Russian Alpine Skiers and Lugers Invited to 2026 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee has sent invitations to four Russian athletes to compete at the Winter Games in Italy under a neutral status. The list includes alpine skiers Yulia Pleshkova and Semyon Yefimov, as well as lugers Pavel Repilov and Darya Olesik.

Feb 20, 2026

On January 27, the International Olympic Committee published on its website invitations for four Russian athletes who may compete at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Italy as neutral participants.

To participate in the Games, the athletes must accept the invitations, successfully pass the qualification selection, and also receive approval from the IOC AINERP commission, which assesses compliance with the criteria for neutral status.

Previously, the IOC also sent invitations to other Russian athletes. Among them:

figure skaters Adelia Petrosyan and Pyotr Gumennik;
skiers Darya Nepryayeva and Savely Korostelev;
speed skaters Ksenia Korzhova and Anastasia Semyonova;
ski mountaineer Nikita Filippov;
short track speed skaters Ivan Posashkov and Alena Krylova.

Alpine skier Yulia Pleshkova is 28 years old. She won bronze at the 2017 and 2019 Universiades (World University Games), and at the Beijing Olympics she placed tenth in the combined event. Semyon Yefimov is 29 years old; he became champion at the 2019 Universiade, a medalist at the 2017 Universiade, and at the 2021 World Championships he finished 16th in slalom.

Darya Olesik is 21 years old; in 2024 she won the Russian Championship. Pavel Repilov is 24 years old, he has become national champion three times and won at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games.

As previously noted by Russian Sports Minister and Olympic Committee President Mikhail Degtyaryov, no more than 13 Russian athletes will be able to compete in Italy. The Winter Olympic Games will take place in Milan and Cortina d«Ampezzo from February 6 to 22, 2026.