The Russian national team will not compete at the 2024 Olympics. There will not even be “neutral athletes from Russia” under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee, as in Beijing 2022. But 15 athletes with Russian passports who have been granted neutral status will perform.
Who are these athletes, when will the medal events with their possible participation take place and what restrictions does neutral status impose?
What does “neutral athletes” mean?
Russian passport holders will compete under the abbreviation AIN (neutral individual athlete). With this abbreviation on the neutral uniform that will be issued to them by the IOC, the athletes will be inseparable in Paris. It will be on the flag, and instead of the anthem, special music has been written for neutrals. The main condition is no, absolutely no association with their home country. Otherwise, instant deprivation of accreditation and a kick in the ass will follow.
What other conditions must neutral athletes meet?
Russian athletes have been allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympics. But only a few will go to Paris.
Now we will tell you about each Russian athlete separately.
Angela Bladtseva – springboard
Unexpectedly, the main medal hope of a neutral team with a Russian passport at the Olympics. 19-year-old Bladtseva made her debut at the World Cup this season and immediately became its winner. In international competitions this season she has a phenomenal score of 57 points.
The women’s qualifiers will be held on 2 August, followed by the women’s final. The medal competition starts at 14:50 Moscow time.
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Alena Ivanchenko – cycling, road
Ivanchenko was the junior world time trial champion in 2021 and won the time trial at the European Championships that same year. But at the adult level on the cycling track, she has practically no results that in any way distinguish the athlete from her rivals. In Paris, she will compete in the group race and the time trial, but she has no chance of winning medals.
The women’s time trial will take place on July 27 and will start at 15:30 Moscow time, the women’s group race will start on August 4 at 15:00.
Alena Ivanchenko in the foreground
Photo by: RIA Novosti
Tamara Dronova – cycling, road
The experienced Dronova is Russia’s strongest road racer of recent years. But overall her results are rather modest. She has no chance of winning medals in Paris, where she plans to compete in two disciplines.
The women’s time trial will take place on July 27 and will start at 15:30 Moscow time, the women’s group race will start on August 4 at 15:00.
Gleb Syritsa – cycling, highway
Russia’s strongest road racer, Alexander Vlasov, received an invitation, but refused to take part in the Olympics. But even if he accepted, he would still not be able to compete due to a broken ankle he recently suffered at the Tour de France. Syritsa replaced Vlasov at the last moment. In the International Cycling Federation rankings, he is not even in the top 400, so it is not even worth talking about his medal chances.
In Paris, Syritsa will compete in the time trial (start on 27 July at 17:34) as well as in the group race, scheduled to start on 3 August at 12:00.
Gleb Syritsa
Photo by: RIA Novosti
Evgeniy Somov – swimming
Somov lives and trains in the United States, where he broke the Russian record in the 100-metre breaststroke this spring, but the Russian Swimming Federation refused to register it. However, Evgeniy’s result was taken into account in the world ranking of aquatic sports: only three people swam the Olympic 100m breaststroke faster than him. Therefore, he has every chance of competing for the prize in Paris. Somov will swim only this distance at the Olympics.
The medals for the 100m breaststroke will be awarded on 28 July at 22:54.
Olesya Romasenko – kayaking and canoeing
The strongest Russian canoeist of the past 10 years will compete in the 200m singles event. Romasenko arrived in Paris at the last moment due to the disqualification of Polish rower Dorota Borowska, who was supposed to compete in both singles and doubles. In the 500m event, Olesya had no specific preparation for the Olympics. And there is practically no chance of a medal. Even reaching the final, as happened in Tokyo, will be a success.
If Romasenko makes it to the decider, you can watch his battle with his strongest rivals on August 10 at 14:50.
Olesya Romasenko
Photo by: RIA Novosti
Alexey Korovashkov – kayaking and canoeing
The more experienced Korovashkov achieved the main achievements of his career, including the bronze medal at the Olympic Games, in the double team, but that was quite a while ago. In Paris, he will also compete in the double canoe at a distance of 500 m with Zakhar Petrov. Previously, these athletes were in different teams. Korovashkov is also entered in the 1,000 m single sculls.
Alexey has virtually no chance of winning a medal in singles, but in pairs everything will depend on how long the athletes have been a team.
The final race in two-seater canoe will take place on August 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Zakhar Petrov – kayaking and canoeing
For Petrov, the Paris Olympics will be the first of his career. The young Russian canoeist has proven himself at the junior level, but he cannot afford to be lost among the seniors either. His forte is single canoe, but at the 2024 Games he will also compete in doubles with Alexey Korovashkov. Zakhar’s schedule is very complicated, as doubles and singles swimming will take place every day and there will be several qualifying stages.
The final race in the men’s single canoe will take place on 9 August at 14:50. The final race in the two-seater canoe will take place on 8 August at 14:30.
Alexei Korovashkov
Photo by: RIA Novosti
Daniil Medvedev – tennis
Russia’s strongest tennis player does not consider the clay surface to be his crowning glory. Although Medvedev will win the Rome Masters in 2023, it is extremely difficult to count on Medvedev to win a medal in singles, and almost impossible in doubles. His best chances are probably in mixed doubles.
Medals in all tennis categories will be played from 2 to 4 August.
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Pavel Kotov – tennis
If Daniil Medvedev’s chances of winning a medal in singles are minimal, then Pavel Kotov objectively has none, although it was the 2024 Roland Garros in Paris that became the best Grand Slam tournament of his career so far. Kotov will play in Paris only in singles.
The men’s singles final will take place on August 4.
Daniil Medvedev
Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Roman Safiullin – tennis
Safiullin will play singles and doubles in Paris, alongside Medvedev. Roman’s chances of winning medals in pairs are slim, but on his own they are non-existent. Moreover, Safiullin is much stronger on hard courts than on clay. Roman rarely plays in pairs and is not even among the top 200 players in the world.
Medals in all tennis categories will be played from 2 to 4 August.
Mirra Andreeva – tennis
At Roland Garros 2024, Mirra reached the semi-finals in singles and the quarter-finals in doubles. At the Olympics, he will most likely play in these two categories (in doubles with Diana Schneider) and also, possibly, in mixed doubles with Daniil Medvedev. However, before the start of the Olympics, it is very difficult to say what the 17-year-old tennis player is ready for. He can either win medals or lose in the first round.
Medals in all tennis categories will be played from 2 to 4 August.
Mirra Andreeva
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Ekaterina Alexandrova – tennis
Alexandrova will play both singles and doubles with Elena Vesnina. And you can expect good results from this pair. Ekaterina and Elena are definitely capable of competing for medals at the Paris Olympics.
The women’s doubles medals will be awarded on August 4.
Elena Vesnina – tennis
Elena is the best Russian tennis player in doubles, who has won almost all possible titles; in her “Slam” career, only a victory at the Australian Open was missing. Vesnina became the Olympic champion in pairs in Rio 2016, took silver in mixed doubles in Tokyo 2020, and before Paris, literally at the last moment, she was included in the list of Russians allowed to participate. Elena will play only in pairs with Ekaterina Alexandrova at the 2024 Olympics and will fight for a medal.
The women’s doubles medals will be awarded on August 4.
Elena Vesnina
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Diana Schneider – tennis
Schneider travelled to Paris after a convincing victory at the clay tournament in Budapest, where she showed some excellent tennis. Perhaps the 20-year-old Diana is the main Russian contender for medals in singles. In junior doubles, Schneider was the strongest in the world and her duo with Mirra Andreeva is capable of causing a sensation.
Medals in all tennis categories will be played from 2 to 4 August.
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