“We must protect our talented coach”: how Russia reacted to Savchenko’s criticism of Tutberidze

"The strongest are always criticized"

Russian athletes have already returned to their homeland after performing at the Beijing Olympics, but the tragedy of Kamila Valieva continues to haunt the public.

This time, the situation around the figure skater was commented on by Pyeongchang champion Alena Savchenko, who, following the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, took up arms against Eteri Tutberidze.

In her opinion, the 15-year-old girl who survived the ordeal was treated too cruelly.

“How the coach behaved - you can’t treat a child like that.

It's just a sad story.

I can't look at it, everything is shrinking inside me.

This cannot be allowed.

Even I, as a spectator, was in pain.

Your ward is your child, and sometimes the child trusts the coach more than his parents.

Feeling supported after such defeats is the most important thing.

But she doesn’t even hug her when she comes off the ice, but asks: “Why didn’t you do this?”

Savchenko was indignant.

As the famous figure skater noted, Valieva had already won for her when she went on the ice.

Anyone else just couldn't do it.

And also the Olympic champion wished the Russian woman to have a good rest and move on with another coach.

“I would advise her to take a vacation, look at something else besides ice, and then step away from the drama and find a new team,” Savchenko said.

However, most Russian specialists stood up for Tutberidze.

Honored coach of Russia Tatyana Tarasova said that Savchenko is not familiar with the methods of work of Eteri Georgievna and does not have the necessary knowledge for criticism.

“She is not fully acquainted with the whole situation, she is not in the team, she does not know the methods.

It's wrong to say so.

You need to comment only on those things to which you are directly related, ”Tarasova emphasized RBC-Sport.

The president of the Sambo-70 sports and education center, Renat Laishev, called Savchenko's words complete nonsense and an attempt to find the last resort in what happened.

“Hard methods?

Complete nonsense.

Everything is happening in front of my eyes, I know her well, we need to take another example from her.

Let's take Irina Alexandrovna Viner: you can also make some claims against her, but she is a great person, gave so many champion stars and the most beautiful girls in our country.

The reason for such words?

It is necessary to find the extreme, even Bach absolves himself of responsibility with his own words.

We must protect our talented coach and support him in every possible way, ”Layshev said in an interview with Sport24.

Choreographer Ilya Averbukh, in turn, was surprised to hear such words from Savchenko, who is a great figure skater.

“I think that Eteri Tutberidze is an outstanding coach, a revolutionary in the world of figure skating, she raised a constellation of Olympic and world champions and absolutely deserves respect.

As for public pressure on her and the statements of the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, the strongest are always subjected to all kinds of criticism.

Nobody likes when one person dominates.

That's all," Averbukh said.

Olympic medalist Irina Slutskaya suggested that everyone be silent.

Especially Bahu, who also took part in the IOC scandal.

“When they drowned, when Valiyeva was lynched all these few days, he calmly sat on his priest evenly and was silent.

And then he didn’t like something that he saw through the camera lens.

Uncle, go... your way.

Is Tutberidze tough?

Do we have soft coaches who have Olympic champions?

My mentor Zhanna Gromova was tough.

Screamed at me.

And they fought with covers.

Do you know how the rubber cover hurt?

It's okay - alive, healthy and with two Olympic medals.

How else?

Slutskaya told Sports.ru.

"If you are strong, you will endure"

Meanwhile, Valieva in Moscow plunged into a world full of love and care.

There was support before, but it is unlikely that the skater felt it while in Beijing and hiding from the lenses of television cameras.

On Monday, Camila posted a post on Instagram, saying thank you to those who were rooting and worried about her.

“I want to thank all, without exception, the people who were next to me in this difficult situation: who really was there and did not let them completely lose heart, who wrote words of support, who just thought about me, who prayed, who believed in me and in me.

Thanks to my fans, my family and friends, the entire ROC team, my country and people from all over the world, ”the athlete wrote.

View this post on Instagram

Publication from Kamila Valieva (@kamilavalieva26)

In the comments to the text, there were again many warm words from famous athletes and actors.

The Averina sisters wrote: “You are incredible!

Just keep moving forward," and actor Alec Baldwin added, "You're a great talent, you have so much ahead of you." 

In turn, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, believes that the blow inflicted on Kamila hit all the inhabitants of the country.

“The task, by and large, is already practically the forces of evil, is to quarrel us all, play off each other, say that we can’t do anything and no one.

But they fail every time.

The injustice that was happening to our skaters, that fuss, those terrible intrigues that were arranged ... Unfortunately, we, as diplomats, as people who are engaged in negotiating with so-called partners, we feel this, unfortunately, and often , and for many years.

Therefore, I just wanted to protect our guys, ”the Championship quoted Zakharova as saying. 

At the same time, the silver medalist of the World Championship in the triple jump, Yolanda Chen, drew attention to the fact that due to the doping test of Valieva, the chances for the flag and anthem at the next Games are sharply reduced. 

“This Olympics and preparations for it were conducted in the strictest format, and who would have thought, Lord, in figure skating, this would happen to a child.

But we must be frank and honest - the situation has occurred, there was a precedent, there is a positive test, they will understand, I urge everyone not to hysteria.

But this story greatly reduces our chances for a flag and an anthem at the next competitions, ”said the former athlete.

According to Chen, one should not pay attention to the reaction of fans who did not applaud Valieva.

“Until the situation with doping is resolved, they cannot react.

Do grown-ups react like this?

Then let's do this - if the uncles offend the child, then 15-year-old children have nothing to do at the tough adult Olympics, ”said the well-known athlete in the past on Match TV.

As for the psychological state, according to the honored coach of Russia Tamara Moskvina, Valieva must cope with the difficulties.  

“You see, even in nature there is day, there is night.

The sun rises and sets.

If she is strong, then she will cope with the difficulties that she now has and, perhaps, are yet to come.

And if not strong - "se la vie", as they say.

Yes.

Well, how else?

In sports, this is always the case, ”said Moskvina. 

At the same time, Camila is already expected at the Russian Cup, which will be held in Sochi from March 5 to 7.

Director General of the Russian Figure Skating Federation Alexander Kogan noted that all the participants of the Olympics will go there.

“We will wait for the whole team that was in Beijing.

Valiev?

Including Valiev.

Why such a question?

All our athletes deserve to compete in any major competitions,” the official added.