Kamila Valieva: 'Why did you stop fighting?' - Coach Eteri Tutberidze's first words after medal disappears

ByEurosport

Updated 18/02/2022 at 07:39 GMT

Kamila Valieva suffered huge disappointment in the ladies' singles free skate on Thursday as she slipped from first place to fourth after an error-strewn routine. Television cameras picked up on the first words of her coach Eteri Tutberidze, as she greeted Valieva as she came off the ice. Valieva may yet lose her gold medal from the team event after a positive doping test.

'Explain to me, why??' - Watch 'chilling' moment Tutberidze berates Valieva

Coach Eteri Tutberidze’s first words to Kamila Valieva on her exit from the ice rink after she lost out on a medal in the ladies’ singles were to ask her, “why did you let it go?”

Valieva was the focus of all the build-up to Thursday’s free skate and had the pressure of the world’s attention on her as she skated on following the revelation that she failed a doping test on December 25.

A Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling allowed her to compete in the singles, having already won gold in the team event, but CAS will later take a view on whether she can keep that medal.

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The focus has firmly been on Valieva’s wider entourage, with former figure skater Adam Rippon telling Eurosport that the adults around Valieva had “completely failed her” in an interview on Thursday.

Valieva made a series of errors in her routine and departed the ice in tears.

She was greeted by coach Tutberidze, whose initial words were picked up by cameras.

'Gold is slipping away dramatically' - Valieva suffers nightmare falls

"Why did you let it go?” she said to Valieva. “Explain it to me, why.

“Why did [you] stop fighting? You let it go after that axel. Why?"

Valieva's team-mate Alexandra Trusova was also the subject of stormy scenes after the event, as she was pictured looking angry and tearful ahead of her podium appearance for winning silver.

Trusova was heard to say: “I will never go out on the ice again. Never! I hate!

“It's impossible! You can not do it this way! I'm not going to the awards! Everyone has a gold medal! Only I don't! I hate it all!"

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