Passed the stage: three Russian luge athletes fulfilled the Olympic criteria

The World Cup stage in American Lake Placid was the first for Russian luge athletes in the last four years. Our team came to the USA with six athletes, but before the start of the competition, the Executive Committee of the International Federation stripped three of them of their neutral status. Izvestia tells us what path Russian sleds take in the selection for the Olympics.

Through the barriers

There are a total of five qualification stages in the Olympic Games qualifying round. So far, Russians are facing new barriers and challenges at each of them.

Athletes competing in doubles did not receive neutral status for the opening qualification competitions in Cortina D'Ampezzo. The International Federation (FIL) considered that this is a team sport, which means that admission to competitions, even in a neutral status, would contradict the recommendations of the IOC.

In addition, two leaders of the men's singles national team, Roman Repilov and Semyon Pavlichenko, did not pass the test. The first one, however, is currently in a pre-trial detention center in Krasnoyarsk. He is accused of embezzling 11 million rubles — budget funds intended for the purchase of sports sleds. Pavlichenko, according to the head of the Russian Luge Federation Natalia Garth, was not allowed because of some words in one of the interviews.

As a result, six Russians went to Italy for selection.: Sofia Mazur, Daria Olesik, Ksenia Shamova, Alexander Gorbatsevich, Matvey Perestoronin and Pavel Repilov.

After the Cortina competition, our team skipped the first stage of the Winterberg World Cup, which was not a qualifying event, and went to apply for a trip to the North American stages in Park City and Lake Placid. The process of obtaining visas is not fast, and the Russians did not have time to get to the first city. But we arrived at the Lake Placid stage. But soon another unpleasant news appeared. The International Federation has stripped Alexander Gorbatsevich, Sofia Mazur, Ksenia Shamova, and coach Artem Petrakov of their neutral status.

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

Before the World Cup in Lake Placid, the International Federation questioned the neutrality of our athletes

"FIL was forced to change the neutral status for various athletes and coaches from Russia based on new and previously unknown facts. The AIN Commission has studied the allegations in detail and discussed them individually with the International Olympic Committee," the organization told TASS.

The Russian Luge Federation appealed this decision to the FIL Arbitration Court, but it was rejected.

Objective reality

The Lake Placid stage was the third in the World Cup calendar, but for us it was the first in four years. Since the Russians had no rating, they still had to qualify through the Nations Cup. All three sledgers coped with this task. Matvey Perestoronin took third place in qualifying, Daria Olesik — fourth, Pavel Repilov — fifteenth.

At the World Cup competitions, our luge athletes showed results that Natalia Garth called "normal" in a conversation with Izvestia.

— After such a break, this is probably where we objectively are, — added the head of the FSSR.

If we compare the places with those in Cortina at the end of November, then the dynamics of the two athletes is positive. Matvey Perestoronin was 29th in Italy, and in Lake Placid he rose to 16th place, Pavel Repilov jumped from 25th to 17th place. And only Daria Olesik showed a result two positions lower in the USA: she moved from 19th to 21st. But it was Daria who scored the most points from the Russians in two stages.

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After their performance at the World Cup in Lake Placid, all three luge skiers scored the required number of qualifying points (26) to participate in the 2026 Olympics, Garth explained to TASS.

"If we sum up the points earned by our luge athletes in Lake Placid and at the test competitions in Italy at the end of November, then Daria Olesik now has 42 points, Pavel Repilov - 40, Matvey Perestoronin — 37," explained the head of the FSSR. — Nevertheless, it would be premature to announce that all these athletes have already solved the problem of selection for the Olympics before receiving notification from the International Luge Federation. We plan to send a corresponding request to the FIL.

Now there are two stages in the qualification calendar after the New Year: in Sigulda, Latvia (January 3-4) and Winterberg, Germany (January 10-11). We will not be able to go to the first one, as Natalia Garth informed SE.

— Latvia has very strict entry rules. You can't use a tourist visa. Therefore, it is not possible to participate due to the restrictions that are set in Latvia for Russians to visit the country. I hope we will perform in Winterberg. It's very hard to make a wish right now. We live in the moment. We are doing everything to get the guys to Winterberg," said the head of the FSSR.

To qualify for the Olympiad, you must take part in at least two qualification stages. Three of the Russians fulfilled this minimum. Now the main thing is that the International Federation does not invent "new and previously unknown facts" and does not deprive Olesik, Perestoronin and Repilov of neutral status, and with it the Olympic permit.