\n<\/p>\n
While it was a poor day for the Brits, it was a day of success for Georgia – who count among their coaching team one of the most controversial figures in ice skating.<\/p>\n
The afternoon session contained the men’s short program, and leading the field is another Georgian – Nika Egadze, who registered an impressive score of 91.28.<\/p>\n
Egadze is coached by Eteri Tutberidze, who drew headlines for her berating of Kamila Valieva at the 2022 Olympics.<\/p>\n
Tutberidze was sat next to Egadze as the results were announced in Sheffield, hugging her charge after his score came in.<\/p>\n
He then defended Tutberidze’s training methods in his media conference, telling the BBC: “I really like to work with Eteri, I have skated with her for nine years.<\/p>\n
“We are really well connected, as a whole team. And she listens to me more now.”<\/p>\n
Tutberidze previously worked with the Russian national team, whose athletes are banned from these championships – and will compete as neutrals at Milan 2026 – because of the country’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n