Milan, Italy – A surprising contender has emerged in the Olympic women’s figure skating competition. Russia’s Adeliia Petrosian, competing as a neutral athlete, delivered a strong short program on Tuesday at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, finishing fifth and positioning herself within striking distance of the leaders heading into Thursday’s free skate.
Petrosian, 18, entered the Games relatively unknown on the international stage, despite being a three-time Russian national champion. Her arrival in Milan, however, was shadowed by the legacy of her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, a figure both celebrated and scrutinized within the sport. Tutberidze has a history of producing technically gifted skaters capable of complex jumps at a young age, a revolution that has yielded numerous medals but also raised concerns about the physical and emotional toll on her athletes.
The specter of past controversies loomed large. Tutberidze previously coached Kamila Valieva, who was at the center of a doping scandal during the previous Winter Olympics, ultimately leading to the stripping of the Russian Olympic Committee’s team gold medal. Tutberidze’s role in that situation remains a point of contention, and she herself faced sanctions.
Russia’s participation in the Games, even under a neutral flag, is subject to strict scrutiny by the International Olympic Committee. The process of ensuring compliance with these regulations extended to the coaches accompanying the athletes. Initially, Danyil Glejhengaus was listed as Petrosian’s coach, but questions arose regarding his eligibility. It became apparent that Tutberidze, despite not being officially accredited, was heavily involved in Petrosian’s training. She reportedly gained accreditation through a dual Russian-Georgian citizenship, listed as the coach for a Georgian male skater.
Petrosian was placed in the early qualifying group due to her limited international competition experience. Despite this, expectations were high that she could challenge the top skaters. She began her program with a double axel, but quickly gained momentum, successfully landing a difficult triple lutz and a triple flip-triple toe loop combination. Her performance resonated with the audience, and her short program score of 72.89 initially placed her at the top of the leaderboard.
However, the competition quickly intensified. Three Japanese skaters – Nakai Ami, Sakamoto Kaori, and Alysa Liu – all delivered exceptional performances. Nakai ultimately topped the short program standings with a score of 78.71, followed closely by Sakamoto (77.23) and Liu (76.56).
Another American skater, Amber Glenn, struggled with a triple rittberger, impacting her score and dropping her down the rankings. Chiba Mone of Japan currently sits in fourth place with a score of 74.00, setting the stage for a thrilling free skate. Petrosian’s fifth-place finish, with her score of 72.89, keeps her firmly in contention for a medal.
Petrosian’s successful debut marks a significant moment for Russia’s Olympic hopes, even under the constraints of neutral status. Her performance has injected a new dynamic into the competition, largely considered a battle between Japan and the United States. The free skate on Thursday night will be crucial in determining whether the relatively unknown Russian skater can continue her surprising run and challenge for a place on the podium. The question now is whether she can maintain this momentum and deliver a similarly strong performance in the longer program, and whether the controversy surrounding her coach will continue to be a factor as the competition unfolds.
