Tutberidze Says Trusova's Return Shows Unfulfilled Potential

Eteri Tutberidze, in an interview with Okko, discussed athletes who left her coaching team, with particular focus on Alexandra Trusova, who returned to training after having a child. The coach said Trusova«s comeback was no coincidence.

«If she came back, it means she hasn»t fulfilled herself to the end, it means it«s still burning inside her — and thank God. We need to support that fire,» Tutberidze explained.

According to the coach, Trusova never cut ties with the sport, even during maternity leave. She continued training and performing in ice shows while pregnant. «I think Sasha never really left to try one thing, then another, then a third... She always stayed close by. She just went on maternity leave and had a baby,» the coach noted.

The journalist asked whether the coach has strict rules regarding former students, since many — Medvedeva, Lipnitskaya, Valieva, Shcherbakova — left her. Tutberidze admitted she wouldn«t take some athletes back, but Trusova is an exception.

«I can»t yet call Sasha«s return triumphant. Let her compete first... and then we»ll call it that,« the coach said. »I have excellent feelings toward Sasha! She is one of the few athletes who, upon leaving, did not damage our relationship. I feel both love and respect; all of that is preserved.«

Tutberidze also recalled how Trusova explained her departure in 2020. She honestly said she needed a change of scenery. «Once I heard from Sasha that she needed to change the scenery. She was honest. She came and said: »I need a change of environment.« But, to be honest, I had a somewhat different opinion then. It was the coronavirus year; we were locked down, we didn»t skate for three or four months. It seemed you could forget how to skate in that time. But Sasha couldn«t be without ice. She needed to do those jumps every day, otherwise, she felt she would lose everything... She needed training to continue,» the coach shared.