Tarasova, the esteemed coach who helped shape Soviet and post Soviet figure skating, reacted after Stanislav Pozdnyakov stepped down as president of the Russian Olympic Committee on October 15. She stated that Pozdnyakov is not remembered for any standout achievements in his public role, and she questioned what his contributions had been during his four plus years in charge. Tarasova’s comments were carried by RIA Novosti, feeding into a broader conversation about leadership in the Russian sports system and how success is measured in elite teams.
Pozdnyakov took the helm of the ROC in 2018, inheriting a federation that governs national teams across summer and winter sports. His own athletic legacy is formidable: a four time Olympic champion in fencing and ten time world champion, with thirteen European titles to his name. His fencing career established him as a household name in Russia and a symbol of fencing excellence. In 2008 he moved into coaching, becoming the senior coach of the Russian national fencing team, a role that blended technical expertise with team leadership and strategy. Under his presidency, the ROC navigated sanctions, global sports governance shifts, and the complex task of supporting athletes as they prepared for international competition.
From the very end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued a directive to international sports federations urging them to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from participation in their events. The policy reflected a broader stance of international sports bodies in response to geopolitical events and state sponsored sports programs. A subsequent decision, announced toward the end of 2023, allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games as neutral athletes, requiring meeting a set of eligibility criteria and ongoing scrutiny. In line with that approach, medals won by Russians and Belarusians were not counted in the unofficial medal tally, signaling a separation between national identity and athletic competition for that Games edition. Observers noted that the arrangements created a delicate balance between inclusion for athletes and accountability in international sport.
Tarasova has previously weighed in on who might lead the ROC next, indicating that leadership transitions in Russian sport attract intense scrutiny from coaches, athletes, and administrators alike. The conversation around Pozdnyakov’s tenure and the future of the ROC reflects deeper questions about governance, accountability, and the pipeline of talent that feeds Russia’s Olympic teams. While Pozdnyakov’s departure marks a clear inflection point, the broader picture shows how the ROC remains central to shaping the trajectory of Russian sport on the world stage.