Russian tennis player Potapova will change her citizenship: starting from 2026 she will play for Austria

Russian tennis player decided to become an Austrian

Athlete from Russia, Anastasia Potapova, announced that she is changing her citizenship to Austrian and will represent this country at international tournaments starting from 2026. In her Telegram channel, she shared this news with her fans, emphasizing that she feels very comfortable in Austria and looks forward to Vienna becoming her second home.

Russian speed skater attended Putin's address

Another athlete from Russia, speed skater Aleksandra Saitova, appeared at Vladimir Putin's annual address to the Federal Assembly. This was made possible due to her status as a neutral athlete, which she received from the International Skating Union (ISU).

Also, skier Veronika Stepanova posted a photo on Instagram featuring Saitova with other allies of Putin and Russian military personnel.

Participation in political events by athletes violates the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding athlete neutrality. The 2026 Ski Championship will take place in Italy from February 6 to 22.

Russian athletes continue to spark controversy due to their actions abroad, but whether this affects their results in international competitions remains an open question.