Bolšunov Wins Again as Ski Pair Protests Russian Participation with Ukrainian Flags

Russian cross-country skier Aleksandr Bolšunov (28) made his comeback to international events on Thursday in Italy. He won the 30 km traditional style race at the Sudritol Moonlight Classic held in the Seiser Alm, defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Busin by 14 seconds.

Since spring 2022, Russian cross-country skiers have been excluded from international competitions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Though the Seiser Alm event is not part of the competitions organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS), its rules still sparked controversy.

Italian skier Busin and his partner from the women’s race, Malin Börjesjö, made their protest clear at the award ceremony by wearing a sash adorned with the colors of the Ukrainian flag. They aimed to show their support for Ukraine and signal their disapproval of the event’s decision to allow a Russian athlete to compete without taking a clear political stance.

Busin explained that his actions were meant to send a message to both the event organizers and the world that they stand with Ukraine. Bolšunov accepted the protest in a neutral manner—he congratulated Busin and received congratulations in return, but there was no further discussion between them.

Under pressure from external opinions, the race organizers ultimately allowed Bolšunov to compete under a neutral flag.

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