Eteri Tutberidze is a brilliant figure skater who has made a huge impact in the world of ice sports. She changed how people view success in figure skating. Dive into her early years, uncover her youth secrets, and see how her coaching style has changed. Find out the secret of Eteri Tutberidze by reading about her life story.
Eteri Tutberidze Biography
| Name | Eteri Tutberidze |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eteri Georgievna Tutberidze |
| Date of Birth | February 24, 1974 |
| Age (as of 2024) | 50 Years |
| Place of Birth | Moscow, USSR |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Height | 172 cm |
| Weight | 137 lbs |
| Nationality | Russian, Georgian, Armenian |
| Citizenship | Russian |
| Husband | - |
| Family Status | Divorced |
| Daughter | Diana Davis |
| Began Skating | 1978 |
| Skating Club | Sambo 70 (SDUSSHOR 37) |
Eteri Tutberidze always likes to keep her personal life private. Her youth as a successful figure skater remains unexplored. Known for her coaching prowess, her school is nicknamed "a corporation of monsters." Many aspiring figure skaters dream of training with her, but only a few can handle her demanding methods.
Who is Eteri Tutberidze?
Eteri Tutberidze is a famous figure skating coach from Russia. She coaches singles and pairs since 2020. Many consider her one of the best coaches in the world. Her students perform really well in women's singles and win many medals. Eteri Tutberidze coached two skaters at the 2018 Olympics. One is Evgenia Medvedeva and the other is Alina Zagitova. Both competed for the gold medal.
Childhood and Young
She blossomed amid the vibrant tapestry of a bustling Georgian family in Moscow. Eteri was born on 24 February 1974. She was the youngest of five siblings. She grew up near the Abelmanovskaya outpost by the Church of St. Matrona.
Despite facing challenges, Eteri had a happy childhood in a small apartment with her family. Her early years were filled with laughter and warmth, laying the foundation for her strong spirit. Though not luxurious, her upbringing revealed her extraordinary talent.
At just four years old, Eteri discovered her love for figure skating, a moment that shaped her future. Eteri was determined to become a figure skater, even though her mom had doubts. She ended up being coached by Evgenia Zelikova, starting her journey towards her dreams.
Career
Picture a young Tutberidze, her sporting dreams almost shattered by a fractured vertebra. However, she didn't give up. Instead, she shifted to ice dancing, showing she can bounce back and adapt.
As the USSR crumbled, Tutberidze faced a new set of challenges. Join her as she travels with the Russian Ballet on Ice. This part of her journey had money problems and faced unexpected challenges. Imagine a coach facing tough times, sleeping on the floor in a shelter with other athletes in the USA for many months. In 1995, something really sad happened during Tutberidze's journey. She became a victim of a terrorist attack, and this moment stayed in her memory forever.
Despite facing challenges, Tutberidze stayed determined. She came back to Russia in 1999, overcoming hurdles to become a successful coach. In this important time, she worked hard and gave up a lot, setting the base for her incredible success in turning beginner skaters into champions.
Coaching Career
Tutberidze returned to Russia in 1999. Then she had difficulty finding a job. It was a tough time for her. She had to stay determined while facing uncertainties in coaching.
Tutberidze kept going, not giving up. It took her about a year and a half of hard work, but she finally succeeded. She started by leading health groups on an inflatable skating rink. This modest start became the base for her incredibly successful coaching career.
Eteri Tutberidze's coaching is tough, requiring top-notch performance. Skaters and parents are drawn to this high-demand approach. Despite being tough, her methods transform beginners into champions. This journey cements her as a coaching master and shapes Russian figure skating. Tutberidze's story shows her resilience and the big impact she made on figure skating.
Figure Skating
In the beginning, Evgenia Zelikova taught 30 kids to skate. Over time, only five stood out as really good. Eduard Georgievich Pliner, Zelikova's husband, noticed their talent. Pliner, a coach with a serious and strict style, became their teacher. The students liked and respected him.
However, the journey in professional sports brought its share of challenges. Eteri Tutberidze faced minor injuries initially, but a crack in her vertebra added to the ordeal. Tutberidze's mom wanted to help her daughter, so she tried different treatments, like giving her calcium shots. Eteri got better, but something unexpected happened – she grew 22 cm in three months.
Tutberidze found out that she wouldn't succeed in solo skating. So, she switched to pairs, teaming up with skaters like Vyacheslav Chichekin and Alexey Kilyakov. Tutberidze faced challenges, like leaving her mentor Tchaikovskaya. Her time in adult skating wasn't as great as her coaching success.
