Athletistic/Figure Skating. Olympic diving champion, sports journalist Elena Vaitsekhovskaya commented on the reports about the possible transfer of figure skaters Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin to the American team. Davis is the daughter of coach Eteri Tutberidze. She, along with Smolkin, took second place in ice dancing at the 2021 Russian Championships and also became 14th at the Beijing Olympics.

Rodnina: “Why should I be shocked by the transfer of Davis and Smolkin to the American team? Did they kill someone?”

“On Thursday, Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin will be reviewed by the United States Figure Skating Federation, the sport citizenship change is fast approaching, and that is, in fact, very good no matter how you look at it.

Good for Athletes: Unlike their Russian counterparts, they will have a great opportunity to compete and grow among top competitors. Considering that the United States currently only has who knows what level of new generation dancers, but that Diana and Gleb are progressing rapidly, it is quite possible that the Russian duo will soon determine the face of American dances.

In this scenario, Eteri Tutberidze will have a real chance to see her daughter become an Olympic champion in the team championship: everything is fine with single skaters in the USA, most likely there will be no outright hegemony of our country in skating women’s team at the 2026 Games, and with a high probability, the United States will become one of the team leaders’ favorites. Diana and Gleb will just have to break into the Olympic team. True, for this, skaters will have to marry in order to provide the necessary citizenship for the partner. But, judging by the document circulating on the Internet, the marriage license (marriage license) was received on March 18.

For Russian dances, such an approach also has advantages. No matter how much Davis and Smolkin ride, in Russia they will always be accompanied by a train of robbers, and the results will be in question. Despite the position of third couple in the country, Diana and Gleb were hardly objective last season, which greatly upset those who were unable to earn a place in the Olympic team. Now the rivals have the opportunity to compete honestly (as far as possible in ice dancing) and with the “couple of thieves” – in absentia. It is also a motivation,” Vaitsekhovskaya wrote.

Boris Smolkin reacted to his son allegedly marrying Tutberidze’s daughter