Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: “It makes me very sad, and angers me, that children in sports can encounter violence. There are coaches and parents who are willing to do anything for results and use unethical methods.”
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva about importance of the education and violence children face in sports.
original source: Sport-express dd. 19th June 2024 by Dmitri Kuznetsov.
In a big interview with Sport Express, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva talks about the importance of education for athletes, violence children face in sports and state sponsored sport system. Here’s a translation of her comment.
“Q: You’re a prime example of an athlete who found herself after sports. Shows, work in media, sponsors. Many people find it difficult after state salaries in sports. Do you see a solution?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: The solution to the problem is to combine professional sports at least a little bit with education, so that children or students don’t completely give it up. And gained an understanding of what else they are interested in doing in life besides sports. In recent years, we’ve raised the bar in figure skating so much that children train five to six hours a day and see almost nothing of what’s happening around. They don’t have that childlike carefree attitude when you can go for a walk with friends in the evening. But this is necessary for mental health, development, so that they do not lose their childhood desires and dreams, which were there before immersing themselves in the world of big sports.
I don’t know how to balance it. It’s difficult, really. But it’s important. Then there will be no such crisis — you’ve put your whole life into sports, and then you don’t know what to do next. You need to be able to prioritize. Even now I find it hard to find myself. Yes, I was lucky, people know me, and I can participate in shows, at least I’m financially protected. But what to do when I no longer want to put on skates? I haven’t found the answer to this question yet. Maybe if I studied better I would have understood which field I want to go. That is why I am now investing in my own development — I study with a stage speech teacher, read articles on topics that concern me. Child psychology, for example. I help the ‘Anton is here’ foundation (for supporting people with autism. — Editor’s note of Sport-Express) as much as I can, I’m filming my own show about figure skating. In other words, life goes on.
Q: You’ve mentioned children — have you watched the interview with Margarita Mamun? How do you feel about the position of children in gymnastics?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: It makes me very sad, and angers me, that children in sports can encounter violence. I’ve never experienced it myself, but I know from many that the problem exists. It’s not just in gymnastics, but in figure skating too there are coaches and parents who are willing to do anything for results and use unethical methods, in my opinion.
That’s because we’ve raised the bar so high in sports – it might seem that just positive attitude and the child’s desire can’t achieve high results anymore. But I want to believe that it’s not like that, and to find a middle ground. So that a child can skate without being afraid that his coach or parent will scold him. Fear is a powerful emotion, you can show maximum on it. I had a strict coach in my childhood, based on fear I could work a lot. But to do everything based only on it is wrong. I wouldn’t want children to feel oppressed, to show the impossible just so they would not be scolded.
Q: You’re a unique example, it turns out. Both the image of “she enjoys the ice”, and solid results.
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I don’t know how this happened. (Laughs.)
Q: Ice dancer Ksenia Ermakova recently quoted one of her partners: “Another girl will come in your place, take furosemide, lose weight – and return to the ice”. True or an exception?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Individual cases, definitely. I have been in figure skating for a long time, I talk a lot with people from different generations, during my skating career three-four generations of girls have passed. The topic of furosemide rarely comes up. Yes, there are many ways to maintain weight or lose it, but furosemide is so risky, thoughtlessly… I haven’t encountered this in my environment. Maybe it has become popular among the young again. But the risk is unjustified.
Q: And why have we raised the bar? Is it because sport is tied to the prestige of the state?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I think your thesis is correct, partly yes, sport is prestigious for the state. You have achieved something in sport – you are already considered to be a member of the elite society or, at least, you are highly respected, followed by others, this allows you to implement your projects. Sport in Russia is an integral part of state policy.
Q: Is this right?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Let me make it clear, I haven’t thought about this on a global scale. If we build another system, where everyone pays for themselves, then children from such places as Glazov, like me, where a figure skater has appeared in a financially disadvantaged family, won’t have opportunities. They gave me old skates, we re-used dresses after others. The opportunity to study in state schools is a big plus, I can’t deny the advantages of the system that brought me to the top. If you could only train for your own money, few could afford to practice figure skating. Because now figure skating has become a sport in which the more time on the ice you have, the higher your result. In addition to groups on the ice, people go for additional trainings, then for more, they take a gliding coach, a physical fitness coach, these are serious expenses. But obviously, there could be other benefits in an alternative system.
Q: And from what age could you support yourself? When you became the world champion – could you?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: In recent years, when I got sponsors, everything pays off. But figure skating is risky for earnings. One year you are successful, the next you disappear. In my case, sponsors didn’t understand what they were investing in. (Laughs.). Perhaps after 2018, I became consistent. It’s hard to be a leader for a long time. But only then sponsors start to be interested in long-term contracts, because they understand how this cooperation will help them reach their marketing goals.
Q: After you paused your career, did the attitude of sponsors change?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Yes, some sponsors consider it important for an athlete to be active and participating in competitions.
Q: If Alexey Nikolaevich hadn’t noticed you at the competition in Belgorod, would your life have turned differently? Glazov, leaving sports, another profession?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I haven’t thought about it at all and don’t even want to think about what would have happened to me. Because without meeting Alexei Nikolaevich, a dull picture is assumed. He introduced me to the world, showed me the world, I realized how immense it is and how much I want to explore and travel it. Maybe a passion for adventure would have provided me with some level and I would have learned toe loop, salchow, loop. And he would have noticed me later! (Laughs.)
Related topics: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
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