Tatiana Tarasova: “The advantage of the Russian system is that we select athletes based on ability, not on how much money they have. In the U.S., it’s those who pay who get to train.”

Tatiana Tarasova criticizes paid training system in U.S. figure skating

original source: Sport24

Tatiana Tarasova expressed her disapproval of the paid training system for figure skaters in the United States. Her comments came in response to 2015 World Champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva’s remarks about the differences in training approaches between the U.S. and Russia, which she shared in a blog for Sports. Here’s a translation of her comments.

In her blog, Tuktamysheva highlighted the key distinctions in the American skating system:

“Overall, the training process in America is different from ours. There, you pay for everything – ice time, lessons. No one works for free. And it makes sense: when an athlete pays their coach, they work much harder. They want to maximize their time and effort. There’s no dragging out sessions or wishing for ice time to end. The motivation is there, and when there’s motivation, training is more successful.”

Tarasova countered this perspective, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities for all children, regardless of their financial status:

“Tuktamysheva’s words about figure skating in the U.S.? For me, paid training is a drawback. Everyone should have equal opportunities in childhood – whether they’re rich, poor, or underprivileged. The ones who deserve to train are those with talent.”

She argued that, even from a motivational standpoint, there are no clear benefits to the U.S. system.

Tarasova praised the Russian figure skating system for its inclusivity and comprehensive approach:

“The advantage of the Russian system is that we select athletes based on ability, not on how much money they have. From a young age, our athletes train with professional coaches. We have choreography classes and general physical training as part of the system.”

She contrasted this with the American approach:

“In the U.S., it’s those who pay who get to train. In Russia, no one pays – those who are capable train here. We have a broader selection; we choose from everyone, not just the wealthy.”

While defending the Russian system, Tarasova acknowledged that there is room for improvement, particularly in supporting coaches:

“I believe our system is a good one. But coaches’ salaries could be increased. No one would argue with that.”

Related topics: Tatiana Tarasova