Petrosyan, Gumennik, Korostelev: 13 Russian Athletes to Compete in Milan-Cortina 2026
Thirteen athletes from Russia will compete at the 2026 Olympics, which begin on 6 February in Italy. The Center for Sports Training of Russian National Teams (CSP) has published a list of athletes with neutral status in seven disciplines. MSK1.RU reports what is known about them.
The 2026 Olympics will be held in two Italian cities—Milan and Cortina d«Ampezzo—from 6 to 22 February.
Figure Skating
Adelia Petrosyan
Moscow figure skater Adelia Petrosyan is 18 years old. Since 2019, she has been training at the renowned school of Eteri Tutberidze. Adelia made her international debut in the 2021/2022 season. At the third stage of the Junior Grand Prix in Košice, she placed third, and at the fifth stage in Ljubljana—first.
Petrosyan became the first athlete in history to perform two clean quadruple Rittbergers in one program at a competition. This happened at the fifth stage of the Russian Cup, where the skater placed second.
In the 2024/2025 season, Adelia Petrosyan established herself as the undisputed leader, despite a groin injury sustained just before the Olympic selection. In September, the 18-year-old skater won the Olympic qualification tournament and secured a spot in Milan.
In 2025, Adelia Petrosyan ranked 4th in the Forbes rating of athletes with the highest prize money. At the end of the season, she earned 5.8 million rubles (approximately $64,400 at current rates), which is 450,000 rubles less than the previous year.
Adelia Petrosyan will perform her short program in women«s singles skating on Tuesday, 17 February (starting at 20:45 Moscow time). Her free skate—on Thursday, 19 February (starting at 21:00 Moscow time).
Pyotr Gumennik
23-year-old Pyotr Gumennik was born in St. Petersburg to father Oleg Leonidovich, a priest, and mother Elena Valeryevna, a pediatric neurologist. He started figure skating at age four under the guidance of Tatiana Yurysheva. At six, his parents took him to a tryout with Elena Buyanova (who trained Adeline Sotnikova, Denis Ten) at the CSKA academy in Moscow. Buyanova was ready to take the promising boy into her group, but the family was not prepared to move to the capital.
In his hometown, Gumennik joined the school of Alexei Mishin (coach of Evgeni Plushenko, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva), but later moved to the club of Tamara Moskvina (coach of the pair Anastasia Mishina—Alexander Galliamov) and began training under Victoria Dayneko.
Pyotr Gumennik«s achievements include silver at the Junior Grand Prix Final (2018/2019), bronze at the World Junior Championships (2020), a medal at the Rostelecom Grand Prix stage (2020), victory at the Russian Grand Prix Final (2023), and victory at the Russian Grand Prix Final (2025), as noted by our colleagues from »Fontanka.ru«.
Pyotr Gumennik studies software engineering at ITMO University. He is interested in bioinformatics and dreams of working in the field of developing drugs for genetic diseases.
In spring 2025, the publication «Sport-Express» wrote that a romance had blossomed between Pyotr Gumennik and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva—the athletes were spotted together at training camps in the USA. But Mishin«s pupil denied the rumors in her Telegram channel.
«Friends, information has appeared in the press that I am having a romance. Don«t rush to believe unconfirmed rumors. If I have important personal news, you will hear it firsthand. Thank you for your respect and support!» she explained.
Pyotr Gumennik will perform his short program on Tuesday, 10 February (starting at 20:30 Moscow time). His free skate—on Friday, 13 February (starting at 21:00).
Short Track Speed Skating
Alena Krylova
Short track speed skater Alena Krylova is 23 years old, born in Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast, to a family of athletes. In the 2022/2023 season, she won the mixed relay at the second stage of the Russian Cup in St. Petersburg and the 500-meter distance at the final stage in Rybinsk.
In the 2023/2024 season, Alena Krylova won five gold medals at Russian Cup stages, became Russian champion in the 500-meter and 1000-meter distances and relays, and won the Spartakiad of the Strongest.
Alena Krylova will compete in the 500-meter and 1000-meter distances on Tuesday, 10 February, and Thursday, 12 February.
Ivan Posashkov
21-year-old Ivan Posashkov was born in St. Petersburg. In an interview with «KP-Petersburg,» his father said that his son started skating in kindergarten. He often played hockey with neighborhood boys, and he got into short track by chance. During one game, a speed skating coach, Lyudmila Zhuravleva, was passing by the rink and noticed young Ivan Posashkov.
