CBC interview with Brian Williams after the free skate. There may have been a language issue, although Tikhonov's English is quite fine, in that Tikhonov may have interpreted the question to mean whether they'll continue to compete in eligible skating rather than in non-ISU sanctioned competitions.
He said that Petrova needs surgery after which they expect to do shows and coach. He also said he hoped to be in Vancouver as a coach. If Pet/Tik join the Velikovs as coaches, I think we will see them next to the boards.
On the one hand, in the short-term Russia needs them for placements, but he's 34 years old. They said in the interview that they put almost all of the big elements up front, because of age and stamina. She's had knee problems for years. They've stayed in several extra years to help the Russian team. It's time they were given an opportunity to settle down, get healthly, start to coach, and to transfer their knowledge and skill to younger teams.
It's the beginning of the Olympic cycle next year. Russia has three spots for 2007. They have three or four teams in the waiting. There's little chance of Russia having fewer than two pairs after that, and if Pet/Tik earn three and take up one of those spots, its the same as O/S and another pair earning two, as far as future development is concerned. In my opinion, it's time for Russia to start to develop those teams during the lead-up to Vancouver, and I think having Pet/Tik as coaches is a great start for doing this.