If Plushenko really spent that much on one student for 9 months of training, that’s ridiculous. I understand Kostornaia’s funding this season went to Sambo 70 because she changed coaches outside the transfer window, but there’s no way it costs over half a million US dollars per person per year to train and costume a figure skater. I like Plushenko, but if that figure is true, the joke is on him, and it certainly shows you can’t solve a problem just by throwing money at it.
Also, I thought Trusova’s dad and family are lawyers — surely they would be savvy enough not to take out dodgy business loans via a figure skating super star and his oligarch wife. The rumors on these fan boards and on TSL are super bizarre (although rather fun to read).
Maybe, regarding coaches, it just comes down to style. Some people are self-motivated, some aren’t. Many people, especially at the age of 16, 17, learn about themselves through trial and error. I think Alena had real guts to apologize and say where she’s at, and I think Eteri did the reasonable thing by giving her a chance to train at Sambo 70 again. I think it could have worked out with Plushenko too, but Alena might have been operating out of anxiety — both times she switched — and now she’s seen the grass on both sides and can be more realistic about what she wants. I’ll be interested how she does. Shame about those wasted Shae Lynn Bourne programmes, though. I thought the music was beautiful in both...
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SMH....
