FIL Qualifies 78 Sleds for 2026 Olympics, Including Russian Neutrals

The International Luge Federation announced on Monday the list of 78 sleds qualified for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, confirming two Russian athletes as participants who will compete as neutrals against Ukrainian sliders in the sport's premier event.

Roman Repilov in men's singles and Daria Olesik in women's singles earned spots through the qualification process, mirroring their participation in World Cup races this season. Their neutral status stems from ongoing sanctions imposed on Russian sports federations following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent conflict. Under International Olympic Committee guidelines, individual athletes from Russia and Belarus can compete only if they undergo an independent review to verify they have not publicly supported the war or maintained ties to Russian military or security forces.

Germany and Austria secured the maximum allocation of 12 athletes and nine sleds each. Host nation Italy and the United States each qualified 11 athletes and eight sleds, while Ukraine and Latvia earned 10 athletes and seven sleds apiece. Nations could qualify up to three sleds in men's singles, three in women's singles, two in men's...