After a scandal during competition
Top Russian athletes no longer talk to each other
April 6, 2026 – 10:10 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Alexander Bolshunov is perhaps Russia’s best cross-country skier in recent history. But the Olympic champion is not particularly popular.
Ice age in Russian winter sports: There is tension between cross-country skiers Alexander Bolshunov and Saveli Korosteljow. “We don’t have a relationship,” Korostelev made it clear in an interview with “news.ru”. “At the beginning of the season my attitude towards him took a turn for the worse, but he wasn’t an idol for me even before the conflict.”
What Korosteljow means by the “conflict”: At the Russia Cup at the beginning of December there was a serious contact in the corner in the sprint semi-final between Bolshunov and teammate Alexander Bakurow. Bolshunov fell and missed the final. Full of frustration, after crossing the finish line, Bolshunov drove towards Bakurov, who was supporting himself on a barrier, and knocked him over. Bakurow fell along with the barrier and injured himself. Bolshunov was banned.
Korostelev said on “news.ru”: “What he has achieved is worth a lot, but against the background of these achievements I cannot ignore his human side. That is why I currently have no relationship with Alexander Bolshunov.” According to Russian media reports, the two cross-country skiers no longer speak to each other. Even Bolshunov’s apology to his teammate Bakurow after the altercation didn’t change anything.
The two Russians did not meet at the Olympic Games in Italy in February. Korostelev started under a neutral flag, but narrowly missed out on a medal. He came fourth in the skiathlon and fifth in the 50 kilometers. Bolshunov, however, was banned. He won three gold medals at the 2022 Olympic Games and three silver medals four years earlier.
