Russian Skaters Allowed to Compete as Neutrals (AIN) to Qualify for 2026 Winter Olympics

[Willin]

The thing is - even for skaters like Tuk - that they can't be contracted with the Russian military. Their state funding comes from a branch of the Russian military. That means they are contracted with it. So regardless, all of Russia's National team and training center athletes will be ineligible unless they work out alternate funding for next season.

 

[Karen-W]

If the ISU is strict about pro-war activity, Russia will just have to annex foreign skaters with Russian coaches or ancestry. Maybe Isabeau, Sophie VF, Torgy, Wolf/Tsar, Lobocheva, Memola, Efimova et al should expect a call.

Russia likes to annex stuff.

LOL - Sarah Everhardt for Belarus! Naumov could be an easy recruit for Russia - they do love their nepo-baby skaters.

 

[Amy L]

This is good. Russian skaters aren't Putin, and they need to be in the sport.

The home of Vadym Kolesnik's brother was exploded. People who support it will compete against him. Irina Khavronina's father is an officer in Russian special forces and has probably made the decision to blow up a lot of apartment buildings. To say it's an awkward situation is beyond an understatement.

 

[Amy L]

I also didn't mention that Khavronina's partner is from Kharkhiv (like Kolesnik). He hasn't mentioned a single thing about Ukraine AFAIK but wow his life must be weird. But I think he and his partner are an off ice couple too aren't they?

 

[Vagabond]

I think it's going to be very hard for skaters living in Russia to meet the criteria. A skater who left the country but has not competed internationally for another federation might have a shot of getting an entry to the qualifying competition, but who would that be? Most such skaters are likely either doing Singles but too young for Seniors or training with a non-Russian partner who wouldn't be eligible for AIN status.

 

[Amy L]

I think it's going to be very hard for skaters living in Russia to meet the criteria. A skater who left the country but has not competed internationally for another federation might have a shot of getting an entry to the qualifying competition, but who would that be?

Should we be expecting the return of Zagorski/Guerreiro?

 

[Karen-W]

I think it's going to be very hard for skaters living in Russia to meet the criteria. A skater who left the country but has not competed internationally for another federation might have a shot of getting an entry to the qualifying competition, but who would that be? Most such skaters are likely either doing Singles but too young for Seniors or training with a non-Russian partner who wouldn't be eligible for AIN status.

Especially since the criteria specifically states that the skaters MUST have had a Russian or Belarusian passport prior to March 1, 2022 when the ISU Council enacted its emergency ban of all RUS/BLR skaters.

 

[caseyedwards]

The home of Vadym Kolesnik's brother was exploded. People who support it will compete against him. Irina Khavronina's father is an officer in Russian special forces and has probably made the decision to blow up a lot of apartment buildings. To say it's an awkward situation is beyond an understatement.

False. You didn’t read anything the isu said. Only the thread title which is totally divorced from what the isu said! Or a comment from someone who also didn’t read what the isu said. Any Russian skater who has participated in any state event is banned. Who does that leave! No one who has competed or probably even lived in Russia for over 3 years!

 

[Willin]

Should we be expecting the return of Zagorski/Guerreiro?

@taz'smum

I think they are the closest to meeting the criteria, but I thought the reason for them representing Russia in the first place was the funding? If Russia's funding would disqualify them from competing they would need to get a ton of money elsewhere.

 

[Primorskaya]

This is going to throw up endless complicated situations. It probably won't work for anyone, if the criteria are properly enforced.
As sport is state-sponsored in Russia, indeed through a branch of the military, nobody can avoid the connection. Including athletes who don't support the war.
I expect Putin and his brain-trust will go along with this, or not, depending on the caliber of the athletes who are deemed eligible, and their chances of medalling.

 

[Coco]

Honestly, I feel like anyone residing in Russia who meets this criteria might be at risk of "insubordination" or whatever they call dissent in Russia.

 

[PRlady]

LOL - Sarah Everhardt for Belarus! Naumov could be an easy recruit for Russia - they do love their nepo-baby skaters.

For that reason I would have suggested CarPom but then you and @Rukia would have found me and killed me.

 

[Karen-W]

For that reason I would have suggested CarPom but then you and @Rukia would have found me and killed me.

Well, as far as I'm aware, she doesn't have a Russian passport and didn't have one back on March 1, 2022, so they're no more of an option than WolfTsar or MorChen (another nepo-baby team, lol). Now, EfiMit may be, if he has both a US and a Russian passport.

 

[PRlady]

Well, as far as I'm aware, she doesn't have a Russian passport and didn't have one back on March 1, 2022, so they're no more of an option than WolfTsar or MorChen (another nepo-baby team, lol). Now, EfiMit may be, if he has both a US and a Russian passport.

Wonder if Davis/Smolkin are regretting going with Georgia….

 

[Amy L]

ce, of all people, should not be telling anyone they didn't read information in a link correctly Though I guess it takes one to know one. My comment didn't have anything to do with the rules of independent athletes, I was specifically responding to the comments about Russians being punished for things Putin did. I'm just saying that plenty of Russian skaters are doing things on Putin's behalf, which makes the whole situation messy AF.

