“The first thing I spoke to her about was, `They (Tutberidze and her coaching team) have done something right, and you need to be grateful,’” Orser said. “You are here (as a 2-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist) because of them.”

Medvedeva, 18, expressed just that in a statement released Monday by The Figure Skating Federation of Russia:

“I grew up in front of Eteri. . .She made an invaluable contribution to the development of me not only as an athlete, but also as a person. From her I got many life lessons. I will remember them all my life. On the rink `Crystal,’ my childhood passed; I will remember with gratitude the time of hard but fruitful work.”

Through the Russian federation, I have sought to speak with Tutberidze, but my initial request was made after the coach had left for vacation this week.

Show me the money

There have been questions raised about how Medvedeva will pay for working with Orser and his coaching team, including coach Tracy Wilson and choreographer David Wilson.

In Russia, according to what a leading Russian coach told me, coaches of the highest-level skaters like Medvedeva are paid by a combination of money from a special government fund, from the national federation and from the club where the coach works. Those skaters do not pay for coaching, ice time, choreography and off-ice training, but they give the coaches a percentage of their earnings from competition prize money and, in some cases, shows.

Russian Federation of Figure Skating spokesperson Olga Ermolina said in a Tuesday email, “Evgenia will meet with Orser discussing the work plan and then FSRF (the Russian figure skating federation) can talk about details of training expenses.”

Orser said he discussed the issue of finances with Medvedeva and her mother in Seoul. He said he charges an hourly rate and takes no percentage of a skater’s earnings. In 2010, Orser told me his rate was $110 per hour; he declined to reveal the current rate, saying, it “has gone up, but not much.”

Tracy Wilson said she also gets an hourly rate, which varies based on whether she is working alone with a skater or whether she is working with Orser or another of the coaches at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club, expected to become Medvedeva’s new training base by late June.

David Wilson said he gets a flat fee for choreographing a program and that fee covers touch-up work until a skater gets comfortable with it in competition.

“I told them (Medvedeva and her mother) that for the first six months, it (the cost) is probably going to be a little more than usual,” Orser said. “We’re going to have to jump in with both feet, spend extra time on skating skills and choreography.”

Since her first senior season, 2015-16, Medvedeva has earned just over $300,000 in International Skating Union prize money for her two world titles, two European titles, two Grand Prix Final titles, five Grand Prix Series wins and for second places at the Europeans, a Grand Prix Series event and the World Team Trophy.

Medvedeva also has three personal sponsors, Pantene, Nike, and John Wilson blades, according to her agent, Ari Zakarian.

The Yuna Plan, redux

Orser said the plan to have Medvedeva work with him and the two Wilsons was based on “wanting to try to keep the same program we had with Yuna.”

David Wilson choreographed all Kim’s competitive programs in her world title (2009) and Olympic title (2010) seasons with Orser as well as all Kim’s programs in her three competitive seasons after leaving Orser, when she won a second world title (2013) and silver medals at the Olympics (2014) and worlds (2011).

Asked if he already had some ideas about what type of programs he might like Medvedeva to try, David Wilson replied in a text message, “I’m gonna wait ‘til she’s here and we take some time to know her. I think she needs to have a voice now as well. She can do anything, such limitless potential.”

David Wilson also collaborates with other choreographers, including Sandra Bezic, who choreographed for Olympic champions Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi and Tara Lipinski.

“Sandra has always been a mentor to me,” David Wilson said Wednesday by telephone. “She’s like the fairy godmother or a silent partner for me. We work well together.”