According to veteran Russian figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova, the leadership of the Russian Olympic Committee is entering a moment of clear transition. The organization is set to appoint a new ROC president who will take the reins from Stanislav Pozdnyakov on October 15. Tarasova stressed that the person chosen should be someone who genuinely loves sport and can convey its energy and values with the same clarity that Sports Express and other national outlets try to bring to fans. The remarks come as the Russian sports world negotiates a shifting Olympic landscape and ongoing international questions about participation and governance. The move signals a broader conversation about leadership, accountability, and the capacity to steer a federation through a period of sanctions, reforms, and renewed scrutiny from international sports authorities.
Tarasova also said she does not know Pozdnyakov well, and she underscored that the next ROC leader needs to be someone who understands sport from the inside and shares a passion for competition. The emphasis, she implied, is on a figure capable of uniting federation interests, supporting athletes on the Paris and Los Angeles cycles, and handling the delicate diplomacy that comes with interactions with international sports bodies during a period of sanctions and reform. Her comments reflect a common wish among coaches and athletes for a leadership that can bridge the gap between elite performance, program administration, and public trust. In a climate where practical governance matters as much as public profile, the next chief will be expected to balance ambitious goals with the realities of global sport politics.
Pozdnyakov has led the ROC since 2018 after a storied competitive career in fencing. He is a four-time Olympic champion and a ten-time world champion in sword fencing, with thirteen European titles to his name. In 2008 he was appointed senior coach of Russia’s national fencing team, a role that broadened his footprint within the national sport system and deepened his understanding of Olympic preparation and athlete development. His presidency coincided with a turbulent era for Russian sport, marked by international sanctions and debates over eligibility, performance, and governance. Throughout his tenure, Pozdnyakov remained a central figure in steering the federation through changes in policy, funding, and alignment with international standards while striving to keep the country competitive on the world stage.
In February 2022 the International Olympic Committee issued guidance urging international federations to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from most competitions. The IOC later approved a plan to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games as neutral athletes, subject to meeting specified criteria. Medals won by neutral athletes would not count toward Russia’s unofficial tally, a policy intended to separate performance from national symbols while preserving a path to Paris and beyond. For the ROC and its leadership, this created a demanding, complex environment as they prepared athletes for the 2024 cycle and sought stability during a period of political tension. The decision underscored the delicate balance between supporting athletes and navigating international expectations, all while maintaining the integrity of national sport programs in the face of external pressures.
Earlier in his tenure Pozdnyakov described Russian tennis players who participated in the Olympics as part of a so‑called foreign agents team, a remark that drew significant attention and debate about how athletes are spoken about in politically charged times. The ROC now faces ongoing tasks: sustaining training infrastructure, coordinating with international bodies, and communicating effectively with athletes, coaches, and sport administrators under a climate of sanctions and expectations. Any future leadership would have to navigate these dynamics with transparency and resolve, ensuring that Russia’s Olympic program remains competitive while adapting to a rapidly changing global sports ecosystem. The path ahead will require not only tactical management but a clear vision for how Russian sport engages with the world while supporting its athletes on the road to future Games.