Elizaveta Koloskova, captain of the senator sports club and a member of the Russian national cheerleading team, shared her thoughts on competing as a neutral athlete in the national squad during a conversation with a SocialBites correspondent.
She argued that athletes should push to compete with the very best even when competing under a neutral flag, because doing so drives personal growth and sharpens competitiveness.
“We already performed a similar program at the 2021 World Championship, which took place online due to the pandemic. In the official records we appeared under country names, and we took the stage as independent athletes from Russia, competing under the acronym ROC – the Russian Olympic Committee. If the question is personal to me, then I would say yes, I support it. But our team has differing views on this issue,” she explained.
In Koloskova’s view, athletes should compete, strive for development, and aim for strong results. She noted that athletic performance is not static; sustaining a high level becomes increasingly challenging with each passing year.
“We have already faced a yearlong suspension from all tournaments, and while that period has passed for some, it is still a factor for others. No one would be upset about our absence, and perhaps the opposite is true for many,” she observed.
A full version of the interview with Elizaveta Koloskova is available for those interested in the broader context of her stance and experiences.
Earlier remarks from Koloskova indicated that the Russian cheer squads favored traveling for the World Cup, underscoring the importance of international exposure and competition in their strategic planning.
— Cited by the Russian Cheerleading Federation regarding the ongoing discussions about neutral participation and the role of national teams in international events.