Russian Daria Olesik competes at luge World Cup in New York as neutral athlete
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Independent neutral athlete Daria Olesik takes her start in the women's luge singles run 1 at Mt Van Hoevenberg on Dec 19, 2025 in Lake Placid, New York.
PHOTO: IMAGN IMAGES
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Daria Olesik became the first Russian luger to take part in a World Cup event in nearly four years on Dec 19, when she competed as a neutral athlete in the women’s singles competition near Lake Placid, New York.
Going second in snowy conditions, she struggled to grip her luge at the start and lost speed when she was forced into a long skid early in her run.
She finished 0.728 of a second behind leader Emily Fischnaller of the United States and outside the top 20, making her ineligible for a second run.
It marked the first time a Russian luger has taken part in a World Cup race since September 2022, when the International Luge Federation (FIL) banned Russian athletes following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine that February.
Though the ban was extended in June, a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling in October paved the way for their return as neutrals.
Olesik was one of three athletes from Russia who were expected to slide at the competition, which runs on Dec 19 and 20, as athletes look to earn ranking points that could get them into the February 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
With only three of the five qualifying events remaining, the chances of any of the athletes from Russia earning a berth at the Games remains unlikely.
Last week, Ukraine's top luger Anton Dukach objected to the return of Russian athletes, saying “they are not neutral, they support the war”.
Two Ukrainian athletes – Olena Smaha and Yulianna Tunytska – also competed on Dec 19 but neither qualified for a second run.
In the other sliding events – bobsleigh and skeleton – nine Russians have been deemed eligible
A separate ruling by CAS has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate
