Petr Gumennik and Adeliia Petrosian can compete as neutral athletes under sanctions Moscow denounces as politicized
Russian figure skaters Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik have won the qualifiers for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games after standout performances in China on Sunday. Both are set to compete as neutral athletes in next year’s Games in Italy due to ongoing Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia.
Gumennik racked up 262.82 points to capture the men’s singles title at the ISU Olympic qualifier in Beijing, cruising to victory by a commanding 34-point margin. He swept both the short program and free skate with a string of clean quadruple jumps and top-level spins and step sequences.
His win came a day after fellow Russian Adeliia Petrosian, praised for her graceful jumps and expressive style, captured the women’s title with 209.63 points, with a Michael Jackson-themed short program and Argentine tango-style free skate.
The wins do not guarantee Olympic participation, however, as Petrosian and Gumennik are awaiting a decision from a special International Olympic Committee (IOC) commission. In a September 19 press release, the IOC said the body will verify whether the athletes comply with sanctions on Russia, which require them and their staff not to support Russia’s military operation against Ukraine, have no ties to Russian military or security agencies, and meet all anti-doping standards.
Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from numerous international competitions, including the Olympics, with Western-led organizers citing “solidarity with Ukraine.” While the IOC later allowed some athletes to compete as individuals under neutral flags – including at the 2024 Paris Games – national teams remain barred.
Moscow has condemned the bans, accusing Western nations of pressuring sports federations to exclude Russian athletes for political reasons.
Russian pair skaters and ice dancers have been banned from this year’s Olympic qualifiers. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will run from February 6 to 22.
