Kamila Valieva

The International Skating Union (ISU) has decided to raise the transition age from young to old from 15 to 17. The rules will affect figure skating, sprint and speed skating. The rule will not come into effect immediately: from the 2023/24 season, athletes will be able to participate in adult competitions from the age of 16 and from the 2024/25 season only from the age of 17.

Changing the age limit at ISU has been discussed for several years. Supporters of such a decision explained their position, saying it would help reduce pressure on young skaters and prolong their careers. The Russian press, on the other hand, described it as a “blow to the pipeline” of champion Tutberidze and Russia, and saw it as “Russia’s desire to break free from female figure skating dominance”. Champions Yulia Lipnitskaya, Alina Zagitova, Kamila Valieva were 15 years old at the time of participation in the Olympics. The success of the students of Eteri Tutberidze, considered the most influential coach in the country, was under threat.

The need for age restrictions in figure skating was fiercely debated at the last Olympics due to Alexandra Trusova’s nervous breakdown and the situation around Kamila Valieva.

Eteri has not yet commented on the news about the change in the age limit. However, she has already spoken about rumors that she plans to train in America, and her daughter, figure skater Diana Davis, plans to play for the USA team. While Tutberidze described these messages in the American press as fake, Davis made the following comment on social networks:

Diana was born in the USA, ice dances with Gleb Smolkin, made her double adult level debut in the 2021/22 season and participated in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Eteri Tutberidze with her daughter Diana Davis