 

[PRlady]

I’m not on the Muskrat site anymore but someone who is should @ Brennan and ask her to write about it…..

 

[Marta24]

For that reason I would have suggested CarPom but then you and @Rukia would have found me and killed me.

Another option would be Grimm/Savitskiy. His father is from Belarus, while his mother is Russian

Although, I would rather keep them for Germany. We desperately need them.

 

[PRlady]

Another option would be Grimm/Savitskiy. His father is from Belarus, while his mother is Russian

Although, I would rather keep them for Germany. We desperately need them.

His commentary in English was quite charming a couple years ago. I wouldn’t want to lose them either.

 

[caseyedwards]

ce, of all people, should not be telling anyone they didn't read information in a link correctly Though I guess it takes one to know one. My comment didn't have anything to do with the rules of independent athletes, I was specifically responding to the comments about Russians being punished for things Putin did. I'm just saying that plenty of Russian skaters are doing things on Putin's behalf, which makes the whole situation messy AF.

But none of the skaters you are worried about would be eligible. Like no one participating in the nationals going on right now are eligible. The boards are filled with sanctioned companies.

 

[Wyliefan]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Ilia yet. Surely they'd go after him first.

 

[Karen-W]

Honestly, I don't think they'd go after any skaters (from any country) who have represented another country at a world or regional/continental championships in the past 3 years as that would require release not just from the other skating fed but also the skater's current NOC per the Olympic Charter.

Sooooo, the likes of Malinin, CarPon, Grimmskiy, PavSvia, even Torgy & Naumov are off-limits as I cannot see the the NOCs of the USA, GER or HUN giving a release. Maybe DavSmo because GEO is turning back into a Russian satellite state, but who else? No one, really, I don't think. Recent switches competed this fall - Samodelkina, Geynish/Chigirev, even Shiryaeva and wouldn't be eligible to represent Russia at the OQE since their last int'ls for KAZ, UZB & CAN were less than a year before Sept 2025.

 

[Vagabond]

Folks, no skater who currently represents any federation is going want to or to be able to get a release to be a neutral athlete in Beijing, let alone Milan.

 

[Wyliefan]

I know. I think we're just a little bit punchy and wandering off into weird imaginative what-ifs.

 

[Seerek]

It will be interesting what federations such as the International Ski Federation and International Biathlon Union will do, if anything. From what I've read in their literature, there are pathways via 2025-26 World Cup results, but it would be maximum 1 entry per gender total (and discipline if applicable).

 

[Willin]

Honestly, I feel like anyone residing in Russia who meets this criteria might be at risk of "insubordination" or whatever they call dissent in Russia.

For Paris 2024 there were a handful of Russian athletes training in Russia that qualified for the Olympics. Almost all dropped out at the last minute under government/cultural pressure.

So I'm not sure how they'd be punished, but I'd imagine they'd at least get some public shaming.

I can't believe no one's mentioned Ilia yet. Surely they'd go after him first.

At the last Olympics China tried to poach a number of skaters including Alysa Liu and Vincent Zhou. None of the ones who were in the running to make the US team said yes to China. I'd imagine this would be a similar situation.

I'd add that I live in an area with a lot of Russian ex-pats. By and large they left Russia for a reason. Most of the Russian businesses here heavily support Ukraine and are anti-Putin. Besides, even if he/his parents like Putin/Russia, they know doing this would ruin a lot of career options for him. So even if Ilia lives in a Russian ex-pat community, it's not a guarantee he'd do more than just laugh this off.

 

[caseyedwards]

It will be interesting what federations such as the International Ski Federation and International Biathlon Union will do, if anything. From what I've read in their literature, there are pathways via 2025-26 World Cup results, but it would be maximum 1 entry per gender total (and discipline if applicable).

If they want Russians who support the overthrow of Putin they will follow isu

 

[Wyliefan]

Vadym Kolesnik has posted a number of stories about this. (In case you can't see them, one shows a screenshot of the document and says, "This is very concerning," another shows a picture of a bombed Ukrainian church and says that the Russian athletes openly support this, and the other shows pictures of various skaters rooting for Putin with the caption "Neutral athletes.")

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[caseyedwards]

Vadym Kolesnik has posted a number of stories about this. (In case you can't see them, one shows a screenshot of the document and says, "This is very concerning," another shows a picture of a bombed Ukrainian church and says that the Russian athletes openly support this, and the other shows pictures of various skaters rooting for Putin with the caption "Neutral athletes.")

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No one is calling them neutral. Who is calling them neutral?

 

[ChelleC]

No one is calling them neutral. Who is calling them neutral?

If you'll read and comprehend the very first post in this thread, you'll see the ISU is referring to them as Individual Neutral Athletes.

 

[Sylvia]

TSL is live - "Russia is Back with Maya Bagriantseva": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0PA2Ye4h3M