Russia won its first Winter Paralympic medal since the 2014 Sochi Games after Mariia Voronchikhina and AlekseiBugaev won bronze in the downhill skiing event.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) permitted six Russian athletes and four from their ally Belarus to compete under their national flags rather than as neutrals.
The decision triggered significant backlash, with seven countries boycotting the opening ceremony on Friday in protest against Russian participation. The IPC, however, remained firm on its ruling.
Speaking after the medal ceremony, Voronchikhina said, "For us, it’s been a really long time since we were without a flag. I’m really glad and all my country and all my teammates. I’m very happy because it’s the first medal for me.”
Russia was excluded from the 2018 PyeongChang Games due to a doping scandal, although athletes with clean records were allowed to compete under neutral colours. In 2022, both Russia and Belarus were banned following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This year, Russian athletes are competing under their own flag, like most other major participating nations.
Voronchikhina reflected on her near miss four years ago in Beijing: “In Beijing, we were there. I had my third training in downhill, and after that we had to go back home. For me, it was really, really sad, and I hope in these Games I will be better and it will be.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian athletes have demonstrated strong form at the ongoing Games, surging to the top of the overall medal table with three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. China sits in second place with two gold, two silver, and two bronze.
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