A renowned Soviet and post-Soviet figure skating coach, Tatyana Tarasova, commented on the Plushenko Academy filing a complaint with the Russian Figure Skating Federation against coach Sofia Fedchenko for remarks about Evgeni Plushenko.
Tarasova reportedly said the following, quoted in translations from Match TV: “What a fool. What, a man? The hysteria keeps going. Honestly, this story has grown tiresome, and the rivalry reeked of bias. I do not support this, and it is not appropriate for a common person to pursue a complaint against a woman. It feels petty and small.”
Earlier, Plushenko expressed dissatisfaction with the judging of his athletes at the Russian Championship for juniors. He suggested his team might consider switching to other teams. That statement is also subject to review by the federation.
In response, Fedchenko labeled Plushenko’s remarks as blackmail and hysteria, signaling a dispute over the interpretation of the junior results and the broader power dynamics in the sport.
Among the junior competitors, Alina Gorbacheva, who trained under Fedchenko, claimed first place at the Russian Junior Championships. Veronika Zhilina and Sofia Titova, both associated with Plushenko’s training group, finished second and third, respectively.
Earlier, Yana Rudkovskaya, once a coach in Plushenko’s circle, responded to Fedchenko’s comments about hysteria by recalling Plushenko’s medical background and training history, adding another layer to the public discussion surrounding the junior program and its leadership.