Katarina Gerboldt weighs Kamila Valieva’s readiness for the Kazan Grand Prix
Russian junior skating champion Katarina Gerboldt assessed Kamila Valieva’s readiness as the Olympic champion prepares for the fourth stage of the Russian Grand Prix in Kazan, marking Valieva’s season debut. In comments shared with socialbites.ca, Gerboldt indicated that Valieva would not have entered the competition unless she was prepared for it.
“I can’t precisely judge her level of readiness; that is a question for her coaching team. But since she is stepping onto the ice, she appears to be well prepared. If that were not the case, she probably would not participate in the event at all. It should be an interesting start—something to watch and follow,” Gerboldt stated.
Meanwhile, Valieva’s case remains under consideration by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The situation surrounding the Beijing Olympics involved a positive trace for the banned substance trimetazidine in a doping test conducted during the team event victory. Nevertheless, Valieva was allowed to compete in the individual championships, where she finished in fourth place.
The initial CAS hearing occurred in September, and the court later postponed further proceedings to November to allow for additional document preparation. The trial is scheduled to continue on November 9 and 10. A determination of anti-doping rule violations could potentially strip the Russian team of its Olympic team gold medal, an outcome that has delayed the awarding of medals in light of the ongoing investigation.
The topic of Valieva’s strengths and the competitive landscape among rivals at the Kazan Grand Prix stage has been a focal point of discussion, highlighting the high level of competition and the expectations surrounding her return to competition.
At stake is not only performance in the current Grand Prix event but also the broader implications for national teams and Olympic preparations, as authorities and teams monitor developments in this ongoing case [Citation: CAS proceedings and official statements].