Russian star Veronika Stepanova: “Vladimir Putin is my president and my country is always right”

The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian skiers will not be permitted to participate in the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

Russian cross‑country skier Veronika Stepanova, a member of the gold‑medal relay team at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, responded in a message to SVT Sport. “It’s very simple: Vladimir Putin is my president, and my country is always right. If that’s the reason some dubious, nameless characters won’t let me compete internationally… then it’s a price I’m ready to pay,” she wrote. She also addressed FIS officials directly, alleging they are banning her and teammates for political beliefs and suggesting, sarcastically, that by the same logic they should suspend Israelis and Americans who support Donald Trump.

Karin Mattsson, Sweden’s representative on the FIS Council, rejected Stepanova’s framing. She argued there is a clear distinction compared to, for example, the war in Gaza, saying both Vladimir Putin and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko have used sport for political purposes. Mattsson said Stepanova’s own statements illustrate that point and explained that this is why Russia’s war is being handled in this way by international skiing.

The decision means Stepanova and other Russian and Belarusian skiers are barred from Olympic competition in Italy in 2026.