Russia’s Olympic Dilemma

In all FasterSkier’s recent mentions, suppositions, and explanations regarding Olympic races scheduled to be staged in 2026, one factor has repeatedly been highlighted: the potential for all such predictions to be overturned by the presence of athletes from Russia. The most recent statements from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) report that no such decision has been made yet (though that could literally change at any moment). For the time being, Russian athletes remain banned from competing in any international races sanctioned by the International Ski Federation (FIS)—and that includes the Olympics.

Is this Russia’s Olympic dilemma? Or the IOC’s Russia dilemma? The IOC defers to international sport governing bodies to decide whether or not Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in Milano-Cortina 2026. That’s why fans will see Russian figure skaters in the Olympics (allowed by the International Skating Union) but not Russian biathletes (banned by the International Biathlon Union). The IOC has recently expressed a desire for Russian cross-country skiers to be allowed to compete in the Olympic Winter Games of Milano-Cortina (kind of a public hint to the decision-makers at FIS). Thus far, FIS has been dragging its feet . . .

Other sports’ governing bodies have already weighed in. In Ice hockey, Russian athletes remain banned from all international and Olympic competitions. Russian biathletes remain banned as well. Certain Russian figure skaters (limited to one man and one woman) have been approved to compete at the 2026 Olympics, though not in the team event. And the Olympic participation of any Russian athlete is to be allowed only within conditions stipulated in the IOC’s list of caveats and provisos: no Russian flag, no Russian anthem, no Russian colors (though Russian skiers definitely wore red in Beijing’s Olympic events four years ago). Evidently, Russians won’t be welcomed to march in the Opening Ceremonies. There’s also a suggestion that Russian athletes may not be allowed to compete in relays or team events. Most notably, any Russian athletes who are shown to have voiced support for Russia’s involvement in its war on Ukraine—or who are associated with Russian military forces—would not be welcome to compete.

Head of the Russian Ski Federation, Yelena Valbe (herself a seven-time Olympic medalist), has been openly enthusiastic in her support of Putin, and has consistently—and publicly—denied any Russian aggression in Ukraine. Her position—a publicly and repeatedly stated one—may be enough for the FIS to exclude Russian athletes. The Russian athletes, themselves, seem to remain optimistic.

“We will compete at the 2026 Olympics,” Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) recently stated. “Everything has its time. Mark my words.”

Sergey Ustiugov has stated that he does not think he would even qualify for the Russian selection. He predicts that he has grown to old, and that up-and-coming skiers are simply too fast.

Alexander Terentev (who shared the bronze medal with Bolshunov in the Team Sprint in 2022, and claimed another bronze in the Individual Sprint) has kept a very low profile (at least in the Western media) ever since Russian athletes were banned. He appears to have won a national championship in 2024, but no other international results are readily available.

Natalia Nepryaeva has reportedly continued to compete in Russia, but it remains to be seen if that level of competition has been sufficient to maintain the sharpness that once won her the Tour de Ski and the Overall World Cup.

Veronika Stepanova (a member of Russia’s gold-medal wining relay team in 2022) was openly supportive of Putin’s war in Ukraine from the very beginning. She was also loudly critical of the FIS decision to ban Russian participation in the first place.

As for Bolshunov—the triple gold medalist from Beijing who has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to undo the expected coronation of Norwegian superstars—he may have a difficult time convincing FIS to allow him to compete, especially after his appearance on stage at a government-sponsored rally supporting the war in Ukraine. Like other athletes on the stage that day, there was no mistaking the “Z” logo on his event-provided jacket, a reference to the Z painted on Russian tanks that rolled across the border into Ukraine. And the IOC has made it clear that they will accept no participants who have voiced support for the invasion of Ukraine.

If Russian skiers do show up for the Olympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina, the races will be better: more competitive, more tactics, more strategies, more top-end speed. In short, everything we like about ski racing. Whats to be decided, then, is whether or not FIS is willing to undo some of the measures that the organization has undertaken in support of Ukraine, in support of the idea of fair competition among peaceful nations, and in support of true sportsmanship (the spirt of which is central to the Olympic oath). Letting the Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games is a wonderful, open-hearted idea. It’s also a terrible, cynically opportunistic idea. But the very same can be said of keeping those athletes out of the Games.

Years ago, the Russian Olympic Committee was banned from participating in the Olympics as a result of Russia’s having systematically cheated in Olympic competitions (and having gotten caught red-handed after the Russian-hosted Olympics in Sochi). That was enough to get them banned for a while, but the IOC still allowed “clean” Russian athletes to compete. Now, the debate rages on account of Russia’s having invaded neighboring Ukraine (for the second time in recent memory). The Olympic Committee seems to feel “The Russian Government invaded a neighboring country. Why punish the athletes?” It’s a fair question. But so is this one: “The Russian Government invaded a neighboring country. Why reward its athletes?”

A lot of people (including a significant number of international competitors and coaches) don’t want the Russians to be at these 2026 Olympics. But plenty of other people (including a significant number of international competitors and coaches) do want the Russians to be there. The so-called (and oft-cited) “Olympic Truce” is really a thing of the ancient past: modern nations are unlikely to stop wars or make peace just because a bunch of skiing, skating, and sledding events are scheduled. It would be nice if the ethics and philosophies behind the founding of the Modern Olympic Games were a thing that the world could live by . . . but they’re not.

Announcements will undoubtedly be coming soon. As Bolshunov, himself, said, “Everything has its time.”