Coach Anna Levandi accused of abuse

[Orchidea]

Former students accuse figure skating coach Anna Levandi of abuse

Estonian Anti-Doping and Sports Ethics Foundation (EADSE) has received petitions from former students and parents alleging figure skating trainer Anna Levandi of mental and physical abuse. Elite coach Levandi conceded she is not perfect but termed most of the claims slanderous and absurd.

news.err.ee

 

[snd]

well, the witness accounts are harrowing.

many similarities to eteri. but i doubt there will be any real consequences

 

[kolyadafan2002]

What this tells me more than anything, is you can never truly know what's happening in coaches training schools. I know people who visited her for training camps, who said she was lovely, I would never have known she'd be like this. But these reports feel all too familiar to this sport, and I remember people from the outside talking about abusive coaches being lovely (and still do, based on public experience rather than knowing what they are like behind closed doors).

I guess to me this just feels like a shock, although I'm not sure that it should be a shock... I'm rambling a bit, but what I want people to realise is the kiss and cry doesn't reveal all. Just because you like the public appearance of somebody, doesn't mean you know them, or that they must be good people. Likewise with liking people from skating, interviews etc. And same as outside of skating (with anybody you're not personally acquainted with).

 

[Orchidea]

Anna is big fan of Eteri and here is more one intresting fact about her - https://news.err.ee/1609259676/levandi-s-own-complaint-ended-former-coach-zhuk-s-career-in-1980s

 

[icewhite]

What this tells me more than anything, is you can never truly know what's happening in coaches training schools. I know people who visited her for training camps, who said she was lovely, I would never have known she'd be like this. But these reports feel all too familiar to this sport, and I remember people from the outside talking about abusive coaches being lovely (and still do, based on public experience rather than knowing what they are like behind closed doors).

I guess to me this just feels like a shock, although I'm not sure that it should be a shock... I'm rambling a bit, but what I want people to realise is the kiss and cry doesn't reveal all. Just because you like the public appearance of somebody, doesn't mean you know them, or that they must be good people. Likewise with liking people from skating, interviews etc. And same as outside of skating (with anybody you're not personally acquainted with).

Personally I find it depressing how many people do know of such abuse and think it's good, okay or at least never take any action against it.

Also, sure, we never know what people are like behind closed doors... but I think even if we do know them personally... do we really see them for who they are?

(Overall, another case that shows that figure skating in general has a problem. These cases are not isolated. The hierarchies, the power of coaches and feds, the very young age of the athletes and the whole culture of figure skating which glorifies training and competing with serious pain, starving yourself, accepting whatever is thrown at you, "respect" for coaches no matter what... all these things are a problem. Looking after yourself, listening to your body, trusting your gut feeling are not aspects that the sport overall values.)

 

[Weathergal]

Personally I find it depressing how many people do know of such abuse and think it's good, okay or at least never take any action against it.

Also, sure, we never know what people are like behind closed doors... but I think even if we do know them personally... do we really see them for who they are?

(Overall, another case that shows that figure skating in general has a problem. These cases are not isolated. The hierarchies, the power of coaches and feds, the very young age of the athletes and the whole culture of figure skating which glorifies training and competing with serious pain, starving yourself, accepting whatever is thrown at you, "respect" for coaches no matter what... all these things are a problem. Looking after yourself, listening to your body, trusting your gut feeling are not aspects that the sport overall values.)

Sadly that's true of much more than figure skating -- see artistic gymnastics, for example.

 

[Alex Fedorov]

Anna is big fan of Eteri

«У нас так нельзя». Эстонский тренер Леванди — о методах экс-тренера группы Тутберидзе

«У нас так нельзя». Эстонский тренер Леванди — о методах экс-тренера группы Тутберидзе

www.championat.com

"
Estonian figure skating coach Anna Levandi said that the methods that Russian specialists often resort to in their work are not suitable for Estonian figure skaters.

