. I think girls are more responsible & diligent thats why they do better at school as a rule, I can understand that but emotional support? Don't girls need that too? Or Eteri selects only certain type of girls. Survival of the fittest I think her group...
I remember Alina's interview where she said it was pretty much either you shape up or ship out. She was actually told to go back home at one point. In her case the realisation that she is the only one to whom her success matters actually helped, she gritted her teeth and started working twice as hard. But I am not sure that the message "nobody really gives a damn" would have the same effect on other personalities, especially at that age. Nobody should expect endless handholding, however, wanting some emotional support is not a crime in my book. But I didn't get the impression that Eteri deliberately withholds it, she is just not that kind of person, and you have to do it on her terms I guess. As for boys - maybe they simply don't want it enough to put themselves through all that? To survive in Eteri's group you have to be not just tough but extremely motivated.Well I would not think Mishin is a softy but he seemed to do better with boys and preferred working with them as the article rightly mentions. So it must be Eteri's problem
Yes, but there are negotiations and give-and-take between Federations about who who goes where.
) as an excuse to scapegoat Kovtun because they don't like him. If Kovtun had skated well at WTT I'm certain they would say "oh, well it's just a fun competition, and he still didn't crack top 10 at Worlds." 
Message to the Fed: if you want to have control over skaters' programs, do not wait till just before or even until the test skates, for crying out loud. Especially not with your top skaters.
And also because his off-season last year was rather busy with non-skating related matters and he didn't get much rest either. Which shouldn't happen this season.
