Irina Raber, a longtime leader in Russian figure skating administration, has died at the age of 74. The news was confirmed by DEA News, citing a statement from Olga Yermolina, the press attaché of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR). Raber’s passing marks the loss of a central figure in Moscow’s skating community, where she served in a top role until recent years.
Raber steered the Moscow Figure Skating Federation from 2005 through 2022, a period that saw the organization strengthen its local programs and expand opportunities for skaters across the region. Since 2006, she held the vice-presidency of the FFKKR and chaired its ethics committee, positions she maintained as she helped navigate governance and integrity issues within the sport.
It is also noted that last November, leadership at the national federation faced another bereavement with the passing of Alexander Gorshkov, who had led the federation and died at 76 years old. His departure followed Raber’s long tenure in Russia’s skating leadership and added to a year of significant transitions in the federation’s leadership.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Games proved pivotal for Russian figure skaters, who were barred from international competition in subsequent events due to sanctions. Despite the suspension, athletes from Russia had achieved notable success in that period, including a series of top results before the ban affected their participation abroad.
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) advised international sports bodies to restrict the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in events. In response, the ISU excluded competitors from Russia and Belarus from its events, redirecting focus to domestic circuits. During the 2022/23 season, Russian figure skating concentrated primarily on national competitions, such as the Russian Grand Prix and the stages of the national championships, preserving competitive momentum within the country.
Earlier reporting also touched on the death of an Olympic champion in another sport, the modern pentathlon, Shmelev, underscoring a broader period of notable losses among elite Russian athletes and sports administrators.