The famous Russian figure skater, State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina criticized the departure of 16-year-old Alexandra Trusova from the team of Evgeni Plushenko and the return to her former coach Eteri Tutberidze.
“I believe that all these transitions are an indicator of an absolute mass psychosis and an unhealthy environment,” the Sport 24 edition quotes the three-time Olympic champion as saying.
Rodnina added that in her opinion, it is necessary to involve a psychologist who will work not only with young athletes, but also with their parents.
“Because I don’t believe that 16-year-old girls make decisions on their own without discussing this topic with their parents. Moreover, there are also financial issues: parents will not just throw money down the drain,” Rodnina said.
She noted that this is a risk ahead of the Olympic season and that coaches and parents are to blame for this.
“This unhealthy situation needs to be corrected immediately,” Rodnina added.
Recall that Trusova passed to Plushenko from Tutberidze in May last year. And today Plushenko announced on his Instagram that his contract with Trusova has been completed and, by mutual decision of the parties, it is not renewed, and the skater is returning to her past coach.
With Plushenko, the athlete won bronze at the World and Russian Championships, and also won two stages of the Russian Cup.