Tarasova Reflects on Valievas Return: She Wont Be the Same as Before

Renowned Russian coach Tatyana Tarasova shared her thoughts on the possible return of junior world champion in figure skating Kamila Valieva to professional competitions. It was previously reported that Valieva has been included in the doping testing pool by the International Skating Union (ISU) for the upcoming 2025/2026 Olympic season.

«Of course, Eteri Tutberidze and Kamila herself are the best judges of whether she will return or not. I believe we all would love to see her back on the ice. However, it’s unlikely that our opinions will sway her decision. For her, what matters is how she feels, what skills she currently possesses, and what she truly desires.

Will there be potential disappointment? In any case, she will be different; time has passed. Kamila will not be the same as she once was. Perhaps her leg lift is still high and her jumps are still impressive, but a lot has changed. She is now an adult,» said Tarasova, as reported by Sport24.

At the end of January 2024, it was announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has banned Valieva for four years due to violations of anti-doping regulations. The disqualification period commenced on December 25, 2021. The skater may resume training as early as October of this year and could return to competitions by the end of December.