Athletes switch Russian citizenship for Olympic spots

More than three dozen Russian-born athletes have changed their sporting nationality and will compete for other countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Apr 24, 2026

Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin have been representing Georgia since 2023.
Source:
Getty Images / Sam Hodde — International Skating Union

In just a few days, the XXV Winter Olympic Games will begin in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo — the opening ceremony will take place on Friday, 6 February. Thirteen Russian athletes will compete in a neutral status. Even more athletes (38, according to calculations by Sport-Express) of Russian origin will represent other countries. MSK1.RU tells what is known about the athletes who changed citizenship for the Olympics.

Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin changed nationality in 2023.
Source:
Daria Isaeva / Sport-Express

Figure skating

After the switch, Sofia Samodelkina became champion of Kazakhstan (2024).
Source:
Fyodor Uspensky / Sport-Express

Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin have been representing the Georgian national team since 2023. The dance duo explained their change of sporting citizenship by a desire to compete on the international stage.

Daniil Eibog was not satisfied with his result at the 2022 Olympics.
Source:
daniileybog / Instagram (banned in Russia)

“By the end of autumn 2022, it became clear that the global situation was not improving and we would not see any accreditation for a long time. We started thinking about what to do next — while continuing to live in America and train at our own expense,” Smolkin told Sports.ru.

As part of the Russian team, the daughter of coach Eteri Tutberidze and the son of actor Boris Smolkin became silver medalists of the Russian Championship (2022), winners of the Warsaw Cup (2021), bronze medalists of the Russian Junior Championship (2020). At the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, they placed 14th in the rhythm dance.

As part of the Georgian team, they placed 6th at the European Championship (2026), fifth at the Grand Prix stage in Angers (2025), first at the Trialeti Trophy (2025) and the Denis Ten Memorial (2025).

Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin, like the pair of Karina Akopova and Nikita Rachmaninov, now representing Armenia, will be the flag bearers of the Olympics.

Sofia Samodelkina

Singles skater Sofia Samodelkina changed citizenship in 2023. In an interview with Okko, the athlete said that one of the reasons was a very difficult season. At first, her parents suggested changing her coach, and then — her country.

“I actually didn’t understand what to do next. I didn’t want anything at all — I just wanted to lie on the bed, play on my phone, read books, watch TV series. He says to me: what options are there? We will listen to everything. Change coach? No, I don’t want to change coach, I’m satisfied with everything. Do you want to compete for another country? At first I said, ‘No,’ — the position of a little child. Then I said, ‘What are the advantages?’ And they said: well, you will be able to compete at the international level,” Samodelkina recalled.

The choice fell on Kazakhstan, as Sofia’s mother is originally from there. The family began handling the paperwork, but by that time Sofia had been “kicked out” of Svetlana Sokolovskaya’s group. Then the skater began training with Evgeni Plushenko. Already having citizenship, she could not compete for Kazakhstan. The national team claimed that the Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FFKKR) had not released the athlete from its side, while the FFKKR said they had not even received such a request.

In the end, the accreditation was resubmitted, and in the summer of 2024, Samodelkina was officially accepted into the Kazakhstan national team. In 2024, she became champion of Kazakhstan, in 2025 — bronze medalist of the World University Games, silver medalist of the NHK Trophy Grand Prix.

In women’s singles, other former Russian athletes will also compete: Anastasia Gubanova (Georgia), Maria Senyuk (Israel), Ekaterina Kurakova (Poland), Anastasia Golubeva (Australia), Viktoria Safonova (Belarus).

In men’s singles, Vladimir Samoilov will compete under the flag of Poland, Vladimir Litvintsev under the flag of Azerbaijan.

Among athletes who changed citizenship in pairs skating are Nikita Volodin (with Minerva Hase) (Germany), Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia), Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (Hungary), Pavel Kovalev (with Camille Kovalev) (France), Daria Danilova (with Michel Tsiba) (Netherlands), Anastasia Golubeva (with Hector Moore) (Australia), Karina Akopova and Nikita Rachmaninov (Armenia).

In ice dance — Evgenia Lopareva (with Geoffrey Brissaud) (France), Asaf Kazimov (with Sofia Val) (Spain).

Short track

Short track skater from Tver, Daniil Eibog, received citizenship of Uzbekistan in 2025. In an interview with Tverisport, the athlete said that he could not realize himself at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing — then he did not make the semifinal in the 1500m distance. According to him, “the Olympic debut turned out to be quite chaotic and muddled.”

“I developed a huge desire, given the experience gained, to compete again at the Olympic Games and this time try to fight for a medal. But, as is known, due to the political situation, accreditation of Russian speed skaters and short track skaters for the 2026 Games in Italy was in question. Without serious motivation, it is quite difficult to maintain sports form at a high level,” he said.

Eibog moved together with Denis Airapetyan — initially the Russian Skating Union approved a two-year quarantine for them. But through negotiations, the term was shortened, and the athletes were able to begin international competitions.