Olympic Chief Criticizes Valieva Coach’s ‘Chilling’ Reaction, Kremlin Hits Back

Kamila Valieva (C) of the Russian Olympic Committee reacts with coaches Daniil Gleikhengauz (R) and Eteri Tutberidze (L) after her performance in the women's free skating program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 17, 2022. Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

BEIJING—The Kremlin on Friday responded to comments by the Olympic chief, in which he said he was “disturbed” watching Russian teen skater Kamila Valieva crumble under pressure and hit out at the 15-year-old’s coach for her “chilling” reaction.

In a press conference earlier on Friday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said he had been “disturbed” watching Valieva’s error-filled fourth place performance in the women’s individual figure skating event at the Beijing Olympics Thursday night.