Georgia Names Eteri Tutberidze's Daughter as 2026 Olympic Flag Bearer

Diana Davis to Carry Georgia's Flag at 2026 Winter Olympics

According to Главком: Figure skater Diana Davis has been selected as one of Georgia's flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. She will share the honor with fellow skater Luka Berulava. Davis, 22, is the daughter of prominent Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze. In 2022, Tutberidze publicly criticized the suspension of Russian athletes from international competition, arguing that world rankings should not be updated while they are barred from competing.

Career and Achievements

Davis competes in ice dance with partner Gleb Smolkin. The pair won silver at the 2021/22 Russian national championships. After switching to represent Georgia, they secured victories at the Ice Dance International event in Lake Placid, USA, and the Budapest Trophy. The 2026 Games, scheduled for February 6-22, mark a significant milestone in Davis's athletic career. Her appointment as flag bearer highlights her rapid ascent within the sport under the Georgian banner.

In a separate development, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has cleared Russian cross-country skier Daria Nepryaeva for the Olympics. In the summer of 2022, Nepryaeva illegally visited annexed Crimea to participate in a training camp. She and other Russian skiers entered Ukrainian territory without passing through customs or border control.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has reported receiving threats from the IOC. The committee warned him to avoid any actions protesting Russian aggression during the Olympic Games. Heraskevych stated that the IOC contacted him following protests by a Ukrainian junior team at a European Cup event, requesting that no anti-war demonstrations be staged at the Olympics.

Davis's selection as flag bearer is a pivotal moment for her personal career and for Georgia's representation on the global stage.

This situation underscores the complex position of athletes with ties to Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The IOC's response to Heraskevych further illustrates the strained relationship between international sports governance and the pressing political realities affecting Ukraine and the wider region.