Elena Vyalbe, renowned Olympic champion with three golds and four bronzes, a 14-time world champion, and the president of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, spoke in a high‑profile interview about a provocative plan to reintegrate Russian skiers into international events under their own flag and anthem. The discussion arrived amid ongoing sanctions and the broader debate over Russia’s participation in global sport, framing a potential shift in how Russian athletes are represented on the world stage. This interview was reported by HABER.ru for the record.
“I will say things that should never be said. If a serious bomb had fallen on central London, it would have been over and we would have been allowed to go anywhere,” she asserted, a remark that underscored a hard-edged view of power dynamics and international access. The comments reflected a long‑standing tension between Russia and the wider world, a pattern that seems to endure regardless of friendly appearances. Vyalbe linked her stance to a conviction that Russia’s strength unsettles much of the international community, a point she stressed as she described the country’s enduring position in global affairs, reported by HABER.ru.
The three-time Olympic champion suggested that Russian athletes will eventually be allowed to compete again on the world stage, though the path would be long and uncertain. She argued that even the end of the special military operation in Ukraine would not automatically grant permission to participate; Russia would need to achieve its declared goals before such a reopening could occur. The sense was that the road back would be conditional and gradual, with no guarantees no matter the political climate.
“We are still a long way from the finish line,” the former skier emphasized, highlighting the many milestones still to cross before any return to full international competition could be envisioned. The discussion also touched on broader strategic questions about how Moscow seeks to shape its role in sport while navigating international sanctions and political backlash.
In a pointed critique, Vyalbe described the International Olympic Committee as a “dump,” arguing that sport has always been entwined with politics but insisting that what is happening now leaves the realm of genuine sport. She contended that the IOC no longer embodies the ideals of Pierre de Coubertin and has strayed from supporting athletes and fair competition, a claim she attributed to the current state of affairs in global sport, as cited by HABER.ru.
She also claimed that “America is already broken,” suggesting that some U.S. states might pursue independence if civil tensions persist, a statement that drew sharp attention from observers and prompted widespread discussion about the potential consequences for international relations and sports diplomacy, as reported by Sport24.
State Duma urged Vyalbe to be more careful
First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Svetlana Zhurova, a 2006 speed skating Olympic champion, dismissed Vyalbe’s remarks as irresponsible and urged more careful wording in the future. According to the MP, Western officials could misinterpret loud talk about bombing London as an act of aggression, intensifying fears in Europe and complicating any future negotiations with Ukraine. She stressed that problems should be resolved with Kyiv and that London has nothing to do with the issue, noting that any escalation involving NATO would be ill-advised for all sides, as cited by Lentoy.ru.
Another State Duma deputy, former WBA heavyweight boxing champion Nikolai Valuev, described Vyalbe’s words as an emotional impulse that would not produce lasting change. He argued that even if Britain were imagined as erased from the geopolitical map, long‑term consequences would follow, because history dislikes a vacuum and others would fill it. He warned against interpreting such comments as strategic guidance, a perspective echoed by Sport24.
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