Neutral Flags, Real Ice: Russian and Belarusian Skaters Head to Milan-Cortina 2026

Neutral Flag, Real Ice: Russians and Belarusians at Milan-Cortina 2026

Three skaters—a Russian pair, Pyotr Guminyk and Adilia Petrosian, and a Belarusian, Victoria Savonova—will compete in figure skating at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games under a neutral flag. They are the first trio from a small delegation expected to be limited in size, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Their participation follows the qualification rounds designated by the International Skating Union (ISU), followed by a second round of verification carried out by a committee appointed by the IOC to ensure compliance with neutrality rules. This two-step process is designed to verify eligibility beyond the initial national associations’ approvals.

The IOC has kept the same conditions as those used for Paris 2024: athletes must compete as individuals and must not have any links to the Russian military or security services. These constraints were reiterated in the IOC’s latest statement, which emphasized the need for a clean, individually earned place on the roster.

The IOC noted that the initial list released on Thursday would be updated according to decisions made by the panel tasked with examining neutral athletes, with the possibility of adjustments compared with Paris, where a larger contingent of Russian and Belarusian athletes medalled. The evolving list underlines the ongoing review process.

Unlike many summer federations, which have largely reintegrated Russians and Belarusians under a neutral flag, winter sport bodies have remained noticeably more cautious. The international federations governing winter sports—along with the broader anti-doping and neutrality framework—continue to enforce stringent restrictions comparable to those historically imposed on certain sports.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had previously opened the door to reinstating Russian skaters, ruling that the prior exclusion could be deemed disproportionate in late October. Russia subsequently filed an appeal, with a verdict expected before December 10. The ongoing legal and procedural gymnastics reflect broader tensions around neutrality and competition.

At the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, Russia won 32 medals despite the ban on the national anthem and flag for a separate doping scandal, while Belarusian athletes earned two medals. The Milan-Cortina decision landscape continues to shape expectations for how neutrality will translate into Olympic performance.

Punchlines from the ice, sniper-style: 1) Neutral flags, same ice—where the only thing that truly melts is the suspense at the finish line. 2) If neutrality had a scope, it would be a razor-thin line on the edge of the rink—and somehow the skaters always manage to stay on target.