Irina Rodnina refused to consider the transfer of Russians Davis and Smolkin to the Georgian national team as a loss
Three-time Olympic champion, State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina commented on the upcoming transition of the Russian dance duet Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin to the Georgian national team. Her words are reported by Sport24.
Rodnina refused to consider the skaters’ change of citizenship as a loss. “Davis and Smolkin do not occupy high places in Russian figure skating. They will perform at international competitions and let them perform. There is no great disaster here,” she said.
Earlier, the situation was assessed by the honored figure skating coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova. She noted that Davis, the daughter of coach Eteri Tutberidze, and Smolkin, the son of actor Boris Smolkin, will help Georgia very well in figure skating, and wished them a good journey.
On May 5, the head coach of the national team, Elena Chaikovskaya, confirmed that the executive committee of the Russian Figure Skating Federation approved the change of sports citizenship for Davis and Smolkin. It was noted that the athletes themselves did not apply for the transition.
Davis and Smolkin made their debut in the adult Russian team in the 2021/2022 season. They became eighth at the European Championships and took 14th place at the Beijing Olympics. The 2022/2023 season was missed by athletes living in the USA.
Source: Lenta
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