“I just hope that they’re really proud of me,” proclaimed Kyrlo Marsak after his short program at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. As Ukraine’s only men’s singles skater at the 2026 Games, he was competing not only for a result but for a home he cannot return to, a father serving on the frontlines, and a family scattered across borders due to the ongoing war against Russia.
In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine shortly after the 2022 Beijing Olympics concluded. In response to the attack, the International Skating Union (ISU) banned Russian skaters from international competition. However, the 2022 ban was recently lifted, allowing Russian figure skaters to return to international competitions as “Individual Neutral Athletes” (AIN). According to the ISU, a neutral athlete is “an eligible competitor holding a Russian or Belarusian passport who is cleared to compete in ISU events without representing their nation, following strict screening protocols.” The ISU has not provided any additional details about what the screening protocol includes, and has not publicly set any criteria that these neutral athletes must meet.
This ruling has upset many figure skating viewers and raised questions. When questioned by fans, the ISU firmly stated that they condemn all conflict around the world. However, their decision to allow Russians to return to competition as the Ukraine war still rages on contradicts their anti-war position. In addition, many wonder whether the ban should be lifted while the invasion is still ongoing, and whether athletes can be truly “neutral” if their sport is funded by their state. Russian skaters should not be allowed to return to international competition while the war with Ukraine is ongoing. Athletes cannot maintain a true neutral status concerning the war in Ukraine when their sport is funded by the pro-war government.
The banning of athletes from international competitions, specifically the Olympics, is not a new practice. After World War I, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned the Central Powers from competing in the 1920 Antwerp Games. Following World War II, the IOC banned Japan and Germany due to their roles in the conflict. In each of these situations, these respective nations’ bans lasted until the wars were over. In the case of Russia, its ban was lifted after four years, even though the conflict is still ongoing.
When asked about the ban, the ISU stated that it was “exclusively in the interests of the safety of participants and the integrity of the competition,” which conflicted with the IOC’s stated reason for the ban: the war. While ensuring athlete safety is important, the ISU’s priorities are clearly misaligned, especially in comparison to other global actors. Unlike in Russia’s situation, in all of these historical conflicts, peace between countries was expected before athletes could return to competition.
Even before the start of the war, Russia’s skaters faced scrutiny from the international skating community on their return to competition, raising questions about the efficacy of these kinds of bans. Right before the start of the Ukraine war and during the 2022 Olympics, Russia competed as the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) due to the country’s ban from official international sporting events as a result of a state-sponsored drug enhancement program. While the team’s name was different, the athletes, their practices, and the fans remained the same. Those similarities — among the athletes, their practices, and the fans — have significant implications for Russia’s disciplinary actions in light of the war in Ukraine.
When the invasion of Ukraine began, the damage was widespread and horrific. The effects proliferated far beyond the thousands killed in attacks and injured in combat, to other aspects of Ukrainian life and culture, including figure skating. Five ice rinks where Ukrainian skaters train have been destroyed, and professional skater and youth Olympian Dmytro Shapar was one of many Ukrainian athletes killed in combat. Ukrainian national bronze medalist Kyrylo Marsak recounts hearing bombs every day for three weeks in his home in Kyiv before he was able to evacuate to Poland. At the time, he was unable to train for weeks, which was extremely detrimental to his conditioning for upcoming competitions. When he was able to attend competitions, he spoke out about being harassed by Russian fans and his belongings being stolen.
In Russia, figure skating is an inherently political sport. The Russian government pours money into its figure skating training camps to bring glory to the country. Unlike in the United States and most other prominent skating countries, Russian skating is state-funded. In the U.S., figure skating is considered a “pay-to-play” sport; skaters have to pay for their own training until they are famous enough to earn sponsorships. The government does not sponsor their training. In contrast, Russian skaters’ careers are fully funded by the government, and political figures are often seen interacting with the sport.
On a global scale, some fans believe that the same ban should apply to Team USA skaters because of the war in Iran. However, according to the ISU’s criteria, they would actually be the correct demographic to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes.” Provided that they haven’t served in the U.S. military or shown support for the war in Iran, they perfectly meet the ISU neutrality criteria. Additionally, because their training isn’t state-funded and the U.S. government has no control over the sport, their case is very simple. U.S. Figure Skating is also a politically neutral organization that operates independently as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and national governing body. Most of its revenue comes from donations, fundraisers, and individual fees from athletes and coaches. All in all, the U.S. is a correct example of when neutrality should be used.
In a sport that prides itself on inclusion and equity, it is disappointing to see the ISU allow athletes to compete from a federation that is funded by a government that kills innocent Ukrainian citizens. This federation does not deserve a platform on the world stage. While competing as AINs can change the flag, it does not change the governing body supporting the skaters. As seen at the 2022 Olympics, changing a country’s name doesn’t alter the system or the people who support it.
The country directly affected by the war, Ukraine, has also come out strongly opposing the unbanning. In a joint statement, the Ukrainian and Lithuanian Figure Skating Federations explicitly criticized the ISU’s move. They argued that allowing Russian competitors back, even without a flag, ignores the fact that the Russian skating federation continues to support the “aggressor state” without any public remorse or change in behavior.
The sport that many fans fell in love with is one that celebrates collaboration, supports all nationalities, and above all is welcoming. An environment should not be created where skaters can see representatives of a country that is killing their friends and families. Figure skating is a sport that celebrates uniqueness and joy, and allowing Russian skaters to return would be the opposite of that.
At the 2024 European figure skating championships, a Ukrainian skater, Ivan Shmuratko, performed in a blood-stained shirt to symbolize the lives lost to Russian warfare, saying, “What meaning did I put in it? The astral, between life and death. No more, no less. You can convey much more than words. Why this element with blood? Because that’s how it is, literally. People die from missiles just like that, with blood.” While the war in Ukraine is ongoing and the blood of innocent Ukrainians is on Russia’s hands, no athlete from their country should have the privilege of competing on the world stage.
