The recent World Figure Skating Championships in Boston marked a historic triumph for the American team, achieving gold in three out of the four categories—a first in its history. As the excitement of their success transitions into preparation for an Olympic year, there looms the possibility of a familiar adversary re-emerging: the Russians. For more than three decades, Russia has been a dominant force in Olympic figure skating. However, since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian athletes have faced a ban from international competitions. Consequently, Russia’s top skaters have sought opportunities in other nations or have settled for competing within their own country, away from the world stage.
Amidst ongoing political tensions, the International Skating Union (ISU) recently implemented a stringent selection process, through which a limited number of Russian athletes might qualify for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. The proposal, conceived based on the guidance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), permits Russia to nominate one individual or pair per discipline. These selected participants will compete at a qualifying event in Beijing, assuming they can pass an exhaustive background investigation.
These competitors would participate as neutral athletes, akin to how a few did during the 2024 Paris Olympics. They must have no connections with the Russian or Belarusian military and must not have openly supported the invasion of Ukraine. The ISU reiterated its firm stance against the Ukrainian invasion in its statement.
The announcement of this arrangement evoked a spectrum of responses among athletes at the championships, from confusion and disappointment to support and indifference. Many athletes noted that they have faced Russian competitors in previous Olympic Games, and they expressed readiness to do so again. Evan Bates, who with Madison Chock took home their third consecutive ice dance championship, remarked that dealing with such political complexities is out of their hands and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on what truly matters: their performance.
This situation is not new for Chock and Bates. They were initially part of the U.S. team awarded silver at the 2022 Beijing Games. However, following the disqualification of Russian star Kamila Valieva for a doping scandal, the Americans were eventually elevated to gold, receiving their medals during the Paris Games held last summer. The celebratory moment was a testament to resilience amid controversy.
The U.S. team further demonstrated their prowess as they claimed the gold medal in women’s singles with Alysa Liu breaking nearly two decades of American drought and Ilia Malinin emerging victorious in the men’s category, firmly establishing himself as a favorite for the next Winter Games.
The question of Russian participation in future championships, such as Milano-Cortina, remains uncertain. While the ISU received a list of potential Russian contenders before the February 28 deadline, the challenge persists in identifying those who could seriously compete, especially in the women’s and pairs’ categories where Russian athletes have historically excelled.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, addressing the issue of Russian athletes’ participation in international sports, expressed a commitment to securing their involvement in the Winter Games. This determination was voiced prior to the election of Kirsty Coventry as the new IOC president—a change that sparked renewed optimism for Russia’s Olympic return.
Russian President Vladimir Putin wasted no time in congratulating Coventry, emphasizing the confidence in her authority in the sports community. The Kremlin articulated a resolve to advocate for Russian athletes’ interests in global competitions.
While these maneuvers unfold, figure skaters are keeping their top priority: training and preparing for the upcoming Olympics. For them, having Russian skaters present would restore normalcy to the Games. As Bates articulated, regardless of who competes, the focus remains on achieving personal goals, executing their plans, and potentially cherishing their last Olympic journey.