Key Takeaways
- Russian luge athletes Roman Repilov and Daria Olesik have qualified for the Milan Cortina Olympics as neutral athletes.
- Germany and Austria qualified the maximum of 12 athlete spots and nine sleds for the Olympics.
- The Ukrainian Luge Federation has complained that the Russians should not have been given the chance to qualify for the Milan Cortina Olympics.
- The International Luge Federation has announced the 78 singles and doubles sleds that have qualified for the games.
- The USA Luge team has been nominated, with Summer Britcher, Emily Fischnaller, and Ashley Farquharson competing in women’s singles, and Jonny Gustafson and Matthew Greiner competing in men’s singles.
Introduction to the Situation
The International Luge Federation has confirmed that two Russian luge athletes, Roman Repilov and Daria Olesik, have qualified for the Milan Cortina Olympics. This decision has sparked controversy, as Ukrainian sliders have complained that the Russians should not have been given the chance to qualify for the games. The Russian athletes will compete as neutral athletes, as part of the sanctions against Russian federations in response to the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war.
Qualification and Sanctions
The International Luge Federation has announced the 78 singles and doubles sleds that have qualified for the games. Germany and Austria qualified the maximum of 12 athlete spots and nine sleds for the Olympics, while host Italy and the U.S. each had 11 athletes and eight sleds qualify. Ukraine and Latvia each had 10 sliders and seven sleds make the Olympic fields. The qualification process was based on a points system, with athletes earning points throughout the season. The top athletes in each discipline qualified for the Olympics, with some nations being allowed to send multiple athletes in each event.
Ukrainian Response
The Ukrainian Luge Federation has expressed its disappointment and frustration with the decision to allow Russian athletes to qualify for the Olympics. Ukrainian men’s luge athlete Anton Dukach has stated that the clearance process for Russian athletes was flawed, and that there is evidence that the Russian athletes are not neutral. The Ukrainian team has been vocal about their opposition to the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympics, citing the ongoing war and the impact it has had on their country.
USA Luge Team
The USA Luge team has been nominated, with Summer Britcher, Emily Fischnaller, and Ashley Farquharson competing in women’s singles, and Jonny Gustafson and Matthew Greiner competing in men’s singles. The team also includes Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa in men’s doubles, and Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby in women’s doubles. The USA Luge team has a strong lineup, with several experienced athletes competing in the Olympics.
Nation Breakdown
A total of 106 spots were awarded to luge athletes for the Olympics, with 66 of them going to sliders from Germany, Austria, the U.S., Italy, Ukraine, and Latvia. Romania has seven athletes competing, while Canada, China, and Poland each have six. Slovakia has five athletes competing, while Sweden and Russia each have two. Six nations – Argentina, Switzerland, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and the Czech Republic – each qualified one slider.
Returning Medalists
Several medalists from the 2022 Olympics will be returning to compete in the Milan Cortina Olympics. Men’s singles silver medalist Wolfgang Kindl of Austria has qualified, as has reigning bronze medalist Dominik Fischnaller of Italy. The three-time Olympic doubles champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany will also be competing, as will 2022 Olympic silver doubles medalist Toni Eggert of Germany and 2022 bronze medalist Thomas Steu of Austria. However, there will be new gold medalists in the singles races, as 2022 Olympic champions Johannes Ludwig and Natalie Geisenberger of Germany have retired.