“Last season, Richaud (Benoit, French choreographer - approx. “Championship”) had Sergei Rozanov at the training camp. This year he was no longer there, by the way. I think not only because I couldn’t, but somehow the organizers apparently lost the desire. Because the methods that he seemed to have transferred from Tutberidze do not work on free people. You can't yell, you can't swear at children.

It needs to be taught and respected. Not everyone knows how to do this. Why, if ready-made athletes with all triples come to you in a crowd? You bark at him, and out of fear that he will be kicked out, he goes for quadruples.

We can't do that. We need to teach. I guided Eva-Lotta Kiybus from the first steps, from the age of 12. And in Russia one breaks down - a million people come from all over the country. Everyone just prays and dreams about this,” Levandi said in an interview with Sports.ru.
"

 

[Orchidea]

«У нас так нельзя». Эстонский тренер Леванди — о методах экс-тренера группы Тутберидзе

«У нас так нельзя». Эстонский тренер Леванди — о методах экс-тренера группы Тутберидзе

www.championat.com

"
Estonian figure skating coach Anna Levandi said that the methods that Russian specialists often resort to in their work are not suitable for Estonian figure skaters.

“Last season, Richaud (Benoit, French choreographer - approx. “Championship”) had Sergei Rozanov at the training camp. This year he was no longer there, by the way. I think not only because I couldn’t, but somehow the organizers apparently lost the desire. Because the methods that he seemed to have transferred from Tutberidze do not work on free people. You can't yell, you can't swear at children.

It needs to be taught and respected. Not everyone knows how to do this. Why, if ready-made athletes with all triples come to you in a crowd? You bark at him, and out of fear that he will be kicked out, he goes for quadruples.

We can't do that. We need to teach. I guided Eva-Lotta Kiybus from the first steps, from the age of 12. And in Russia one breaks down - a million people come from all over the country. Everyone just prays and dreams about this,” Levandi said in an interview with Sports.ru.
"

Yes she is good in theory but in real life...

 

[Diana Delafield]

Sadly that's true of much more than figure skating -- see artistic gymnastics, for example.

It's also bad in ballet. So well-known it's routinely portrayed in dance films like Center Stage or The Company and many others, but does that change things? No.

 

[lariko]

ISU should really provide training for coaches on anger management and sensitivity training to get it through to the older generations that you can't get results from the current generation by destroying them psychologically. Or should. Plus, the whole insane culture of 'all athletes hurt all the time, don't show pain to judges and audience' has to be dismantled from ground up. It shouldn't be normal to skate on trauma. I am not on board with making Levandi a scape-goat when it's a systematic problem. Systematic problems should be addressed systematically starting with medical staff and referees becoming tougher on signs of abuse or cavalier attitude to injuries. Personally, I want to hear referees' whistles far, far more often.

 

[Mathematician]

The Eteri comparisons are not even close to applicable...

This article claims Anna calls her students and parents pigs to their face, screams at students and calls them morons/idiots, apparently even spits on them and throws skates...?

Supposedly the kids start tweaking out with chronic nervous twitches requiring prolonged psychological counselling. The kids are actually struggling with debilitating trauma, they get stutters (they apparently "GAGGED ANXIOUSLY" while trying to speak) and cant even socialize (I'm not exaggerating anything from the article here). Per the article the kids are even asking their parents why they arent called idiots and morons daily at home??

This is just demonic behaviour, not some controversy about "coaching style". I have never heard any accusation even close to this level of depraved behaviour about Eteri and she has plenty of accusers.

You know, we can appreciate the grievance of these kids without bringing in some other drawn out drama. Such careless behaviour.

 

[Mathematician]

ISU should really provide training for coaches on anger management and sensitivity training

Hilarious. Anger management and "sensitivity training"? What even is sensitivity training?

This coach is breaking psychologies, likely permanently in some cases. She could be ruining lives. Do you understand what it means to degrade a child by spitting on them and convincing them they are useless over YEARS? And while they are THAT young and malleable? These are literally ego-death practices openly used by special military forces. Its EVIL. Its as bad if not worse than even smacking a kid in the face. In fact its definitely worse by a LOT. Spitting on kids, calling their parents pigs, throwing skates to the point they cant even talk without a stutter, without "GAGGING ANXIOUSLY"? That is publicly unheard of. Completely shocking.

