Lyudmila Velikova, a respected coach in Russian figure skating, spoke about the emergence of a new dance pair, Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin, within the US Figure Skating Association. She noted that if the pair, who are connected to trainer Eteri Tutberidze through their family, consider changing their sports citizenship to American, such a move would fit with their current training environment in the United States. Velikova also suggested that the ban on Russian skaters from international events has pushed some athletes to pursue training and competition opportunities overseas.
“For this couple, their training is in the United States under our American coach Igor Shpilband. It would make sense for them to stay there. Davis and Smolkin could become a strong pairing, but at the moment they are an average option. They are not a top-level duo yet, and perhaps there is no reason to push too hard for a change just because of them,” Velikova observed, speaking with socialbites.ca. (Attribution: socialbites.ca)
Regarding the broader landscape, Velikova remarked on how fleeting an athlete’s career can be in this sport. Naturally, many skaters aim to establish themselves at the highest level, and some elite performers may search for new opportunities. The question remains: what should be done? A total ban is not a viable policy, she indicated, though the federation can impose its own restrictions. Even if competitions continue to be held, including cups and other tournaments, the federation’s actions alone cannot seal the fate of individual athletes. People will still seek avenues to compete — whether at national events or on international stages — and the Kremlin Cup and other opportunities will persist as options. The federation is clearly making efforts, yet it cannot halt a determined number of skaters from pursuing new paths. (Attribution: socialbites.ca)
Previously, Renat Laishev discussed the potential citizenship changes of Smolkin and Davis, highlighting this evolving dynamic within the sport and its governance. (Attribution: socialbites.ca)