This has never happened before, and here it is again. The Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) has received an official letter from the ISU stating that the International Skating Union has allowed ONLY singles in women's and men's skating to participate in the qualifying tournament for the 2026 Olympic Games. And sports couples and dance duets are banned, because "they could not pass a thorough check." And an appeal is impossible.
And that's not all, because the ISU officially called on all "not indifferent" to provide information (KNOCK) about possible violations of the conditions of neutral status by Russians:
"During the process, public speeches and statements made by the proposed neutral athletes since February 2022 were carefully studied in order to assess any active support of SMO (wording changed at the request of the legislation of the Russian Federation) or any contractual ties with the Russian or Belarusian military and other national security agencies.
Despite the fact that applications have been submitted for participation in all disciplines available for participation of neutral athletes, not all proposed athletes have been carefully selected. Moreover, the athletes to replace them were also found unsuitable, since replacement is allowed only in case of injury, and not in case of disqualification. Therefore, there are some disciplines in which neutral skaters will not be admitted.
The final list of skaters selected for neutral status was approved by the ISU Council. However, if any new evidence comes to light confirming a violation of the selection criteria by a particular skater, the list of approved neutral athletes published today may be changed. Anyone with relevant information can send a confidential message to the ISU by e-mail."
For understanding: ISU did not bother with the wording once again and simply reported: sports and dance couples from Russia in a depressing neutral status will not be allowed to the Olympic qualifying tournament. Whatever surnames are there. Well, that's what they wanted. Skaters who are ready to perform without a flag, anthem and coat of arms, or a number on their hand, could have been forced to cut their hair.
There is boundless scope for fantasies here, while Russian officials are hinting at breakthrough Istanbul decisions and the mercy of Trump, who recently learned that the Russian national ice hockey team was not allowed to Olympics-2026.
Well, now, actually, the speeches of those who are sick at heart for Russian figure skating. Honored Figure Skating Coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova:
"Such a refusal to our duets and couples means that we will not be allowed to win. I don't want to live after such decisions. In general, I can't get back on my feet from the ISU decision. I didn't expect this. And what, now we have to say thank you to ISU for this? The creatures hate our country. They didn't let us in pair skating. For 33 years in a row, we were the first in pair skating and determined all the directions of pair skating development in the world.
I have always said that we should go, but in the current case, when we do not have the opportunity to send couples, duets and their coaches…In such a situation, I say that I personally would not participate 100%. I can't put pressure on anyone's opinion, but this is my opinion, because no one will be allowed to win," said Honored USSR figure Skating Coach Tatyana Tarasova.
Tatyana Anatolyevna, be careful with the wording, such as: "personally, I would not participate 100%," speak up, otherwise the conscience of Russian sports and adviser to the relevant minister Dmitry Guberniev and You will begin to "pinch", like the great skier of our time Elena Vyalbe.
Uncompromising Olympic champion and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova:
"ISU is afraid of competition because Russian figure skaters are very strong both in ice dancing and in sports pairs. Our athletes, if they were allowed in, would have bypassed Canadian and American pairs, everything is obvious. Our federation submitted the same list, in which there were spare pairs too. If there were claims to only one pair, it's still understandable. And here they didn't allow any, that's amazing and looks very strange. It looks very much like a conspiracy to make the Russians win fewer medals.
They couldn't keep everyone out, so only singles were allowed. And so, if we were represented in all four sports, then the starving Russian figure skaters could win four medals. By removing our dance and sports pairs, ISU does not allow Russia to participate in team competitions in this way, even if we are allowed to participate in this type of competition. We simply won't have any athletes to show up for the team tournament, because there will only be singles."
World and European champion, director, producer, director and choreographer Ilya Averbukh:
"I am shocked by the non-admission of our couples to the Olympic selection. I even started to double-check this information, looking for the original source. Absolutely shocked: endless resentment to the point of a lump in the throat and beyond Stepanov and Bukin, who have passed and are passing such a difficult road, and for Mishin and Gallyamov, who are real contenders for Olympic gold. Of course, I'm glad for the guys who got admission, but I think it's all the height of infernal injustice, peremptory and lack of argumentation. Just a refusal, without arguments. Why not? How? This causes a feeling of "how much you can clench your teeth."
Is it worth going to the selection after such a decision? This is the federation's decision. But nowadays everything is changing so fast, there are so many events, so now we can only state emotions, which is really a shame for the guys. And then we will look, a lot of things can happen. But the first emotion is a shame to the point of tears."
And so on and so forth. Teeth, tears, to go or not to go, hungry, neutral, lump in the throat, shock and awe. Strange people. I don't understand them, because everything has already become stale and stale for me back in 2016, when I went to the 2016 Olympics in Rio did not let the legendary high jumper, the brilliant athlete Maria Lasitskene. And the past nine years of snot and hand-wringing, humiliation, abuse have only confirmed the truism: consonants They beat EVERYTHING and don't take it seriously.
And another quote from Tatyana Tarasova on the decision of the International Skating Union to ban Russian athletes from giving interviews to the media, visiting the mixed zone and participating in press conferences during the qualifying starts for the 2026 Olympics:
"This is something new. It's a shame! Our athletes and coaches raised pair skating to unattainable heights, and they were forbidden to talk. I am shocked and disappointed by the people who make such decisions."
Tatyana Anatolyevna, this is not "something new." For such a bestial option worked in relation to swimmers from Russia, who competed at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest. There, after the award ceremony, the champions and prize-winners gave numerous interviews, and the Russian medalists were simply shown and they only had the right to wave a pen, smiling a little.
But our managers assured us that the main thing was medals, and they recognized our people there even without interviews and flags! And how not to find out if there are only Russians without interviews and flags?
And here's another moment. Olympic short track champion Ruslan Zakharov, when asked if he understands those athletes who refused to perform in a neutral status, answered:
"Yes, it's their choice. I follow all the news, I don't know the names of outstanding swimmers well, but it seems they are now, how is it? They change their shoes. Changing shoes on the fly, right? What else can you call it? Change swimming trunks without leaving the water? I see, it seems, many of them regret that they did not go to last year's Olympic Games and refused this status. Of course, there are undercurrents everywhere, we don't know much. But for me, as a sports fan, it's sometimes funny to look at it."
And finally, it's not me who will say it, but the voice of Russian biathlon Dmitry Guberniev himself.:
"The ISU's decision is half-hearted. But the main meeting of the ISU, IBU and other federations will be held in Istanbul. When Erdogan, the chairman of many sports federations, will hold an important meeting, the fate of sports will be decided there in many ways."
It's a strange thing. It turns out that in addition to Rejdep Tayipovich, there is no one else to help the skaters from Russia?!