Sports

Prominent Russian coaches have gone so far as to refer to Tutberidze's athletes as "disposable" or "perishable goods," and see her as trading on her athletes' health in exchange for medals for Russia. Fans lament the so-called "Eteri expiration date," around age 17, when her athletes are often forced into retirement by injury and diminishing results. (Insider reached out to Tutberidze, who declined to be interviewed during a busy preparation period.)

Excessive pressure to compete at a young age shortens skaters' careers, and deprives athletes of being able to mature into fully-developed artists, according to Benoit Richaud, the leading choreographer among quad-less competitors.

"Eteri was smart in her approach: she was first to find a method to teach quad jumps to girls, and the method works, but only until age 17. What are skaters supposed to do then?"