«Lyudmila Filippovna saw potential in him and offered to take Vanya to the section. My son first put on long speed skating skates around age 10, when he was still in elementary school. He trained for about a year near the «Zenit» base. It was useful experience: both physical education and character building,» the interlocutor said.
Posashkov«s debut in adult short track came in the 2022/2023 season. At the Russian Cup stage in Kolomna, he placed second in the 5000-meter relay, third in the 1000-meter race, and first in the 5000-meter relay at the stage in Ufa.
At the Olympics, Ivan Posashkov will compete in the 1000-meter and 1500-meter distances on 12 and 14 February.
Cross-Country Skiing
Darya Nepryayeva
Darya Nepryayeva is 23 years old, born in Tver. Her parents, Mikhail Nepryayev and Irina Krupycheva, were the strongest skiers in the country in the 1990s and were part of the national team. Darya«s older sister, 29-year-old Natalia Nepryayeva (now Terentyeva)—is a three-time Olympic medalist in PyeongChang and Beijing in cross-country skiing. Her younger brother, 12-year-old Dima, competes for the Tver regional team.
Darya was put on skis at an early age. Her first steps in sports were under the guidance of her mother Irina and honored coach of Russia Alexander Smirnov. In Tver, Darya trained at the Olympic reserve school No. 1. Initially, she competed for her home region, and later began representing Tatarstan.
At 15, she participated in the Central Federal District championship among junior men and women. In the freestyle sprint, the younger Nepryayeva placed 17th, ahead of 37 competitors.
In March 2020, at the final of the X Winter Spartakiad in Krasnoyarsk, she took third place. The younger Nepryayeva ended the season as the leader in the All-Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation rating among girls aged 17–18.
In the 2022/2023 season, Darya was to face her older sister at competitions, who, as she admitted, was always her main rival. By that time, Natalia already had two Olympics and the status of team leader. In her first adult season, the younger Nepryayeva did not show outstanding success, which she later reproached herself for. At that time, the head of the Cross-Country Skiing Federation, Elena Vyalbe, helped her cope with her emotions.
In December 2025, Darya Nepryayeva was one of the first to receive neutral status and entered international competitions. At the qualification tournament held in Davos, Switzerland, Darya met the qualification standard in the freestyle sprint. And although the athlete placed only 39th in the standings, her result was enough to gain admission to the Olympic Games.
At the Olympics, Darya Nepryayeva is entered in four disciplines: skiathlon, classic sprint, 10 km freestyle, and classic marathon on 7, 10, 12, and 22 February.
Savely Korostelev
Savely Korostelev is 22 years old. He was born in Perm into a famous sports dynasty. His mother, cross-country skier Natalia Korosteleva, is a bronze medalist at the 2010 Olympics in the team sprint. His father, skier and biathlete Pavel Korostelev, participated in the 2006 Turin Olympics in the men«s sprint.
Savely Korostelev—is a two-time junior world champion (2022), two-time Russian champion (2024, 2025), three-time silver medalist at the Russian Championships (2025), winner and medalist at Russian Cup stages, and a two-time winner of the Russian Youth Spartakiad.
In autumn 2025, Savely Korostelev publicly criticized famous skier Alexander Bolshunov. At the first stage of the Russian Cup in Kirovsk, Bolshunov fell, and after finishing, he approached rival Alexander Bakurov from behind and hit him in the back. Bakurov was injured, and Bolshunov was disqualified. Korostelev was one of the first to react to the incident—in his Telegram channel, he published footage of what happened with the caption: «And this is the pride of the country?»
In December 2025, Korostelev defeated Bolshunov in the 20 km classic mass start at the second stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing.
In May 2025, Savely Korostelev was included in the long list of Forbes« annual »30 Under 30« rating. The skier was noted in the »Sports and Esports« category.
At the Olympics, Korostelev will compete in four disciplines: skiathlon, classic sprint, 10 km freestyle, and classic marathon on 8, 10, 13, and 21 February.
Speed Skating
Ksenia Korzhova
Ksenia Korzhova is 20 years old. She was born in the Murmansk Oblast, in the city of Olenegorsk. She has a twin sister, Victoria—who did figure skating as a child. Her parents decided to send seven-year-old Ksenia to the same section, but the girl lasted only a few days there, and later her grandmother took her to a speed skating section.
