Kushanashvili Questions Zagitova and Medvedeva’s Paths Amid Public Scrutiny

Russian journalist Otar Kushanashvili has voiced pointed criticisms of both figure skaters Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva in a public conversation featured by Sports24. The discussion centers on the perceived drift in approach among modern skaters and the expectations placed on them by the public, media, and the sport itself. Kushanashvili questioned whether Zagitova views the so-called inevitable outcomes of a career as something predetermined and visible to all observers, challenging her and her team to consider the pressures that come with high-profile success. The remarks also touched on how Medvedeva responds to interviews, with Kushanashvili describing the scene as awkward and somewhat unpolished when the skater sits with a journalist who appears to struggle with the material. The implication is that a broader change in athlete development and media preparation may be needed if competitors are to thrive in a demanding era of public scrutiny and rapid information flow.