On the leading edge: Why Zagitova’s choice to droop profession instigated ‘battle’ in Russian determine skating

Alina Zagitova’s choice to take a break in her skilled sporting profession has break up Russia’s determine skating household into two camps, with legendary coaches and famend pundits being concerned within the “battle.”

Final week, the reigning world and Olympic champion introduced that she is going to put aggressive follow on maintain, citing lack of motivation and tiredness as causes for the surprising choice.

READ MORE: I WILL return, vows Olympic champ Zagitova as rumors rumble over choice to take profession break

The 17-year-old, who gained all the foremost titles in girls’s determine skating, will now focus on performing within the exhibition present the place she was invited by Olympic champion ice dancer Tatiana Navka.

Zagitova’s announcement triggered a wave of feedback with many speculating over the skater’s attainable comeback or full retirement after she realized her lack of ability to compete towards quad-jumping children.

Russian determine skating legend Tatiana Tarasova was amongst these to counsel that Zagitova’s profession is over, expressing remorse that the immensely-talented athlete spent simply three seasons at senior degree.

Additionally on rt.com

Tarasova’s comment was taken as a private insult by Zagitova’s teaching crew who’ve been persistently reproached for his or her lack of ability to work with grownup skaters prompting them to retire at an early age.

Eteri Tutberidze who has raised a number of world and Olympic champions, together with Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva took to social media to answer to the criticism, lambasting Tarasova for her “fixed damaging” remarks aimed toward Zagitova throughout her profession.

“Expensive Tatiana Anatalyevna Tarasova, throughout three years spent at senior degree Alina has confirmed extra ends in comparability with different skaters [who] have gained nothing in a 10-year interval. It’s a disgrace that regardless of Alina’s outstanding outcomes you have got consistently criticized her. In all probability you simply needed to point out your enormous love. In that case I want different skaters of our crew will obtain much less love from you,” Turberidze crew posted on social media. 

The coach additionally hit out at males’s skater and Olympic champion Evgeny Plushenko who she accused of attempting to lure Zagitova away from her camp and reminding him that he hasn’t introduced up a single champion after opening his determine skating faculty.

Plushenko didn’t depart Tutberidze’s feedback unnoticed slamming the coach for setting off a battle in determine skating.

“I perceive that Alina’s retirement made an irreparable injury to your (sport supervisor’s) finances. I do know you favor to be referred to as a coach, however I do know that technical preparation in your crew, together with jumps has been supervised by Dudakov. So, I perceive that Alina has introduced important revenue to your crew.

“I don’t know why, in all probability on account of lack of consideration Alina requested me for recommendation through the present in Japan. Athletes are additionally folks and must be handled as folks, not as gold medal-winning machines,” Plushenko wrote.

The social media spat between coaches sparked heated debates in Russian determine skating with quite a few pundits commenting on the scenario.

These supporting Tutberidze insisted that she is fed up with damaging feedback over her short-lived triumphs with teenage skaters.

Additionally on rt.com

Others condemned the coach for her impulsive response stressing that she ought to focus on preparation for the nationwide championship as an alternative of spending vitality on social media wars.

The one one who hasn’t commented on the scenario is Zagitova who inadvertently sowed the seeds of the largest battle in Russian determine skating.