Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: “I agree with Alysa Liu that when you are given freedom and you are a senior athlete, it is beneficial. When there is a respectful and trusting relationship between athlete and coach, it helps.”

World champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva agreed with Alysa Liu that granting freedom to adult athletes is beneficial, emphasizing the importance of respect and trust in the coach-athlete relationship and condemning abusive coaching methods.

original source: Okko / text version Sports

World champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva commented on the training approach of two-time Olympic champion, American figure skater Alysa Liu. Here’s a translation of her comments.

“Q: Isn’t it a bit of an overstatement to consider Alysa Liu’s approach to training as the only correct one?

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Are we talking about the idea that a coaching method without abuse is good?

Q: Yes.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I also support this view. I agree with Alysa that, in this respect, when you are given freedom and you are a senior athlete, it is beneficial. When there is a respectful and trusting relationship between athlete and coach, it helps. Without trust and respect, there is no progress, because you don’t fully commit to your work. You start to wonder: what if this isn’t exactly what I need right now?

When we talk about senior athletes, there is no place for excessive pressure or cruelty. There is self-discipline, toughness, strictness, and discipline, but no humiliation, insults, or physical force.

Figure skating has now developed an understanding that physical abuse is wrong. But this topic still needs to be addressed, because there are still cases where a parent or coach may exert too much pressure on an athlete. We just might not know about it.”

Related topics: Alysa Liu, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva