Russian Oleski participates in the New York Luge World Cup

Daria Olesik made history on Friday by becoming the first Russian luger to participate in a World Cup event in almost four years, competing as a neutral athlete in the women’s singles competition near Lake Placid, New York.

In snowy conditions, Olesik faced challenges going second, struggling to maintain grip on her luge at the start and losing speed due to a long skid early in her run.

She finished 0.728 behind leader Emily Fischnaller of the United States and placed outside the top 20, which made her ineligible for a second run.

This was the first occasion a Russian luger participated in a World Cup race since January 2022, when the International Luge Federation (FIL) imposed a ban on Russian athletes due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Despite the ban being extended in June, a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in October cleared the path for their return as neutrals.

Olesik was among three athletes from Russia anticipated to compete in the event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, as competitors aim to secure ranking points that may qualify them for the Winter Olympics in Italy this February.

With just three of the five qualifying events left, the likelihood of any athletes from Russia securing a spot at the Games appears slim.

Recently, Ukraine’s leading luger Anton Dukach expressed his disapproval of the return of Russian athletes, stating, “they are not neutral, they support the war”.

On Friday, two Ukrainian athletes, Olena Smaha and Yulianna Tunytska, participated in the competition; however, neither advanced to the second run.

In the other sliding events – bobsleigh and skeleton – nine Russians have been found eligible to compete as neutrals; however, none are participating in this weekend’s races in Latvia.

A distinct decision by CAS has permitted athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in qualification events organized by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, provided they satisfy the IOC’s requirements for individual neutral athletes.