Maxim Trankov, the celebrated two time Olympic champion in pair skating, addressed the remarks made by Irina Rodnina, a three time Olympic Games winner and a former State Duma deputy, who described the World Tag Team Championship in figure skating as an extravagant event. Trankov offered a different perspective, emphasizing the value such competitions bring to the sport and to athletes who invest years in perfecting their craft.
The tournament is conducted by the Japan Skating Federation with the backing of the International Skating Union. In 2023, the event was scheduled to take place in Tokyo, spanning April 13 through 16, inviting teams from around the world to compete at a high level and showcase the evolving dynamics of pair skating and team performances.
Asked whether this represents a questionable competition, Trankov replied that the more opportunities exist for skaters to compete, the better. He noted that veteran athletes sometimes voice skepticism about new events, yet he believes that ongoing participation helps the sport grow and keeps programs competitive for current and future generations.
The sport community has recently seen changes as the International Skating Union suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from global events. The ISU explained that the suspension followed recommendations from the International Olympic Committee, a decision that was formally approved at the ISU Congress at the start of June 2022. The move has left the competition landscape with an indeterminate structure for teams and athletes who previously relied on Russian and Belarusian contributions to the field.
Former Honored Coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova has commented on the impact of these shifts, noting that the level of competition at major events felt the absence of top Russian athletes. Her perspective reflects a broader concern within the skating community about how the absence of certain nations might alter the balance of teams, performance expectations, and the overall energy of world championships. Yet supporters of the sport argue that the push to diversify participation can drive new talents into the spotlight and encourage fresh tactics and training methods among teams from different regions.
As the season progresses, analysts and fans closely monitor how the World Tag Team Championship evolves in response to these changes. The event continues to be seen as a platform for showcasing exemplary teamwork, synchronization, and technical execution under pressure. For athletes, it remains a crucible of endurance and artistry, where programs are judged not only on technical difficulty but also on cohesion, musical interpretation, and the ability to adapt to a live, international audience. Observers expect that the competition will persist as a benchmark for excellence and a catalyst for ongoing innovation in the sport.