Cross-country skier Savelii Korostelyov wants to compete under a neutral flag: “I have at least three Olympics ahead of me”

SVT Sport interviews Russia’s cross-country skiing prospect Savelii Korostelyov, who is described as a potential successor to Aleksandr Bolshunov. He says he wants to be allowed to compete under neutral status at the Olympic Games and remains motivated because he believes he has at least three Olympics ahead of him.

Following the International Ski Federation’s decision to continue the suspension of Russian participants, Russia’s ski federation has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In its appeal, the federation listed six athletes it claims meet the criteria to compete at the Olympics as neutrals. Only one is a cross-country skier: Savelii Korostelyov. The other athletes named are from freeski, snowboard, Nordic combined, alpine skiing, and ski jumping.

Korostelyov judges the chances of Russian representation at the 2026 Olympics in Italy as very small, calling it a “miracle” if it happens. He says the October FIS decision came as a shock and left him feeling completely empty at first.

The last time Korostelyov competed internationally was just as Russia invaded Ukraine, when he won gold in the 10 km classic and in the relay at the Junior World Championships in Norway. Since then, the Russian national team has trained and raced domestically for nearly four years. Korostelyov and a few others have chased sponsors at home to be able to train in Europe, which he has done since last summer.

Asked about long-term development without international competition, he says it is hard to judge because each year they expect to be allowed back, and they continue to prepare with the next Olympics or World Championships as their plan.

On political questions and criticism that Russian athletes have not distanced themselves from the war, Korostelyov declines to comment, saying sport has become political and he wishes politics and sport could be separate.

The Russian federation’s CAS list names: Savelii Korostelyov (cross-country), Lana Prusakova (freeski), Maria Travinicheva (snowboard), Artyom Galunin (Nordic combined), Ekaterina Tkachenko (alpine), and Daniil Sadreev (ski jumping). It also appeals on behalf of six Para athletes seeking Paralympic qualification.