Honored as a coach of the USSR, Tatyana Tarasova has long supported the idea that modern figure skaters explore other sports to broaden their athletic horizons, yet she cautions against choosing football. She believes athletes from skating can improve by trying different activities, noting that many track and field athletes stay active in daily life and push themselves in varied directions. When a person is truly alive in sport, they naturally experiment with new challenges. If skaters wish to branch out, Tarasova acknowledges it is possible. Still, she emphasizes care for the legs and advises against football because the legs deserve careful stewardship and protection.
Tarasova’s perspective aligns with a recent wave of cross-training among top skaters. Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova participated in a breakdancing battle during Moscow Sports Day, a city-organized event held at Luzhniki on June 25. The occasion also featured prominent moments in other disciplines, such as Alina Zagitova leading a boxing master class with Oleg Saitov. Additionally, Alexandra Trusova has engaged in athletics events in the recent past. Several skaters who competed at the Beijing Games, including Shcherbakova, Kamila Valieva, and Trusova, joined a friendly match with CSKA athletes, showcasing the cross-sport appeal that surrounds today’s skating stars and the willingness to explore new physical expressions while maintaining a strong focus on skating performance.
Tarasova’s cautious stance on football is grounded in the specifics of ice sport demands. Legs endure substantial strain in jumps, spins, and edge work, and protecting joints, tissues, and overall leg health remains essential for long skating careers. The trainer’s advice mirrors the practical reality that while cross-training can enhance coordination, balance, and endurance, certain activities may introduce unnecessary risks to a skater’s competitive footing. For athletes in North America and elsewhere, the message remains clear: if cross-training is pursued, it should be thoughtful, well-structured, and guided by experienced coaches who understand the unique biomechanics of figure skating. The broader trend, supported by the success of skaters in varied athletic settings, suggests that the future of skating may involve deliberate, strategic experimentation—without compromising the core skills that define the sport.
In contemporary sports culture, the appeal of cross-discipline involvement is undeniable. Skaters often demonstrate how competitive momentum can coexist with exploration in other athletic domains. The balance between broadening one’s athletic repertoire and maintaining peak performance in figure skating is a nuanced one, requiring careful planning and ongoing evaluation. Tarasova’s stance offers a practical framework for athletes, coaches, and fans who observe a rising curiosity about multi-sport participation among skating elites. The overarching takeaway is that diversification can be beneficial when approached with caution, purposeful training, and respect for the specialized demands of ice-based competition.