ISU needs to organize some legal action. This is a matter of justice not fixing minor misconduct. We dont need some weak attempt at re-training a serial child abuser. She 100% needs to see prison. But like someone else said she wont because people dont get it.

 

[icewhite]

The Eteri comparisons are not even close to applicable...

This article claims Anna calls her students and parents pigs to their face, screams at students and calls them morons/idiots, apparently even spits on them and throws skates...?

Supposedly the kids start tweaking out with chronic nervous twitches requiring prolonged psychological counselling. The kids are actually struggling with debilitating trauma, they get stutters (they apparently "GAGGED ANXIOUSLY" while trying to speak) and cant even socialize (I'm not exaggerating anything from the article here). Per the article the kids are even asking their parents why they arent called idiots and morons daily at home??

This is just demonic behaviour, not some controversy about "coaching style". I have never heard any accusation even close to this level of depraved behaviour about Eteri and she has plenty of accusers.

You know, we can appreciate the grievance of these kids without bringing in some other drawn out drama. Such careless behaviour.

I have read at least similar things about Tutberidze. Not sure if I should link it here. I fear the list would be very long if we brought up all similar cases.

 

[Mathematician]

I have read at least similar things about Tutberidze. Not sure if I should link it here. I fear the list would be very long if we brought up all similar cases.

Please do link them because I have literally never heard anyone say Eteri spits on kids, kicks them and calls them morons. What is comparable to that? Not one Eteri girl has gotten nervous stutters for years physically barring them from socializing. The official claim is that she overtrains her students; I have argued that point here before (as in, against Eteri).

 

[Anna K.]

Former students accuse figure skating coach Anna Levandi of abuse

Estonian Anti-Doping and Sports Ethics Foundation (EADSE) has received petitions from former students and parents alleging figure skating trainer Anna Levandi of mental and physical abuse. Elite coach Levandi conceded she is not perfect but termed most of the claims slanderous and absurd.

news.err.ee

Great article, thanks for sharing!

What I like about it is that this article is not focused on demonizing the coach. It is focused on the coaching approach that has been challenged by young skaters/their parents and the reasons why this approach should be changed.

Unfortunately, it is not a surprise that so many coaches still mimic the soviet approach in so many ways in post-soviet countries. Myself, I live in a post-soviet country myself. I grew up in the Soviet Union. I have analyzed impacts that the debilitating totalitarian system has had on me; it is a necessary step if you want to have a happy life. However, many if not most people in my country don’t take this step because they are used to being unhappy. It was the normal when they lived in the USSR and they don’t want challenge this concept of normal. Instead, they pass it on to their children. Sometimes it happens unconsciously as children pick up the behavioral patterns of their parents but sometimes it is a conscious wish to transfer this concept of normality to the kids because parents don’t want to be lonely in their understanding of reality. It is a very sad thing to see but I have learned to be realistic. Behavioral patterns don’t change easily. That’s why I always feel a surge of hope and relief when I see articles like this one that challenge the practices earlier seen as normal. Yes, most of the interviewed skaters only challenged them anonymously. But still, congratulations, Estonians! You said it: you want happy children on the ice. Let’s be realistic, it will not happen tomorrow. It will be long, hard, and in many ways unpleasant process. But you have reached this point. The process has started.

I wish I could say the same thing about Latvian figure skating community but I can’t, unfortunately.

 

[JeanA]

It's like you read one article, and you've read them all.... I do remember what I thought was a well-written article about Anna Kondrashova a couple of years ago (could be ten but who knows) and how she was "different", and much more loving/encouraging than other former Soviet coaches. In fact, that article appeared to me that Anna WAS Estonian Skating and she was calling the shots for better behaved coaches. Such a shame to read she is just like or even worse than others. Anna had her problems with Zhuk and his coaching methods so it's just sad to read that she gained this terrible reputation on her own. Of course, this could all just be hearsay and untrue, but how many times does the bell need to ring before people actually LISTEN and act accordingly?

