Nikolai Kartozia, the general director of the Friday TV channel, spoke about inviting renowned figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze to participate in the Big Girls show. His remarks appeared in sports coverage and carried a sense of anticipation about how Tutberidze’s involvement could shape the program and resonate with the audience across the country.
“Eteri Tutberidze stands as a defining figure for our sport and a symbol of national pride. She embodies leadership and excellence, and many regard her as a global icon within figure skating. Her presence on this show would be a powerful moment for the contestants, the production team, and the television audience alike,” Kartozia noted. His comments underscored the respect Tutberidze commands within the skating community and the significance of her role for viewers nationwide.
Officials confirmed that the weight-management component tied to the program would premiere on February 9, with Tutberidze serving as mentor. This arrangement was framed as a strategic move to boost the show’s credibility and to offer aspiring skaters a rare chance to receive guidance from one of the sport’s most influential coaches. Observers suggested that her mentorship could influence contestants’ training routines, discipline, and competitive mindset—elements central to the success of elite skaters over the years.
Tutberidze’s impact extends well beyond her coaching victories. She has guided a generation of skaters who have earned recognition on the world stage, including Evgenia Medvedeva, a two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist, Olympic champion Yulia Lipnitskaya, and rising talents such as Alina Zagitova and Anna Shcherbakova. The roster also includes European champion Elisabeth Tursynbaeva, as well as European Championship medalist Alena Kostornaya. Esteemed names such as Sergei Voronov and students like Alexandra Trusova further illustrate the breadth of her coaching circle. This breadth is frequently cited as evidence of her ability to tailor training to individual needs while preserving a high standard of technique, artistry, and mental preparation for competition.
Within conversations about Tutberidze’s career, differing viewpoints emerge. For instance, former coach Tatiana Tarasova remarked that Tutberidze did not always favor her daughter’s program at a certain point, highlighting how coaching philosophy can diverge within elite families and national teams. Such statements reveal the nuanced dynamics at play in high-level coaching, where personal experience, sport-specific goals, and public expectations intersect. Yet the overarching discussion remains centered on Tutberidze’s lasting contributions to the sport and the potential ripple effects of her involvement in the Big Girls project.