Roller coaster: three Russian luge skiers were not allowed to the qualifying starts in the USA

The third stage of the Luge World Cup starts in Lake Placid, USA, which should be the first for us in the last four years. The competition starts on December 18, and six Russian athletes have arrived, who have received neutral status and have already managed to take part in test competitions in Italy. However, the day before the start of the stage, three of our luge athletes were unexpectedly banned from competing in the USA.

Without world champions

We can say that the luge athletes from Russia were lucky to some extent, because their selection for the Olympics looks more complete compared to representatives of other sports. For example, in the sports subject to FIS, qualification began last season, when no one from our winter teams could compete at international competitions yet. As a result, skiers and snowboarders are now trying to earn the remaining Olympic quotas, not counting on the maximum.

The luge team issued neutral statuses right before the start of qualifying, which was opened by the test competition in Cortina d'Ampezzo from November 27 to November 30. It seems that we haven't lost anything in terms of timing, but still, our selection for the Games cannot be called equal with other countries.

Not all the leaders received admission. The women's top three were Sofia Mazur, Daria Olesik and Ksenia Shamova. At the last Russian championship, they were the ones who distributed the medals among themselves. But the men are missing two of the strongest: world champions Roman Repilov and Semyon Pavlichenko.

Repilov would not have been able to participate in the selection, even if he had received a neutral status. The current champion of Russia is currently in a pre-trial detention center in Krasnoyarsk. He is accused of embezzling 11 million budget rubles intended for the purchase of sports sleds. Pavlichenko is ready to start at the World Cup, but has not received the status.

"All our athletes were examined under a microscope. Those who were members of CSKA were not allowed in. There are many different nuances that caused us to miss a number of athletes. It is a pity that Semyon was not allowed in with reference to the interview he gave. But I didn't see anything reprehensible in Pavlichenko's interview. On the contrary, all his comments were in a friendly tone," Natalia Garth, head of the Russian Luge Federation, explained to VseProSport.

As a result, neutral statuses went to the third, fourth and fifth numbers of the national team: Alexander Gorbatsevich, Matvey Perestoronin and Roman Repilov's younger brother Pavel.

Visa problem

Another barrier for our luge athletes, which representatives of other countries do not have, is the inability to participate in all stages of the Olympic selection process.

There are five such stages in total: test competitions in Cortina d'Ampezzo (November 27-30), World Cups in American Park City (December 10-13) and Lake Placid (December 17-21), Latvian Sigulda (December 30 - January 4) and in German Winterberg (January 6-11).

According to the rules, in order to receive Olympic quotas, you need to perform in at least two stages. But, of course, it's better to participate in all of them — so there are much more chances. We've already missed one stage in Park City, but we probably won't be allowed to compete in Latvia.

Skipping the American stage is due to the lack of visas. After the test competitions in Italy, foreign luge skiers went to the Winterberg World Cup (it is not considered qualifying for the Olympics), and Russian luge skiers went to do paperwork for a trip to the United States.

"Our team is in Kazakhstan and is preparing American visas," Garth explained to Sport Express on the day of the start of the stage in Park City. — We are setting an example for our whole country, first of all for the younger generation. They see that a difficult path is not a reason to give up. He teaches overcoming. In this overcoming lies our common strength, our mission to millions of young people for whom sport serves as a guide and guiding star. I believe in our country, in our strong-minded guys."

Fortunately, by the time of the Lake Placid stage, the necessary stickers in the passports were received for all six admitted Russians. The team arrived in the USA on December 14, having also managed to attend the first official training session of the stage, which took place on the 16th.

A half-hearted solution

Russian luge skiers competing in two-man competitions have not received neutral status and are not participating in the selection for the Olympics. The International Federation considered it a team sport, which means it does not meet the IOC recommendations. In theory, the maximum number of quotas was available to singles. Licenses from one country can be obtained by up to three athletes in men's and women's competitions.

To qualify, you need to get into the top 25 participants. After two qualifying rounds, only one Russian woman, Daria Olesik, is included in this number in the ranking. She took 19th place at the test competitions in Italy, which allowed her to stay in the top 25 even after skipping the competition in Park City.

Others needed to catch up. Pavel Repilov, who took the 25th place, became the best Russian among the men in Cortina D'Ampezzo. Matvey Perestoronin scored the 29th result, Alexander Gorbatsevich — the 30th. Women's Sofia Mazur with the 25th time, Ksenia Shamova — with the 30th.

It's going to be difficult on the Lake Placid stage. Firstly, we haven't had the opportunity to compete on this track for the last three years. Secondly, unlike their rivals, who have been in the United States for the second week, the Russians still need to struggle with acclimatization.

And the day before the first World Cup stage for Russians in four years, our team was halved. According to the AP news agency, Alexander Gorbatsevich, Sofia Mazur and Ksenia Shamova were banned from performing in the United States due to doubts about their compliance with the admission criteria.

It is still unclear whether this decision will extend to the Winterberg stage. If so, Gorbatsevich, Mazur and Shamova will not be able to compete for licenses, despite the fact that they have already performed at test competitions in Italy. After all, according to the qualification regulations, it is necessary to take part in at least two stages of selection.

The leaders of the team, Daria Olesik and Matvey Perestoronin, remain in the ranks. If our luge athletes can earn quotas and get to the Games, then the chances should be higher in Italy.

The most realistic thing for the Russian national team now seems to be winning one men's and one women's Olympic license. The results of the Lake Placid stage should provide a clearer picture.