Eteri Tutberidze: “At the Olympics in Beijing, Mr. Bach commented that I somehow didn’t properly receive Kamila Valieva when she came off the ice. And I am still waiting for an apology from him, an official one – just as official as his statement.”

Eteri Tutberidze said she expects an apology from former International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach.

original source: Sports

Eteri Tutberidze stated she is still waiting for an official apology from former IOC president Thomas Bach regarding his comments about her conduct at the Olympics. Here’s a translation of her comment.

“Q: How do you feel about the statements made about you at the 2026 Olympics?

Eteri Tutberidze: First of all, at that Olympics (in Beijing), Mr. Bach commented that I somehow didn’t properly receive Kamila Valieva when she came off the ice. Well, it’s probably not his place to discuss that – he has other things to do.

And I am still waiting for an apology from him, an official one – just as official as his statement. He is probably obliged to officially apologize to me. Because there was nothing there except analyzing the skate, which is my main responsibility – to review the performance with the athlete.

There’s no need to dramatize. Kamila Valieva, based on the Olympic results at that time, finished fourth. For many athletes, just making it to the Olympics is happiness, let alone finishing fourth. So there’s no need for any dramatization here.

Yes, that’s how she skated, now Adeliia came in sixth, and what, should we be devastated? And how did Malinin finish?

Q: Eighth.

Eteri Tutberidze: Eighth. Well, and when he came off the ice, no one hugged or comforted him either. There’s no need to comfort – this is sport. This is sport,” Tutberidze said in an interview with Okko.

Related topics: Eteri Tutberidze, Kamila Valieva, Olympic Games