Russia Competes at 2026 Winter Olympics—But Not as a Nation
Russia is competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, but not in the way you might expect. Although the country remains banned from competing as a national delegation, 20 individual athletes from Russia and Belarus are participating under a neutral banner known as AIN, short for the French term “Athlètes Individuels Neutres” (Individual Neutral Athletes).
The question “is Russia in the winter Olympics” has a complicated answer: Russian and Belarusian athletes are present, but they cannot represent their nations or wear their flags.
Why Russia Is Banned
The International Olympic Committee suspended Russia’s Olympic participation in October 2023 following the nation’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This ban extends to the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the second consecutive Games where Russia competes under restrictions.
In May 2025, the IOC formally prohibited Russia and Belarus from competing as national delegations. The decision cited concerns about protecting the integrity of global sports competitions and ensuring participant safety.
Russia faces additional scrutiny due to decades of doping violations. The country previously competed as ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Games under sanctions from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
How Individual Neutral Athletes Compete
The AIN system allows vetted individual athletes to compete internationally without representing their countries. When asking “is Russia in the Olympics 2026,” the nuanced answer centers on this individual athlete framework.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus seeking AIN eligibility must meet strict criteria:
- Cannot openly support the war in Ukraine
- Cannot be contracted by Russian or Belarusian military or security agencies
- Must satisfy all anti-doping requirements
A three-member review panel, including former NBA star Pau Gasol, evaluated each applicant. Of those who applied, 20 athletes qualified: 13 Russian athletes (six men, seven women) and seven Belarusian women.
Restrictions on AIN Athletes
Individual Neutral Athletes compete under significant constraints. They march under a teal-colored AIN flag during competition but are excluded from the Opening Ceremony’s traditional Parade of Nations. Their flag features no official anthem—the ceremony uses only instrumental music.
Any medals won by AIN athletes are excluded from the official medal count, which tallies results across only 92 nations competing in 16 sports. This represents a substantial reduction from typical Olympic medal standings.
In figure skating specifically, Russian and Belarusian athletes are limited to one male and one female quota spot and cannot compete in team events, following International Skating Union rules.
Notable AIN Competitors
The most prominent AIN competitor is Belarusian freestyle skier Hanna Huskova, 33, a gold medalist from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games and silver medalist from the 2022 Beijing Games. Huskova specializes in aerials and represents one of the most accomplished athletes competing under the neutral banner.
AIN athletes compete across eight sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, luge, short-track speed skating, ski mountaineering, and speed skating.
Impact on Russian Sports Legacy
The sanctions significantly impact Russia’s Winter Olympics presence. Russian ice hockey won gold in 2018 and silver in 2022, while Russian figure skaters consistently rank among the world’s elite. These restrictions mark a dramatic departure from Russia’s traditional dominance in winter sports.
