Alexandra Trusova, the Olympic silver medalist from the 2022 Games, recalled the intense training environment she endured within Eteri Tutberidze’s renowned group. The atmosphere was charged with a competitive spirit, she explained, where each day resembled a new test of skill and stamina. Training sessions were structured as ongoing drills that highlighted common mistakes, and every athlete received a printout detailing specific elements to improve. This approach fostered a mindset focused on continuous improvement and precise self-critique, a formula that many observers attribute to the group’s distinctive coaching philosophy.
Trusova described a shift in her coaching affiliations over the years. She initially joined Eteri Georgievna Tutberidze, then briefly transitioned to Evgeni Plushenko in 2020, before returning to Khrustalny in 2021. In 2022 she again redirected her training, this time joining the cohort led by Svetlana Sokolovskaya. Each move reflected a search for coaching methods and technical emphasis that aligned with her evolving goals and competitive schedule. Through it all, she remained focused on personal progress and the pursuit of peak performance on the ice.
The 2022 season confronted the Russian figure skating community with unprecedented disruptions as athletes faced suspensions from international competition. As a result, Trusova did not participate in the Russian Championships during the 2022/23 cycle. Her most recent appearance on the domestic stage came at the Russian Grand Prix in Samara, where she finished in a podium position as the competition concluded in late November 2022. The broader context of the season included the outcome of the national championship for the 2021/22 cycle, where Trusova clinched the gold after Kamila Valieva’s disqualification altered the results. This sequence of events underscored the unpredictable nature of elite sport and the resilience required to navigate changing circumstances.
In discussing her coaching changes, Trusova has asserted that switching mentors does not equate to betrayal. She emphasized that evolving coaching relationships can be part of an athlete’s broader strategy to refine technique, adjust training loads, and adapt to new competitive pressures. This perspective reflects a practical view of coaching dynamics in high-level figure skating, where flexibility and the willingness to pursue the most effective collaboration with a coaching staff are viewed as essential to long-term success. The athlete’s experience illustrates how athletes balance loyalty to trusted mentors with the openness to explore different approaches that might unlock new potential on the ice.