Three figure skaters, including a potential Olympic gold medalist, have been given the green light by the International Olympic Committee to participate as neutrals at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Among them is 18-year-old Adeliia Petrosian, who demonstrated her podium potential by winning an Olympic qualifying event in Beijing last September. Petr Gumennik, the Russian singles champion, claimed victory in the men’s event in Beijing two months ago, with Viktoriia Safonova of Belarus finishing fourth behind Petrosian. All three skaters have been granted neutral status by the IOC.
This approval follows the Beijing qualifying event, marking the first time Russian athletes were permitted to compete in an International Skating Union figure skating event since the onset of the full military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, occurring just four days after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics. The IOC is meticulously vetting Russian and Belarusian athletes for neutral status, a process previously undertaken before the 2024 Paris Summer Games.
To qualify for neutral participation, athletes must demonstrate no active support for the invasion of Ukraine and must not have affiliations with Russian or Belarusian military and state security entities. Additionally, the figure skaters must acknowledge their individual invitations and commit to upholding the Olympic Charter, as outlined by the IOC. Notably, Petrosian is the latest standout skater trained by coach Eteri Tutberidze, a polarizing figure during the Beijing Olympics.
