the doping matter, Valieva had been allowed to participate in a limited set of competitions, reflecting the nuanced rules that govern eligibility and the careful monitoring that surrounds elite athletes at this level. Her future in the sport remains a topic of considerable interest, with observers watching how the skating world, the coaching team, and Valieva herself navigate the path ahead. The partnership with Tutberidze, marked by early triumphs and later controversy, continues to be a focal point for those following the development of figure skating talents emerging from this coaching ecosystem.