I feel like posting one of my favorite programs of Anna, because I love her skating, and also because that year Dick and Peggy were absolutely BRUTAL to the Soviet skaters. Except Anna. Peggy actually says she enjoys Anna's skating. (The same cannot be said about Kira Ivanova and Elena Vodoroza-Buyanova....)

Anna Kondrashova (URS) - 1984 Sarajevo, Figure Skating, Ladies' Short Program

Sarajevo, YUGOSLAVIA - 1984 Winter Games, Figure Skating, Ladies' Short Program - Anna Kondrashova of the Soviet Union was in 5th Place overall after this sk...

www.youtube.com

 

[icewhite]

Please do link them because I have literally never heard anyone say Eteri spits on kids, kicks them and calls them morons. What is comparable to that? Not one Eteri girl has gotten nervous stutters for years physically barring them from socializing. The official claim is that she overtrains her students; I have argued that point here before (as in, against Eteri).

overtraining, okay, but also complete disregard for injuries, driving them into anorexia etc.
also, if it's about degrading behaviour, things like this:
https://pledgetimes.com/figure-skat...he-trash-trash-belongs-there/#google_vignette (it's a badly translated article, but well)

I don't want to make this about Eteri again, though, I just think there really is no use to compare her to people like Levandi and say she's better.

 

[kolyadafan2002]

Please do link them because I have literally never heard anyone say Eteri spits on kids, kicks them and calls them morons. What is comparable to that? Not one Eteri girl has gotten nervous stutters for years physically barring them from socializing. The official claim is that she overtrains her students; I have argued that point here before (as in, against Eteri).

I mean Eteri literally told one girl to sit in the bin for the rest of training, as she was trash and that was where she belonged...
You think all the abuse that happens in those sorts of rinks with coaches of that power get publicised?

 

[Anna K.]

I don't want to make this about Eteri again, though, I just think there really is no use to compare her to people like Levandi and say she's better.

Because at the end of the day, it would turn into a discussion about which forms of degrading behavior are acceptable and which forms of degrading behavior are not acceptable. All involved in this kind of discussion would involuntarily normalize degrading behavior as such, in one way or another.

While the point should be, no degrading behavior is acceptable.

 

[Skating91]

overtraining, okay, but also complete disregard for injuries, driving them into anorexia etc.
also, if it's about degrading behaviour, things like this:
https://pledgetimes.com/figure-skat...he-trash-trash-belongs-there/#google_vignette (it's a badly translated article, but well)

I don't want to make this about Eteri again, though, I just think there really is no use to compare her to people like Levandi and say she's better.

Could you not find a better article than from the Pledge Times? It's not helping your argument.

There is probably no figure skating coach in the world who has been under such scrutiny, as closely monitored, has had as many high profile skaters.

I think Eteri's club is simply competitive. She has the best skaters in history training on the ice at the same time, all of them ultra-competitive, they see what the competition is doing every day and it forces everyone to work harder otherwise you feel like you are being defeated by your competition every day.

This season, I said it many times on here, I thought Kamila was clearly not trying, hated her free skate and barely practiced it, was doing all kind of activities unrelated to skating between competition, and watching the NHK documentary it was I right. Eteri said she needs to lose weight and train like she used to which you clearly can't do it you're going to modelling shoots, travelling to grand openings, eating fancy dinners in the two weeks between events. But Eteri allowed that to happen. She left it up to Kamila (still Kamila was 3rd best in the world for the season despite operating at about 80% capacity). The weight thing is controversial some reason but this is normal in sport. Look at female track athletes there is no body fat. I'm not saying a figure skater should have the body fat ratio of a track athlete, but in figure skating there is still a lot of room for improving fitness levels to that of other Olympic athletes. That's all Eteri means. And Kamila did get into better condition for the Russian championships.

This Estonian coach sounds like a monster and the Estonian fed needs to be investigated and a severe punishment applied to the federation. It is impossible for this to have been ignored for so long.