Evgenia Medvedeva: “There is no resentment today, just gratitude, Tutberidze and I have the most wonderful relationship. If one thinks purely strategically, I can understand the choices of the figure skating federation and Eteri at 2018 Olympics.”
Evgenia Medvedeva about Eteri Tutberidze.
original source: Ksenia Sobchak Youtube channel / text version Sports
In the interview for Youtube Channel, Evgenia Medvedeva spoke about her relations with Eteri Tutberidze after the 2018 Olympics. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Evgenia Medvedeva: I went through many stages: denial, acceptance, I even tried to bargain with myself and others. Me in 2018 and me now, as cliché as it may sound, are two completely different people. If I were to look at myself in 2018, I probably wouldn’t recognize myself, and vice versa. My personality has changed so much. <…>
I went through a lot of stages after the Olympics, which of course, hit me hard. But it was a point of significant personal growth. I see the events of 2018 as something that had to happen for me to become who I am.
Q: I want to quote Maxim Trankov: Zagitova’s victory at the Olympics was absolutely deserved, but while all the athletes were rooting for Medvedeva, nobody rooted for Alina. Be honest, do you have any resentment towards Eteri left?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Not now. I’m absolutely not lying. There is no resentment today, just gratitude, and Eteri Georgievna and I have the most wonderful relationship. I now visit her rink in absolute peace, the new ice palace they built for her is like a glass, crystal palace, incredibly beautiful. She kindly provides me with ice time for training, access to the gym, and doctors. We are on good terms now.
Q: Did you have any reconciliatory conversation after those events? Did she explain why she allowed Zagitova to perform elements of a higher qualification?
Evgenia Medvedeva: No, there was no such conversation with her. Whether that is right or wrong — I don’t know. I was taught that one should always communicate. Perhaps I would like to, but in our situation with Eteri Georgievna, it’s not really necessary because I have grown up, I understand everything on my own.
I understand that there were still facts: the Olympics and me with a broken leg, and there were certain risks. If one thinks purely strategically, I can understand the choices of the figure skating federation and Eteri Georgievna.
Still, the rivalry within the group, though it’s difficult, should exist. Alina (Zagitova) appeared, an incredibly talented athlete. Everything she executed technically — no questions whatsoever, absolutely. The scores that were given at the Olympics are beyond debate because there are definite facts. One can open the scores and see who truly skated to first place and who — to the second.
Q: And on a human level, what she performed?
Evgenia Medvedeva: That’s the whole story around the 2018 Olympics — more about interpersonal relationships, emotions, somewhat dramatized from our side. It was unpleasant, but now, as an adult, I can judge and think that perhaps, if I had really wanted to and not been afraid, I could have moved the combination to the second half.
I could have come up with something to get out of that hole after the short program. But I didn’t do it. And now, from the perspective of all the years I’ve lived since then, I think: thank God I didn’t.
When athletes are groomed from the age of three and the Olympic gold medal is made a cult, when you’re constantly told, “you’re my little Olympic champion”… And this “gold,” “Olympic champion,” “champion,” “champion”… It’s constantly repeated. And when you don’t become one, it hits the immature psyche hard.
After the 2018 Olympics, the figure skater left Tutberidze for coach Brian Orser, but in September 2020, she returned.
Q: It was a personal meeting after the test skates. My back was already in a lot of pain at the time, and I understood that I couldn’t handle serious training loads anymore. We sat for an hour, discussed how things were going for me in Canada, and what was happening here. She said: let’s try, come to the choreography session.
Evgenia Medvedeva: I more or less understood that if I returned to Eteri Georgievna, the training loads there would be much more serious than in Canada. I knew that my back might give out. But I took all the risks: well, I’ll try.
Q: Did you apologize to Eteri Georgievna?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Sit down and apologize? No. And neither did Eteri Georgievna.
Q: Proud…
Evgenia Medvedeva: We are such, strong proud women who understand everything perfectly, but still hold our own. That’s why Eteri Georgievna Tutberidze is a great coach. That’s why Evgenia Medvedeva is sitting here now.
Q: She could have refused to take you back without an apology.
Evgenia Medvedeva: But she did take me back.
Q: So, she loves you?
Evgenia Medvedeva: It means she loves me.
Related topics: Eteri Tutberidze, Evgenia Medvedeva
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