On Eteri Tutberidze, Figure Skating Culture And Praising Athletes When They Compete While Injured

This post has been brewing inside me for a while, and in light of Sasha allegedly having a fractured foot and Aliona changing her programs before Skate Canada, I felt it was finally time. As a disclaimer, I do not bore any personal feelings of hate or dislike towards Eteri Tutberidze or anyone at Sambo-70. I do, however, feel like I can express my dislike for the methods they employ while training their athletes, no matter what results those methods seem to yield.

I come with a background of watching two other sports where the norm is either the dominance of one athlete for a considerable amount of seasons or the dominance of a set of athletes that interchangeably win certain titles. Now, figure skating (namely the ladies field) used to be like that as well, just think Yuna, Mao, even Katarina Witt. But with the rise of Eteri Tutberidze, we've become accustomed with the concept of seasonable champions, that dominate one season, maybe two, then we slowly watch their demise and never see them in a competive setting again (Yulia, Zhenya, Alina, Elizabet and now, most likely, Aliona, Anna and Sasha).

I can't for the life of me understand how a lot of fans, parents, even the ISU think this is okay and even praise the system that has been built around this seasonable champion concept. I see comments on Liza's skates saying how she should retire, that she is "an old woman". A 24 year-old woman is "old". In that case, I guess I should get my walking stick out, because I've just turned 24. Yes, figure skating is a sport that, especially in the past years, had success stories of athletes that peak at 15, 16 or 17. Compared to that, 24 does seem old. But why must this be the norm? Carolina Kostner competed in 4 Olympics and was 30 years old at her last one. Katarina Witt retired at 31. Yuna retired at 24, Mao at 27. Why can't this be the norm instead? Why are the Carolinas the exceptions and the Alinas the rule?

Why, instead of cultivating training techniques that result in longevity and good mental and emotional environments for athletes to grow, are we praising a skating school that although does produce results, has created a culture around it that is visibly not beneficial for athlete well-being? We've all seen how it ended for Yulia, Zhenya and Alina. If Sasha retires after the Olympics at 17, with let's say a record for the number of quads landed, would the results jusitify the means? Is peaking at an age when one probably can't even comprehend what they've achieved the goal a lot of young Russian skaters should strive for?

I've heard and seen all the arguments of "how dare you comment or think you know better, how many titiles do you have, you're just jelous". That's not what this is about. It's about wanting this beautiful sport to be safer, about wanting these athletes we as fans invest so much of our emotions into to thrieve for a long long time and be healthy, above all else. And right now, I don't think that is possible on the main Russian scene without a great change in mentality.

Edit: Miki Ando is also a figure skater with a long career and an incredible personal story as well.

pics from practice at Montpellier. I really believe that the bolero costume should’ve had gloves…

Me:

Jonathan on May 12th: I saw the count emerge from the window, crawling over the walls like a lizard. I experienced feelings of horror I have never felt before and a sense of fear and dread unmatched.

Jonathan on May 15th: Dracula back on his bullshit, climbs the castle like a lizard🙄 #tired

elytrians

being a man beset on all sides by demons doesn't sound too bad. it sounds hot actually.

elytrians

oh you mean like tormented

elytrians

that sounds hot too honestly

delplumage

Is this SPN?

elytrians

no, this is my tumblr post. spanish class is down the hall.

elytrians

this site is my personal hell

sainamoonshine

Is this the krusty krab?

riverbeatsaber

misread?

Bruce: I feel like I can be myself around you.

Selina: You’re weird and quiet around me.

Bruce: Yes.

there is not a single jar damen wouldn't manage to open

This is it this is the movie

afriendlyblackhottie

I’m at 3

jabletown

#1#i have never eaten snails and you know what?#given the opportunity i wouldn't try#but as a vociferous food tryer this list is too tame cmon make me think about it!#food

hold on calling myself out. oysters is on this list and i do like them! thinking about it the texture of snails couldn't be too different from oysters. so nvm i'd try escargot if it ever came my way.

i'm at a true neutral 0 now.

Achilles wouldn’t have died if he was wearing OSHA approved work boots.

Men will literally drag the body of the man that killed their boyfriend around a city and then proceed to cuddle with and cry over said dead boyfriend rather than go to therapy

'women in stem' what about women in their twenties trying to function like a normal adult and failing at it

bella hadid wearing dilara findikoglu, met after party 2022