Russian Speed Skaters Change Citizenship Amid Ongoing Suspension: A Wave of Defections to International Teams

Some fled to enemy countries.

Russian speed skaters have been suspended along with everyone else in 2022. The Federation (FFKR) challenged the ban in the Court of Sports (CAS), but was unsuccessful, and later they were forced to withdraw their application in the hope that the situation would change for the better without a legal battle. So far, there are no positive changes.

Some athletes, seeking better options to continue their careers and the opportunity to compete at international competitions, have changed their citizenship.

First high profile departure after all that happened – World Cup medalist, European short track champion Sofia Torup (Prosvirnova). True, this decision had nothing to do with removing the Russians. The truth is that Sophia married a stranger. In addition to changing to the Danish flag, Russia changed its specialty, becoming a speedboat.

“It’s simple, Sophia married Dane last year (Viktor Torup – Sport24) and got citizenship. Of course, this is a loss for our team. But I have no moral right to refuse it.

Before that, she wrote a letter of resignation. This decision is not political. We are now starting the process of approving the transfer so that Sophia can compete for Denmark,” he said. – said Nikolai GulyaevPresident of the Skating Union of Russia (SKR), “SE”.

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After Thorup, logical transitions began as a result of the international ban.

TFR hurt, but he agreed with Kazakhstan when the World Cup medalist and European champion left Elizaveta Golubeva and the champions of Russia Kristina Silaeva. The quarantine for skaters was 24 months. The countdown began on July 3, 2023.

Golubeva (“Match TV”): “This is a difficult decision, I have been going to it for a year, putting the idea in my head according to the plans – this is one more Olympics, and then I want to give birth to a child , to live a normal life. But these three years I wanted to give myself to the sport as much as possible.

But, now there is such uncertainty, and even before there were difficult conditions – they were not allowed to enter Pyeongchang. It was not clear how it would be before the Olympics in Beijing. This degree is not for making money, but just for the opportunity to do my job, to do it well, with high quality and without any restrictions.”

Silaeva (“Match TV”): “I’m just not ready to wait, the life of an athlete is short, I don’t know when the next international competitions will be, if I wait. You cannot lose the maximum of your career.

I knew I had to refuse, I was a little worried, but he didn’t seem to threaten me with anything terrible, I wasn’t bound by anything like that, I had nothing to lose. You can take a risk, and the return of citizenship is not such a problem.”

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In October 2024, the Investigative Committee reduced Silaeva’s quarantine until June of this year. The decision was made in connection with the athlete’s marriage. Golubeva was left there for two years.

For Silaeva and Golubeva, the Russian speed skating champion announced that he wanted to change citizenship Vladimir Semirunny. He decided to go to continue his career in Poland, but the federation was in no hurry to consider his request. Semirunniy was only released in 2024, after agreeing to a two-year quarantine from October 5, 2023.

“I’ve just started to thrive in adult sport. Now is the time to take the most important step in your development as an athlete, and international practice is required. I informed the Russian Skating Union that I wanted to change my sports citizenship and compete for the Polish national team…” – Match TV mentions the athlete.

Maxim Kiselev, TASS

The Uzbekistan national team has also added a talented athlete. The World and European Championship medalist moved there Danil Semerikov. The skater received a quarantine period of 24 months. The countdown will start from May 2024. It was then that Danil informed the Audit Committee of his decision.

“I didn’t expect anything at all. Two years – let’s see what the International Skating Union decides. There is nothing else to say here.” – said Semerikov to Match TV.

Not only Semerikov, but others have to wait two years before entering international competitions. Recently it became known that short distance skiers, European champions Denis Hayrapetyan and Daniel Ebbog they were allowed to move to Uzbekistan.

RIA Novosti

No idea was given about leaving athletes to TFR, but even at the beginning, when it all started, Gulyaev clearly explained his position.

– I do not at all support the fact that many athletes are now changing their sports citizenship. There are a lot of different opinions here. Let this rest on the conscience of the athletes. Everyone has their own truth, but I have a negative opinion about this.

Despite this, athletes continue to actively leave Russian speed skating and short track. It cannot be denied that this could have a significant impact on the level of competition at the domestic level. There is no need to talk about international yet. But the decisions of those who run away, despite the already lost chances of getting to the 2026 Olympics, are particularly surprising. Apparently, the issue is not only about the suspension of the federation, but also about the money with which athletes are attracted.