Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Faces Olympic Hurdles and a Possible Return to Form
Entering her 12th season as an elite skater, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva did not secure a spot for Beijing. The pupil of Alexei Mishin delivered a rough short program, finishing seventh at the Russian Championship when a misstep on a triple axel derailed her title hopes. Up to that moment she was among the top contenders for China, but she ultimately became a standby for both the European Championships and the Olympic Games.
Tuktamysheva has endured tough Olympic luck, missing three Games during Mishin’s coaching era. Yet in the years that followed the four-year cycle, the 25-year-old kept showing resilience. It was seven years earlier that she landed the triple axel for the first time and swept international events, and five years ago she earned a bronze at the Grand Prix Final.
She is not deviating from the pattern of post-Olympic seasons. A training camp in Armenia helped refresh a quad attempt, and a distinctive training camp outfit—a quadruple-themed sheepskin coat—made headlines as part of her on-ice strategy.
At the 2020 Russian Championships, Tuktamysheva wore a quadruple sheepskin coat with confidence, yet the jump did not hold. Since then the focus shifted toward refining the rest of her program, while keeping the door open for a quad. She still challenged younger skaters with Axel-based programs and, despite the hurdles, delivered strong results on the world stage, earning silver at the World Championships in Stockholm, aiding the Russian team to team gold, and placing as runner-up at several Grand Prix events during the Olympic season, where she was edged by Kamila Valieva.
Observers noted that the quad sheepskin coat attempt was not a simple substitution for stability. The emphasis remained on executing the other elements with precision within the Russian team, where only Valieva consistently landed the triple axel cleanly, and Alexandra Trusova has faced ongoing challenges with triple axels. With Beijing behind and the pre-season showing limited international competition, Tuktamysheva has a chance to stabilize her jump and demonstrate she can remain competitive into her mid-twenties.
Having a four-part program remains a point of discussion for building a competitive routine. Last season she twice performed a triple axel—once solo and once in a cascade featuring the distinctive coat. The question now is whether the program might incorporate a quad toe loop and two triples, with the answer expected in the coming season.
Her mentor, Alexei Mishin, called restoring a quadruple element challenging but achievable through teamwork. He attributed the progress to the collective effort of the coaching staff, the athlete’s determination, and her talent. The push to refine the technique reflects a broader plan for the team as they evaluate where such elements best fit in competition.
In describing the team’s outlook, Mishin noted the inspiration drawn from recent successes with other skaters and emphasized that live competition often reveals what works best on the ice. The coach praised Tuktamysheva’s dedication and acknowledged that maintaining peak performance requires balancing practice with real-time competitive conditions. The sentiment from the coaching staff reflected pride in her progress and a belief that she remains a compelling presence for the national program.
As Tuktamysheva explores her options, attention turns to how her techniques might evolve in major meets. The crew is watching closely to see which jumps and combinations will anchor her program in the next season. It is clear that at 25, she still carries the capacity to challenge the top skaters and to contribute meaningfully to Russia’s ongoing pursuit of podium finishes in major events.
Alexander Zhulin, renowned for his work with top pairs and dance teams, commented on Tuktamysheva’s approach and the potential for new elements to surface in upcoming tournaments. While praising her technical skill, he asked questions about how and when these elements would appear in competition. He already emphasized that the real test will come in actual events, where the dynamics differ from practice, and he expressed genuine admiration for her talent and technique. His remarks underscored the high expectations surrounding her future performances, and his optimistic tone suggested that fans could witness a renewed competitive edge from Tuktamysheva in the months ahead.