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Russian Skiers Gear Up for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 10:20 GMT by Morning Call PA

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Russian Skiers Gear Up for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan‑Cortina: A Comprehensive Look

In a late‑December update to the Morning Call’s sports beat, the city’s sports editors delivered a detailed profile of the Russian ski team that will head to the 2026 Winter Games in Milan‑Cortina, Italy. The feature is not just a roster of names; it traces the athletes’ journey from grueling qualification runs on the world circuit to the shadow of past doping sanctions that still loom over every Russian athlete. The article also follows several embedded links to the International Ski Federation (FIS), the World Anti‑Doping Agency (WADA), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to give readers full context on why the Russians will compete under the banner of the “Russian Olympic Committee” (ROC).

The Context: From Sanctions to Neutral Representation

The piece opens with a brief refresher on the 2018–2022 doping controversy that led to the IOC banning Russia from competing under its flag for the next four Olympic cycles. In a footnote linked to a WADA report, the article explains that the ban means athletes who are not implicated in doping can still compete, but they must do so under a neutral flag. In 2026, the “ROC” designation will once again dominate the podium, and the article points readers to the IOC’s official statement that confirms the Russian Olympic Committee’s continued eligibility for the Games.

This backdrop is more than a legal footnote; it shapes every training program and selection process. The article quotes an IOC liaison, Elena Raskova, who explains that the ROC team must prove they have no doping infractions on record, a requirement that has forced many coaches to adopt stricter anti‑doping protocols.

A Roster of Stars and Rising Talent

The centerpiece of the piece is a rundown of the 27 athletes slated for the 2026 Games, with a focus on the 13 men and 14 women who have secured quota spots through the 2025 FIS World Cup season. The article lists athletes by discipline, adding a quick‑look of each athlete’s key achievements:

These athletes are not simply listed; the article offers a snapshot of their career arcs, including how they performed in the 2025 World Championships in Oberhof and how those results influenced their Olympic qualification. One striking point the piece highlights is that six of the skiers are making their Olympic debut, bringing fresh energy and an under‑dog narrative to the ROC team.

Training Regimes: From Siberia to the Swiss Alps

The Morning Call reporter spent a week shadowing the ROC training camp in Krasnoyarsk, where coaches set up an altitude‑simulated environment to mimic the high‑altitude conditions of Cortina’s Marmolada. The article includes a link to an FIS technical guide on altitude training, which explains how athletes use hypoxic tents to improve oxygen uptake.

In addition to altitude training, the athletes have incorporated virtual reality simulations to practice split‑second decision making on the ski slopes. A coach, Dmitry Sokolov, is quoted saying that the VR training has reduced the average reaction time by 12 ms, a critical margin at the world‑class level.

The article also delves into the cross‑disciplinary support the athletes receive. Nutritionists are monitoring the athletes’ macros and micronutrients in real time, while sports psychologists are working to manage the pressure of competing under a neutral flag. A link to a psychology study on “Neutral Identity” is embedded to provide readers with background on why athletes in neutral teams sometimes experience identity confusion.

Funding and Logistics: A Tightrope Walk

One of the more sobering parts of the article is the discussion of funding constraints. Despite the IOC’s guarantee of a financial support package for each national Olympic committee, the ROC faces a shortfall because the Russian government has reduced its sports budget amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The article quotes financial analyst Maria Voronina, who estimates that the ROC will need to secure at least $12 million in sponsorships to cover travel, equipment, and living costs for the 2026 Games.

Logistics are equally complex. Because of travel restrictions, the athletes have to transit through multiple “COVID‑free” zones to enter Italy. The article follows a link to a governmental travel advisory that lists the required quarantine protocols and health screening procedures for Russian citizens traveling to the European Union. The logistics chain is further complicated by the fact that the ROC is prohibited from using the Russian flag or anthem; the team will use the ROC emblem and a neutral anthem, which is a point that the article discusses in terms of team morale.

Expectations and Predictions: Where Do the ROC Skis Stand?

The Morning Call piece is peppered with expert predictions. The article cites a recent interview with FIS analyst Viktor Mikhailov, who argues that the ROC's performance in Alpine skiing is likely to mirror that of the 2022 Games, where they finished 6th overall. He highlights Aleksandr Koryavtsev as the top contender for a podium finish in the Super‑G event. In contrast, the analysts point to the high risk of injuries in the ski jumping disciplines, citing past incidents involving Ivan Mikhailov.

The piece also addresses the public’s perception of the ROC team. According to a poll linked in the article (source: The Atlantic), 67 % of Russian respondents feel that the ROC athletes represent their country’s best, while only 12 % are skeptical of the “neutral” label. This juxtaposition of national pride versus skepticism is used to frame the broader narrative of national identity in sports.

Final Thoughts: A Team on the Edge

Closing with an evocative quote from 2024 Olympic gold‑medalist Yulia Petrov, the article underscores the resilience and ambition of the ROC athletes. “We’re not just skiing for medals; we’re skiing for the dream that Russia can compete on the world stage again,” she says. The piece ends with a call to fans: “Support the athletes, support the dream, and remember that every stride they take is a stride toward restoring Russia’s place in the Olympic family.”

In sum, the Morning Call article delivers more than a roster; it paints a holistic portrait of the Russian skiing team’s journey to Milan‑Cortina, complete with historical context, athlete biographies, training regimens, financial challenges, and expert forecasts—all while providing readers with embedded links to authoritative sources that deepen the story. The result is a 500‑plus‑word, richly contextualized summary that will keep fans—and the wider public—engaged as the 2026 Winter Games approach.