German figure skater honest
“Russians should come calmly”
12/22/2024 – 10:24 amReading time: 1 min.
Minerva-Fabienne Hase and her partner were able to defend their title at the German figure skating championships. She then spoke about an announcement from the world association.
The return of Russian figure skaters to the international stage does not cause unrest among all athletes. Minerva-Fabienne Hase, two-time Grand Prix winner, is calm about the plan of the World Ice Skating Association ISU – and even sees it as an incentive.
At the German figure skating championships in Oberstdorf she said: “The Russians should just come, maybe that will even give us a few grains more motivation. They have always been strong, but not invincible either.” With her partner Nikita Volodin she defended the title in Oberstdorf.
The World Ice Skating Federation announced on Friday that Russian athletes would be able to compete again in Beijing in September next year – but only under a neutral flag. The qualifying competition in China will give them their first chance to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
However, the requirements are strict. There is only one starting place available per discipline – men, women, pair skating or ice dancing. Participation in the Olympic team competition is also excluded.