Young Olympic figure skaters are now dominating the sport, as it has essentially become a "jumping contest," experts told Sue O'Connell on Greater Boston Thursday. But some of the minors are enduring abusive coaching tactics, they say.
Rita Wenxin Wang, a writer for Slate Magazine, reported that Russian figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze subjects athletes to taking puberty blockers, daily public weigh-ins and other abusive measures.
She has come into the spotlight in recent days as 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva is being investigated for using a banned substance prior to the Beijing Olympics.
"Figure skating fans have long known about Eteri's methods," Wang said.
The controversy over Valieva is shining a light on how the sport has changed, with judges favoring younger athletes and technical elements like quad jumps.
"Now every single champion and every girl that's getting all the medals is young, is a minor under the age of 18," said former Olympic figure skater Polina Edmunds, who competed at the Olympics as a 15-year-old.
"It's become a jumping contest and unfortunately we've seen now with the skaters in Beijing that it's now a competition of chemistry rather than natural abilities," she added.
Wang noted that young athletes are processing their emotions on live television, and it brings attention to "how much we use these young girls as entertainment, essentially."
The investigation into Valieva is still underway. She placed off the podium in fourth place in the women's event this week after an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.
Watch: Controversy in the Olympics
