Andrei Lamov, recognized as a world and European champion in ski orienteering, has announced a change in his sports citizenship and will compete for Sweden’s national team. The disclosure came in an interview with Viktor Elizarov, the vice president of the Russian Orienteering Federation, as reported by TASS.
Elizarov stressed that the federation will not block Lamov from pursuing his new national affiliation with Sweden.
“All signs pointed to this turn,” he noted. Lamov has lived in the country for many years, and his wife is Swedish. His departure is viewed as a notable loss for the Russian program, where he had been one of the key leaders. Still, the federation believes it can adapt and move forward.
The broader context includes global sport governance and how geopolitical events influence athletes’ participation. In 2022, amid rising tensions tied to the conflict in Ukraine, the president of the International Olympic Committee urged international federations to assess Russian participation in global events. In January 2023 the IOC indicated it was weighing the possibility of allowing Russian athletes who did not endorse the SBO position to compete under a neutral status.
Later, in October 2023, the IOC announced the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, pending further decisions, following the inclusion of regional Olympic Councils from certain areas within Russia. The body also stated that it would reserve the right to decide, at the necessary time, on the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Paris Games.
In related developments, Russian chess players faced contractual measures designed to deter them from seeking opportunities abroad. These moves reflect the broader pattern of national associations managing talent in times of geopolitical shifts and international sanctions, while athletes evaluate where their careers can best flourish.
Lamov’s decision underscores how personal,家庭, and national identities intersect with competitive sport. It also highlights the ongoing conversation about how federations handle transitions that align an athlete’s residence and family life with a new national team, especially when international rules and neutral participation provisions shape eligibility.