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A prominent Kazakh figure skating coach، Elmira Turgunova، has released a video statement detailing her experiences with alleged pressure from sports officials and her subsequent dismissal from her coaching role. Turgunova claims she faced injustice within the sports system، impacting her career and relationship with her former student.

Motivation for Speaking Out

Turgunova stated that she was compelled to make her statement following an interview given by Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov. Shaidorov had spoken about issues within Kazakhstani sports، and Turgunova expressed understanding for the pressure he faced from certain state employees. She revealed that she too has suffered from the same system.

"I wanted to shed light on this situation،" Turgunova said. "Currently، it is known that our Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov is facing certain pressure from some state employees in the sports sector. I understand well the difficulties he has encountered – this is clear injustice، bureaucracy. I know the inner workings of this system، what is happening there، and I myself have become a victim of this system."

Dismissal After Universiade

The coach explained that she was dismissed from Sports School No. 2 in Astana in January 2025، shortly after her student، Sofia Samodelkina، won a bronze medal at the Universiade. Turgunova was officially cited for being absent from work for over three hours، a reason she disputes. She asserted that this period was part of her legally approved annual leave، with a schedule confirmed by the head of Sports School No. 2، Bauyrzhan Sakharbaev.

Allegations of Management Pressure

Prior to the Universiade، Turgunova claims that Vasily Levit، the head of the Astana Department of Physical Culture and Sports، pressured her to resign voluntarily. As a mother of two with a mortgage، she requested to continue working until the end of March، by which time her student was expected to secure an Olympic license. However، Levit allegedly insisted on her immediate departure.

"I don't understand why some of our officials، heads of sports departments، dislike people like me،" Turgunova expressed. "Are results not needed؟ Is an Olympic license not needed؟ Are medals at the Olympic Games not needed؟ For me، this is incomprehensible. But in our country، people like me، who achieve success through their own efforts without any connections or support، are not liked. This is the kind of injustice I have faced."

Minister's Unfulfilled Promise

According to the coach، the Minister of Tourism and Sport، Yerbol Mirzabossynov، had promised to help resolve the situation and restore justice. However، the issue remains unresolved. Turgunova's lawyer had advised creating public resonance on social media to strengthen her case in court. The minister، however، urged her against this، assuring her that everything would be settled.

Student's Alleged Betrayal

Turgunova also addressed her relationship with Sofia Samodelkina. She wrote on her Instagram page that after securing the Olympic license، her student failed to acknowledge her contributions. "After I was left without work، after obtaining the Olympic license، betrayal awaited me from my student Samodelkina Sofia. I put my whole soul into her path، even spending my personal money. But when a result like an Olympic license is achieved، it seems that assistants and advisors multiply around you... At that moment، she forgot who had always helped her on this difficult path،" the coach wrote.

Sports.kz reported that Elmira Turgunova served as Sofia Samodelkina's personal coach during the 2023-2024 period، following the figure skater's transition from Russian to Kazakhstani sports citizenship. Turgunova managed the necessary paperwork for the athlete's change of sporting allegiance and became her personal coach in the autumn of 2024، after Samodelkina left Evgeni Plushenko's academy. Under Turgunova's guidance، the athlete debuted in international competitions for the Kazakhstan national team and subsequently earned an Olympic license.

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