Winter Olympics 2022: Russia fires back at IOC chief's remarks over 'coldness' of figure skating coaches

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Russia snapped back at International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach’s critique of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skating coaches Friday.

Bach said he was disturbed by what he called the "coldness" of the coaches who were dealing with upset figure skaters Alexandra Trusova and Kamila Valieva. Trusova finished second in the free skate, and Valieva finished in fourth following multiple spills.

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Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, left, arrives for the men's downhill at the 2022 Winter Olympics Feb. 7, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Russian government officials weren’t taking too kindly to Bach’s remarks.

"Thomas Bach is a very authoritative person in the sports world. Of course, we respect his opinion, but we do not necessarily agree with him," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, via Reuters. "He doesn’t like the harshness of our coaches, but everybody knows that the harshness of a coach in high-level sport is key for their athletes to achieve victories.

"And we are seeing that the athletes are achieving victories. So let’s be proud of our winners, congratulate our medalists. Valieva was fourth but in high-level sport, the strongest wins."

Valieva was emotional as she finished up her routine. Her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, made it clear she wasn’t happy with the performance as the competitor exited the ice.

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Kamila Valieva of Team ROC reacts to a score with choreographer Daniil Gleikhengauz (right) and coach Eteri Tutberidze (left) after the women's single skating free skate