The conflict between the honored trainer of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova and three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina continues to be one of the main topics in Russian figure skating. Many colleagues and experts did not stand aside from what was happening and commented on the mutual accusations exchanged between the mentor and the former ward in the media.
So, a former student of Tarasova, two-time world champion in ice dancing, Andrey Minenkov suggested that both still have painful feelings in connection with past conflicts, but now the level of tension between them can be exaggerated.
“Their conflict continues to this day, because, apparently, both very painfully took what happened. Indeed, they say that the only place where they can be found together is the house of Irina Moiseeva (wife and partner of Minenkov. - RT ) and Andrei Minenkov. When we invite them, they come. Although, it seems to me, now the scale of this scandal is a little exaggerated. I think they already have no reason to sharply conflict, ”Minenkov said in a conversation with RT.
A similar view is shared by the 1988 Olympic champion Natalya Bestemyanova. She expressed confidence that the perpetrators of the high-profile story are the journalists themselves, incorrectly describing the situation.
"Nonsense! The press is to blame. One of its representatives caught one and the other. Everything was quickly brought to the right place. This is beneficial for the media, not Rodnina and Tarasova, ”Sport24 quotes Bestemyanova.
Recall that the reason for a new round of conflict, dating back several decades, was a recent interview with Tarasova. In it, she remembered the story of choreographer Elena Cherkasskaya, which Rodnina allegedly sent to competitions in Australia, although she suffered from a fourth stage of cancer. In response, the ex-skater harshly stated that the mentor had mixed up the periods, and also noted that it was not worth talking about a man who was no longer alive.
Tarasova’s new answer was not long in coming.
“The main thing is that something has flown away from her. Because she writes about the 80s, and I'm talking about 2001. When Lena Cherkasskaya went to Australia with US Championship medalist Angela Nikodinov and I with Alyosha Yagudin, and this was the first competition in the Olympic season on the eve of Salt Lake City. So she’s a fool! ”, Sport-Express quotes Tarasova.
In addition, the specialist commented on Rodnina’s repeated statements that her contribution to the success of the couple has been overestimated.
“Everything I did was good and right. It now seems to her that she trained herself. Well, let her live it. I'm not against. I don’t care, ”Tarasova concluded.
The resumption of the conflict between eminent representatives of Russian sports was also commented on in the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR). However, the president of the organization, Alexander Gorshkov, preferred to take a neutral position.
“It is very difficult to act as a third party in their relationship, they must agree among themselves. Yes, it's a shame to see what is happening around them. I’m not at all a fan of scandals, some kind of mutual reproaches, I prefer to solve everything peacefully. This is their question, I cannot intervene in this situation, ”Gorshkov explained his position.
In turn, another titled student of Tarasova Alexei Yagudin also did not blame anyone for what was happening, but only wished that the relationship between her and Rodnina would improve.
“Obviously, the question is not for me, they are representatives of a completely different generation of figure skating. In order to have a slight idea of why this is happening, one must have at least some information. I do not own it, so I can only wish that everyone was healthy and happy. And fewer such verbal skirmishes. What is happening now is known only to these two women, ”said Yagudin.
It is worth noting that Yagudin himself recently found himself in an ambiguous situation, and Tarasova came out in his defense. A few days ago, the program “Let them talk” discussed the intention of the ex-wife of Marat Basharov to sue him for domestic violence. Well-known blogger Elena Rodina said that the Olympic champion in 2002 and himself does not differ in exemplary behavior. According to her, in the past, together with the actor, they participated in a fight, allegedly "beating journalists with bits."
Tarasova, who previously criticized Basharov, stood up for the student, sharply responding to the blogger.
“Listen, shut up about Lyosha Yagudin! He never touched anyone! I repeat once again: Lyosha Yagudin did not touch anyone with his finger! No, he is not a saint, but he has a different form of intoxication: he lies down and sleeps, ”Tarasova said.
Later, Yagudin himself answered the accusations against him. He accused his homeland of slander, emphasizing that throughout his life he had never participated in fights. In addition, he complained to the media, ready to believe in such stories.
“Let me dress in a Spider-Man costume and make a statement that this character exists, and in fact it's me. Will such nonsense also be shown on Channel One, and will any media for clickbait support it? I rather have a question for the “Let them talk” program, which invites pseudo-personnel who, apart from yelling and carrying nonsense, cannot do anything, ”Yagudin was indignant.