Evgenia Medvedeva: “I remember being in an Olympic season myself and how much it annoyed me when experts forecasted whether I would win or not. Is it really too much to ask to let athletes prepare in peace, without all these heavy expectations?”
Evgenia Medvedeva on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan
original source: Kp.ru dd. September 11th by Pavel Sadkov, Olga Rodina
Evgenia Medvedeva shares her thoughts on the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, offering measured insight into the challenges faced by Russian figure skaters and reflecting on her own Olympic experience. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: Let’s talk about skating and the upcoming Olympics. There’s a small ray of hope for our team: one athlete has been allowed to compete in men’s and women’s singles. Have you been following this, and how do you view the prospects of Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, who are currently our leading skaters?
Evgenia Medvedeva: How could I not follow? Of course, I’m keeping track. Figure skating is my native sport, after all. Both Petya (Petr) and Adeliia are truly outstanding athletes. I’m not exaggerating when I say people ask me about my expectations every day. My answer is usually quite curt, but honestly, who am I to make predictions?
I remember being in an Olympic season myself and how much it annoyed me when experts forecasted whether I would win or not. Is it really too much to ask to let athletes prepare in peace, without all these heavy expectations?
I’ve been in that position myself. Maybe not in such an intensely restricted environment as now, but still, the Olympics I participated in were already without a national flag. People often forget – or perhaps some get irritated every time I bring it up – but it’s true. In 2017, I went to Lausanne to attend the IOC Executive Committee meeting alongside representatives from our Olympic Committee (ROC). I delivered a speech on behalf of Russian athletes to the IOC.
Yes, perhaps we couldn’t defend our flag, but we managed to secure participation in the Olympics. That trip, just two and a half months before the Games, was incredibly stressful. On top of that, there were the experts with their endless predictions. Back then, all I wanted was to prepare quietly, without the weight of imaginary medals already being hung around my neck.
This is why I’ll refrain from making any forecasts. I’ll simply wish the skaters clarity of mind and passion in their hearts. I always tell people that you need to approach competitions at this level with a sense of gratitude for your sport. And it’s crucial to protect yourself – from unnecessary words, from harsh critics, and from other people’s opinions.
The chance to perform at the Olympics is, in most cases, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You must approach it with faith in yourself and optimism for a bright future.”
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