In a significant announcement on Tuesday, the International Skating Union (ISU) confirmed that four Russian figure skaters have been granted approval to compete as neutral athletes in an attempt to qualify for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Among the approved athletes is 17-year-old national champion Adelia Petrosian, a rising star in the sport. This selection comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Petrosian and three other skaters received nods from the ISU, it’s noteworthy that no Russian athletes have been cleared to compete in the pairs and ice dance categories. This decision comes as the world prepares for the Winter Olympics scheduled to commence on February 6, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The ISU has emphasized the stringency of their screening process, stating, “not all nominated athletes passed the rigorous screening.” Furthermore, the governing body has assured that decisions regarding eligibility are final and cannot be contested. Since February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced bans from international skating events, following a controversial military action. Earlier this year, a limited group of these athletes were permitted to take part in the Summer Games, provided they did not express support for the conflict and had no connections to military or state agencies.
As with prior competitions, this rigorous assessment aims to scrutinize public statements and appearances made by nominated skaters since the onset of the military invasion, ensuring there is no endorsement of the ongoing crisis.
Petrosian, who is anticipated to make a significant impact at the Olympic qualifier, is coached by the well-known yet controversial Eteri Tutberidze. Tutberidze was in the spotlight during the recent Beijing Olympics due to a high-profile doping scandal involving athlete Kamila Valieva. Among the other approved skaters are Alina Gorbacheva, also 17, who may serve as Petrosian’s backup, along with the male individual skaters, Petr Gummenik and Vladislav Dikidzhi.
The focus now shifts to how these athletes will prepare both mentally and physically ahead of what promises to be a contentious and exciting qualification campaign on the international skating stage.
