Russian Juniors Set for Short Track Cup in Italy
Ten Russian athletes will compete at the 2026 ISU Short Track Junior World Cup in Bormio, Italy, after receiving entry visas.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Ice Skating
Ten Russian athletes, five boys and five girls, will take part in the 2026 ISU Short Track Junior World Cup, with the Italian stage held in Bormio on November 6-8. All ten have been granted entry visas, according to the Russian Speed Skating Federation.
Why it matters
The ISU suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from international tournaments in March 2022 following developments in Ukraine, so the roster marks a return to ISU competition for Russian junior skaters. The move follows the IOC's decision to reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee and its recommendation to lift restrictions on Russian athletes.
The Russian federation confirmed a roster of five boys and five girls, all holding entry visas, after the ISU suspension imposed in March 2022. Whether the athletes will compete under neutral status at the Bormio event has not been specified.
The players
International Skating Union (ISU)
The ISU is the international governing body for skating sports, including short track speed skating and figure skating, and it set the eligibility rules for Russian athletes.
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement and announced the reinstatement of the Russian Olympic Committee.
The details
The Italian stage of the 2026 ISU Short Track Junior World Cup takes place in Bormio, with competition scheduled for November 6-8. Russian Speed Skating Federation president confirmed the roster to TASS, and the ISU allowed two Russian figure skaters to compete under neutral status at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Timeline
March 2022: ISU suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from international tournaments.
July: IOC announced the reinstatement of the Russian Olympic Committee and recommended lifting restrictions.
November 6-8, 2026: Italian stage of the Junior World Cup held in Bormio.
Season Trajectory
The ISU suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from its tournaments in March 2022, and the 2026 Junior World Cup roster marks a partial return. The ISU has also allowed Russian figure skaters to compete under neutral status in international competitions starting the 2026/27 season.
The Russian junior roster adds competitors to the Bormio field, which affects qualifying standings and results for the Junior World Cup series. Fans following short track can track the Russian entries directly as the November 6-8 event approaches.
The takeaway
Watch the Bormio results to see how the Russian junior entries perform against the rest of the field. The ISU's roster decisions for this event will shape how the federation's wider return to international skating is judged.
What happens next
The Italian stage of the Junior World Cup takes place in Bormio on November 6-8, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the sport's competition calendar, see Ice Skating.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TASS.