In 2022, at the Junior World Cup stage in Inzell, Germany, she won bronze in the 3000 meters. At the World Championships, she placed second in the team pursuit. In 2023, Ksenia began having problems with excess weight, which made her even consider ending her career. But by autumn 2024, the difficulties subsided and Ksenia returned to form. At the second stage of the Russian Cup, she won two silver medals—in the 3000 meters and the mass start. At the Russian Championships, she placed first in the 3000 and 5000 meters and second—in the 1500 meters.
At the Olympics, Ksenia will compete in the 3000 meters on 7 February.
Anastasia Semyonova
Anastasia Semyonova is 21 years old, born in Kolomna, Moscow Oblast. She began her sports career with ballroom dancing but later switched to speed skating.
In 2022, she became the winner of the Russian-Chinese Youth Winter Games in the 500, 1000, and 1500 meters and in the team race, becoming the most decorated athlete of the Games. In 2024, she became champion of the All-Russian Universiade, and in 2025—Russian champion in the team race. She took silver in the 1000 meters and bronze in the 1500 meters.
In 2026, based on the results of four World Cup stages in Hamar, Anastasia Semyonova scored 91 points and placed 21st in the ISU ranking in the mass start discipline.
Anastasia Semyonova studies at Tambov State University named after Derzhavin in the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports.
At the Olympics, Anastasia will compete in the women«s mass start on 22 February.
Ski Mountaineering
Nikita Filippov
Nikita Filippov is 23 years old. His hometown is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Since childhood, he has been trained by his father, Alexei Viktorovich. From age 8, he did mountaineering, but at 15 decided to focus only on ski mountaineering, specifically on short trails and vertical races.
Nikita Filippov—is a three-time Russian champion in ski mountaineering and skyrunning, winner of the All-Russian Spartakiad in the sprint (2024) and bronze medalist in the relay, and bronze medalist at the U23 World Championships (2025). Based on World Cup stages, he became the first Russian athlete to receive a quota for the Olympics.
Filippov will compete in the men«s sprint on 19 February.
Luge
Darya Olesik
Darya Olesik is 21 years old, born in Bratsk, Irkutsk Oblast. As she grew up, she moved to Dmitrov, Moscow Oblast. In competitions, she now represents the Moscow Oblast.
She has been in the Russian junior national team since 2018. She became a bronze medalist at the Russian Junior Championships in women«s singles, took first place in the »Youth Cup,« and won the Open Championship of Irkutsk Oblast in luge.
Bronze medalist at the Russian Championships in 2022 and 2023, champion in 2024 in the sprint, and vice-champion in 2025.
The girl prefers active recreation with friends and loves spending time with family, enjoys cooking and reading Stephen King books. She has a white blue-eyed cat named Tigra and a parrot named Graf. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a dentist, wrote our colleagues from «IrCity.»
At the Olympic Games, Darya Olesik will compete in women«s singles on 9 and 10 February.
Pavel Repilov
Pavel Repilov is 23 years old. He was born in Dmitrov, Moscow Oblast. His brother—is three-time world luge champion Roman Repilov.
Pavel Repilov—is Russian champion in luge in singles and sprint (2022), Russian champion in luge relay, silver medalist in the singles sprint (2023), silver medalist at the Russian Cup in the relay (2023), and bronze medalist at the «Cup of Cups» in the individual singles race (2025).
At the Olympics, he will compete in men«s singles on 7 and 8 February.
Alpine Skiing
Semyon Yefimov
Semyon Yefimov is 29 years old. He was born in the village of Shukolovo, Moscow Oblast. His achievements include victories at FIS races in the slalom discipline (2026), victory at the Universiade (2019), the Russian Cup (2016), and bronze at the World Junior Championships (2017).
Semyon Yefimov is married to alpine skier Valentina Golenkova, and the couple has a daughter. The athlete will compete in the men«s slalom on 16 February.
Yulia Pleshkova
Yulia Pleshkova is 28 years old. She was born in the city of Yelizovo, Kamchatka Krai. She is the only one of the 13 listed athletes who has already participated in the Olympics. At the 2022 Beijing Games, she placed tenth in the combined event and 20th in the downhill.
Yulia Pleshkova also has success at European Cup stages (2021), Russian championship titles, two bronzes at the Universiade (2017, 2019), and victory at the Spartakiad (2024).
Yulia Pleshkova will compete in the downhill and super-G on 8 and 12 February.
Earlier we reported everything known about the 2026 Winter Olympics.
