Elena Vyalbe, who serves as president of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, spoke about the participation of biathletes in the upcoming Legkov Race, emphasizing the event’s significance for Russian winter sports. Her remarks centered on championship prospects and the readiness required for competitors to perform at a high level in a cross discipline setting.
In her assessment, athletes must adjust to the realities of competing in this event and maintain the appropriate spacing and strategy on the course. She used a frank analogy, noting that it is important to treat biathletes as valued colleagues rather than a familial unit, underscoring a professional boundary between different sports within the Russian winter sports community.
The 10th anniversary edition of the Legkov Race was scheduled to take place on February 23-24, 2024, in Peresvet, located in the Moscow region. The event was framed as a key milestone for the local ski racing calendar, drawing attention to the endurance and tactical elements that define high-level competition on Russia’s snow courses.
Earlier, at the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee urged international sport federations to restrict participation by Russian and Belarusian athletes in certain events. This guidance resulted in Russian skiers and biathletes missing the remainder of the 2021/22 season, a consequence felt across the national teams and echoed in training plans and national competition calendars.
Since then, many skiers and biathletes focused primarily on domestic events. They redirected attention to internal competitions that could sustain the competitive spirit and help athletes maintain form amid restricted international exposure. In February 2024, they took part in the second All-Russian Spartakiad, a major multi-sport gathering that occurred from February 9 to February 18 across five constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The event showcased more than 2,000 elite athletes competing across 14 Olympic winter sports, highlighting the breadth of Russian talent and the ongoing vibrancy of national-level sport even when international stages are limited.
In the national team context, remarks about Bolshunov from a Norwegian expert stirred discussion. The exchange underscored the international interest in Russian skiers and biathletes and reflected broader debates about technique, leadership, and the pressures of maintaining top form during periods of shifting competitive opportunities. The dialogue illustrated how perceptions from outside Russia intersect with the experiences of athletes and coaches within the national program, shaping conversations about performance, preparation, and the evolving landscape of winter sports in the country.