A celebrated Russian coach with numerous honors, Alexey Zheleznyakov has played a prominent role within the Eteri Tutberidze group. He addressed Evgeni Plushenko’s remarks about what he perceives as unfair judging of skaters from the Angela Plushenko Academy during a heated exchange about officiating at a junior national event in Perm. Plushenko had voiced concerns about how referees treated his athletes, and Zheleznyakov’s response added another layer to the ongoing discussion about fairness in junior-level judging. (DEA News)
The coach spoke with a directness that matched the seriousness of the dispute, highlighting the broader dynamics at play within the figure skating community. He noted how public criticism can spill over into broader debates and questioned whether conversations about citizenship and loyalty to teams might influence how young skaters are assessed. Zheleznyakov suggested that moves to reassign athletes from their current affiliations could be seen as a reaction to perceived judging injustices. He did not soften his view on how the current climate and how his students are perceived could shape such decisions, particularly given the high level of attention and pressure surrounding junior competitions. The report from DEA News captured the tension between coaches and judges during this critical period in the sport’s development. (DEA News)
Within the same tournament, Alina Gorbacheva, representing the Tver figure skating sports school and coached by Sofia Fedchenko, emerged as the champion of the singles event. After both programs were completed, Gorbacheva totaled 224.41 points, a score that encompassed the short program and the free skate. That score positioned her ahead of Veronika Zhilina of Moscow, who skated for the Plushenko Angels Academy and accumulated 218.79 points, and Maria Gordeeva from the CSKA school, who earned 213.02 points to secure bronze. The tight spread among the top finishers underscored the strength of their technical elements and artistic execution across the field. The victory contributed to Gorbacheva’s rising profile on the national circuit and hinted at a competitive season ahead for her coaches and supporters. (DEA News)
In a separate note from the same event, Evgeny Plushenko, another student of coach Sofia Titova, finished with a total of 200.73 points. He held a modest position after the short program, ranking 16th out of 18 competitors, and his free skate did not meet his own expectations. Public commentary on judging followed, reflecting ongoing debates about consistency in refereeing and the perceived fairness of scoring when athletes face different performance conditions. Observers noted that the competition’s overall athlete and coaching experience depended heavily on how consistently referees applied rules across segments. The discussion around Plushenko’s results highlighted continuing concerns about standards and accountability in junior-level judging. (DEA News)