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I would rather support other Russian coaches of the new generation who have different attitudes toward the sport and their athletes. They train many sucessfull athletes as well, capable of winning on merit.
News ISU to allow Russian/Belarusians as neutral athletes
- Thread starter Mathematician
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- Jan 29, 2007
To be honest, I have been thinking for a while that athletes should represent only themselves. It is kind of brutal that people even change nationality in hope to get to Olympics, but finally they never get there. There are also atheletes who hardly visit the country they are representing, they are born, live and train somewhere else - and I mean all sport. In some sport, like Tennis and motor sport the countries do not play big role at all and it is no problem.
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- Jan 31, 2019
I am really, really rooting for Boikova/Kozlvskii to get a confirmed AIN status and fingers crossed it's not too late for them. Also, Pasechnik/Cirisano (that's no shade for Kaganovskaya/Nekrasov) -- it's just Pasechnik/Cirisano really won me by their undauntable good cheer and winning attitude last season despite highly public epic fails.
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- May 27, 2021
Media: Russian junior test skates will take place 28 - 31 July determing JGP participants.
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- Feb 10, 2022
That’s hardly realistic, though—sports require major financial investments, and no one is going to financially support athletes for no reason. As I like to say, if there are no national teams (where the government supports athletes at its own expense and by attracting sponsors), then there will be teams like Huawei versus Coca-Cola or Red Bull. I won’t say which of these is better.
I’d rather do away with the quota system and let anyone who wants to compete do so, provided they meet the minimum technical requirements.
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- Feb 10, 2022
This is information from Irina Kostyleva's chat, supposedly posted on her behalf. She isn't a very reliable source.
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RIA is essentially the Lapidarnost channel, and it’s just parroting Irina Kostyleva. “A source reported”—you couldn’t put it more accurately when it comes to rumors from Mom’s chat group. At the very least, we should wait for an official comment from RusFed.
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- Aug 11, 2025
Like they do it in Tennis
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- Mar 7, 2015
well tennis is a completely different animal. It's a money making machine with many superstars. They have tournaments every week, sometimes 3-4 at the tour level not counting the challengers. Athletes receive considerable prize money, but also very little funding from their federation. There are no world championships in tennis really... but big tournaments where there is no national quota. Figure skating will never look like tennis because it will always depend on national federations funding. In order to preserve that, national quotas are expected and skaters will never only represent themselves.
Well .. I think at least in juniors .. they all will get a neutral status
Not only that, but I'm making plans to attend a few of the challengers-Cranberry, etc., -without the Russians I just had no interest, it wasn't worth the money to go. As far as the JGP-Not just Lena and the others, but the wonderful junior pairs!
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- Oct 22, 2022
If. The same for rhythmic gymnastics, but Russia withdrew their team from a competition a few days ago because of the no-flag, no-anthem requirement, after initially agreeing to the terms. I only saw that as a headline and didn't read the full story, but we'll see...........
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- May 27, 2021
Communication is worded in a way that makes it hard for me to imagine that seniors would have problems. Some coaches will, though.
Seniors that were juniors in 2022 probably will be neutral, skaters that didn't win anything probably ... but I doubt Galliamov will pass like neutral
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- Nov 30, 2016
Here is the official statement on the website of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation
https://www.ukrfsf.org.ua/2026/06/3...h-figurystiv-do-zmagan-lyczemirne-ta-ganebne/Presidents of the Ukrainian and Lithuanian federations: ISU's decision to allow Russian figure skaters to compete is hypocritical and shameful
The President of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation, Danil Amirkhanov, and the President of the Lithuanian Figure Skating Federation, Vytautas Jasutis, reacted in a joint statement to the admission of Russian and Belarusian figure skaters to international competitions.
"Athletes representing the aggressor state are once again allowed into international figure skating competitions—this was the decision of the ISU Council. They are returning without a flag and anthem, yet this decision was made without conscience, without hope, and without respect for those who fought and continue to fight for freedom.
Have people stopped dying in Ukraine? Has the terrorist state stopped bombing Ukrainian hospitals and schools? They (the members of the ISU Council) say that the future of young figure skaters must not be destroyed, that ordinary Russians bear no responsibility for the decisions of their government. But this is how it looks: we kill you while enjoying the freedoms of the civilized world, we bomb your homes and then put on our skates and smile at everyone, we torture your prisoners of war and still compete for medals at your championships.
And who will return the lives of over 600 Ukrainian athletes who died? Who will restore the destroyed ice rinks and stadiums? This was not discussed during the decision-making process regarding their admission...
We are not looking for the guilty—the guilty have long been known. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will find those responsible for this war. But we will never agree to become 'useful idiots' and we will never forget this terror. We will never accept ice stained with blood.
We have no intention of expressing regret or 'deep concern' over this decision, as many peacemakers are used to doing. We will stand firmly with Ukraine and its people.
This is hypocrisy. This is a shame. This is a disgrace," the presidents of the two federations stated.
Today, the Council of the International Skating Union (ISU) made a decision to admit Russian and Belarusian figure skaters to competitions under its auspices under a neutral status.
"Starting from the 2026/27 season, athletes from Russia and Belarus may participate in ISU events and international competitions as neutral athletes, without state symbols (national flags, national equipment, and national anthems)," reads the ISU Communication No. 2804.
"Athletes representing the aggressor state are once again allowed into international figure skating competitions—this was the decision of the ISU Council. They are returning without a flag and anthem, yet this decision was made without conscience, without hope, and without respect for those who fought and continue to fight for freedom.
Have people stopped dying in Ukraine? Has the terrorist state stopped bombing Ukrainian hospitals and schools? They (the members of the ISU Council) say that the future of young figure skaters must not be destroyed, that ordinary Russians bear no responsibility for the decisions of their government. But this is how it looks: we kill you while enjoying the freedoms of the civilized world, we bomb your homes and then put on our skates and smile at everyone, we torture your prisoners of war and still compete for medals at your championships.
And who will return the lives of over 600 Ukrainian athletes who died? Who will restore the destroyed ice rinks and stadiums? This was not discussed during the decision-making process regarding their admission...
We are not looking for the guilty—the guilty have long been known. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will find those responsible for this war. But we will never agree to become 'useful idiots' and we will never forget this terror. We will never accept ice stained with blood.
We have no intention of expressing regret or 'deep concern' over this decision, as many peacemakers are used to doing. We will stand firmly with Ukraine and its people.
This is hypocrisy. This is a shame. This is a disgrace," the presidents of the two federations stated.
Today, the Council of the International Skating Union (ISU) made a decision to admit Russian and Belarusian figure skaters to competitions under its auspices under a neutral status.
"Starting from the 2026/27 season, athletes from Russia and Belarus may participate in ISU events and international competitions as neutral athletes, without state symbols (national flags, national equipment, and national anthems)," reads the ISU Communication No. 2804.
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- Aug 8, 2023
I think things have been basically sorted out in the IOC vetting already.
Valieva is DEFINITELY not making it internationally, BTW. Not sure about Sasha.
That's kind of ridiculous. Very early.
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