Students
| Skater | Since |
|---|---|
| Anna Shcherbakova | 2013 |
| Kamila Valieva | 2018 |
| Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov | 2021 |
| Alexandra Boykova and Dmitry Kozlovsky | 2023 |
| Daniel Grassl | 2023 |
| Sofia Akatieva | 2018 |
| Adelia Petrosyan | 2019 |
| Maya Khromykh | 2018 |
| Daniil Samsonov | 2015 |
| Vsevolod Knyazev | 2018 |
| Daria Sadkova | 2020 |
| Nika Egadze | 2022 |
Awards
| Year | Recognition/Award |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Honored Trainer of Russia |
| 2014 | Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree |
| 2018 | Order of Honor |
| 2017 | Silver Doe Award of the Federation of Sports Journalists of Russia |
| 2022 | Medal “100 years of the formation of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic” |
| 2023 | Order of Alexander Nevsky |
Television Tint
Eteri Tutberidze's ice show, "Champions on Ice," featured young talents and figure skating masters. From 2019 in Krasnodar, the show did things differently. It started touring cities in Russia in 2021 and was shown on Channel One. Even though Tutberidze usually avoids the media, she talked about getting ready for performances and judging talent on the "Evening Urgant" show in April 2021.
In December 2021, Eteri Tutberidze talked about students leaving and coming back in a detailed interview on "Let Them Talk." She stressed how much she cares about her students and is dedicated to them. Eteri Tutberidze, known as "The Snow Queen," follows strong ethical rules. She says she has never thought about bringing in athletes who are already established to join her team.
Personal Life
Eteri Tutberidze keeps her personal life private, rarely sharing details. While in the USA, she married an American, and they had a daughter named Diana Davis. However, little is known about her husband. Eteri avoids posting personal photos on social media but shares images from skating rinks with her students.
Due to hearing issues, Diana switched to ice dancing. She teamed up with Gleb Smolkin, guided by her mom. They joined the Russian Junior Cup. Diana might compete for Russia in senior events. Tutberidze's focus on her daughter's well-being influenced the shift from single skating.
Dating and Relationships
In 2000, reporters say the skater dated Elena Vodorezova's husband. They met in Russia while Eteri visited her parents. The married man became interested. They swapped numbers, talked, and met up. Eventually, they decided to go separate ways to keep their families safe.
Daughter
Diana Davis, a figure skater, began ice skating when she was only two months old. Her well-known mother, Eteri Tutberidze, is a coach of world champions, and she guided Diana's journey in the sport. Diana's path into this challenging yet beautiful sport was inevitable.
Husband
In 1990, Eteri was a promising figure skater invited to perform in the USA for "Ice Carades." Document problems caused her contract to end, leaving her with no money or job. In the U.S., she met a man, and their relationship grew beyond daily dates. They stayed together and later became mom and dad to a girl named Diana.
Eteri's husband details are unknown. But they divorced a few years after Diana was born. They live in different countries now. Eteri never asked her ex-husband for help. Diana got gifts and visited him during holidays in Russia.
Diet
Eteri Tutberidze, the figure skating coach, talked about how she looks after what her students eat. She stressed how crucial it is to keep an eye on their weight. She expressed a preference for receiving updates on their weight rather than adhering to a personal diet. Tutberidze emphasized checking weight every day to catch any issues early.
She compared gaining weight to carrying a milk carton, showing how it's tough for athletes. Tutberidze said losing too much weight is not good. It can make you tired and cause stress fractures. Her advice underscores the significance of a balanced approach to training and weight management.
Social Networks
Eteri Tutberidze uses Telegram and Instagram since Facebook and Instagram are banned in Russia. Eteri Tutberidze has her own accounts, and there's also a Team Tutberidze account. But we're not sure who writes the posts on the team account.
Net Worth
| Year | Earnings (in Million Dollars) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6.24 Million |
| 2023 | $5.61 Million |
| 2022 | $4.99 Million |
| 2021 | $4.37 Million |
| 2020 | $3.74 Million |
Eteri Tutberidze Now
In 2023, the President of Russia gave Eteri Tutberidze a special award called the Order of Alexander Nevsky. She received this award because she had done an excellent job training her students for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Alongside her, colleagues Sergei Dudakov and Daniil Gleikhengauz were also honored with Orders of Honor.
The same year held significance for Tutberidze as she actively participated in planning and designing a new figure skating sports center in Yasenevo. However, this development sparked mixed opinions. People in the area are upset because they were told they'd get a park, but it didn't happen. They shared their disappointment on Yandex Maps. There are worries about what will happen to the Khrustalny complex, where Tutberidze's students practiced. People are afraid it might close down after the new center opens.
In September, something important happened – Italian skater Daniel Grassl left Tutberidze's group. He said thanks for her support. In October, Tutberidze went with her student Nika Egadze to the US Grand Prix. Then, in November, she went to the Russian Grand Prix in Kazan with Valieva.
The year concluded with the inauguration of the Tutberidze Figure Skating Center in Moscow. Meanwhile, her student Adelia Petrosyan became the champion of Russia. In January 2024, Tutberidze went with Egadze to the European Figure Skating Championships. She also became a mentor on a new TV show called "Big Girls." The show is about losing weight and making lifestyle changes. She filmed after 6 pm and finished at 2-3 am, managing her busy schedule.
Interesting Facts
Tutberidze, known as the "Snow Queen," is praised for her calm demeanor, even with close ones. At an important competition for her daughter, she got so into skating that she forgot to say happy birthday. Eteri Tutberidze's "Champions on Ice" show got criticized for copying ideas. Olympic champion Oksana Baiul, who was part of a show with a similar name in the USA, pointed out the issue.
