“Alina is only 17, maybe even an astronaut”: Trankov about Zagitova’s career, the scandal with Tutberidze and criticism of Tarasova

“Conflicts can lead to jail and broken legs”

- The President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation Alexander Gorshkov said that it might be worth creating an ethics committee in connection with the latest scandals. What do you think about it?

“If the president of the federation thinks so, then can anyone argue?” Perhaps the committee will impose some kind of sanctions, penalties for comments on social networks. But for three years now I’ve been talking about a system that works great in the USA.

- Tell us more about her ...

- It's very simple: there are verified and non-verified accounts on social networks. Journalists simply do not have the right to quote unconfirmed, because they can belong to anyone. And with us, some experts also started Instagram relatively recently. One of the trainers, for example, just registered just a few months ago.

- Who are you talking about?

- I won’t give you a surname, let everyone see if he wants. A person has been leading social networks not so long ago and, perhaps, simply had no idea that there could be such a reaction to the post.

- Is it not time for the same federation to change its approach to media content, to become more open?

- It is clear that people of another generation simply work there. They, in principle, are not very well versed in social networks. Some time ago, professionals came there, and then good content began to appear. But when additional funding was needed, it was all over. It is difficult to require the FFKKR to keep up with the times, while one press officer is involved in all issues related to the media.

- You became one of the first to condemn the conflicts between Tatyana Tarasova and Eteri Tutberidze. Is this the biggest skating scandal in your memory?

- Of course not. Let's remember what happened in the USA 40 years ago. About this and the film was recently shot - about Tonya Harding. What this conflict can lead to is understandable: to prison and broken legs. But why bring the tragedy to a repeat?

- Don't you think that figure skating confirms its not very good reputation as “sport - serpentarium”?

- I do not want to allow sexism, but there are always a lot of emotions where women work and there is creativity. We are talking about women's single skating - it's like a ballet. In such areas, conflicts are always possible.

- Is the image of Russian figure skating spoiled now?

- Whatever has been happening recently, its popularity is growing steadily. If you look for at least some positive moment in everything that happened, then it is he. Unfortunately, black PR works best for us, and therefore our sport is becoming more and more popular. This can be seen in the ratings, views and comments.

- Even the famous football commentator Vasily Utkin wrote about the incident. In his opinion, hatred comes primarily from the Tutberidze team ...

- It’s difficult for me to trace the source of coaching conflicts, it’s simply not interesting. But there is so much more emotion because recently several strong athletes have appeared at once, and they have fan groups. I emphasize that we are talking about fans, not about fans. Some people still argue with me on social networks about this ...

- In terms of?

- They claim that they are fans. But I believe that these are fans. And as a certified psychologist, I can say that this is a diagnosis. Addiction. This phenomenon can also develop into a persecution, it is enough to recall the Hollywood film "The Bodyguard". And the girls are at a very tender age, and I personally am scared for them.

- What is wrong with the girls having their loyal fans?

- Just before, we all supported the Russian national team, but today they support someone personally. Hence all these wars. Even football fans laugh that their “companies” that arrange fights are a kindergarten compared to fans of figure skaters.

- Utkin also stated that Tutberidze, behind Tarasova’s back, allegedly demanded that she be removed from work on Channel One. And the figure skater Alexei Yagudin, in turn, announced the persecution of the coach ...

- It seems to me that we all should be responsible for what we say. If Yagudin believes that sending obscenities and calling names is normal, then sooner or later he will have to answer for his statements. As for Tatyana Anatolyevna, she has been working on television for a very long time. Yes, someone accuses her of sympathizing with certain athletes, but it seems to me that this more likely applies to spectators who are looking for a catch in every word she says. And she just has a style like this: she is not partial, but straightforward.

- Clarify please.

- Tarasova likes something, something is not, and she openly declares it. Can afford it. Someone believes that she does not respect Zagitova enough. But I am a thousand percent sure that these people are not right. Because how can you not respect the most titled Russian skater?

- Another scandal the other day happened between Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and her former agent, after a video appeared on her YouTube channel with negative statements addressed to the same Tatyana Tarasova and Evgenia Medvedeva. Have you encountered similar?

- I did not encounter revenge, but with ugly deeds - yes. You and Tatyana Volosozhar, one might say, were betrayed by our former agent. I don’t want to go into details, but we had a very warm relationship, and he ugly behaved with us, framed. Now he works with Alexei Yagudin and Evgenia Medvedeva. And six months ago, the former agent of Lisa wanted to cooperate with me. But, fortunately, my director "saw through" this bastard, and we did not work with him.

“Zagitova can now become at least an astronaut, even a heart surgeon”

- Do you still believe that Zagitova will return to big sport?

“Since she herself stated that she was not going anywhere, I have no reason not to trust her.” As I said, if Alina returns, I will turn to her exclusively on “you”. Because it is very hard.

- Do not you think that the opinion that the stars of Eteri Tutberidze quickly ignite and fade away just as quickly is confirmed?

- Yes, but they have won so much before. What else does? And what's wrong with that Zagitova has already won everywhere, and she is only 17 years old? Before her now all the doors are open. She can become at least an astronaut, even a heart surgeon.

This is not the end of a career in 30 years. You are already an adult, but only know how to go out on the ice and listen to the coach. Many do not understand that to train and compete for so many years without doing anything else, it is very difficult not only physically, but also psychologically.

- A two-time Olympic medalist, and now a sports psychologist Elizaveta Kozhevnikova, believes that in this situation, Zagitova may need the help of a specialist doctor?

- Here a lot depends on the person. There are strong people who do not need a psychologist, and someone, yes, needs support. At one time, he also worked with a specialist, but this did not help me. Moreover, I was advised to take up this profession myself. I went, learned and became.

- In the light of recent events, competitions in women's single skating at the upcoming championship of Russia promise to become extremely intense?

“I do not think that something supernatural awaits us, that there will be some kind of war.” In addition, it is interesting to know not only the winner, but also to look at the overall results, the distribution of places in the team. Personally, I still really want to see the four-piece Tuktamysheva’s sheepskin coat and the “new” Medvedev.

- In your opinion, who has the greatest chance of winning?

- I think one of the girls who won the podium in the Grand Prix finals: Alena Kostornaya, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova.