Russian female athletes posed with a portrait of Putin before the World Championship.

According to inkorr.com: The women's wrestling team of Russia is actively preparing for the World Championship, which will take place in Zagreb this September. Recently, the team held a photoshoot against a portrait of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia. The team received neutral status from the International Wrestling Federation.

Recall that Russian figure skaters who supported the war lost the chance to go to the 2026 Olympics - in pair skating - Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Galliamov; in ice dance - Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin.

In December 2024, Ivan Bukin and his partner Alexandra Stepanova became the focus of attention at an event featuring the President of Russia. However, realizing the possible consequences, Bukin decided to delete his post on Instagram.

Achievements of Bukin and Stepanova

The pair of Bukin and Stepanova can boast two European vice-champion titles and four victories at the Russian Figure Skating Championships.

Thus, the photoshoot of the girls from the women's team of Russia with a portrait of Putin has sparked considerable discussion, especially against the backdrop of their neutral status. This discussion raises questions about Russian figure skaters who refused to participate in the 2026 Olympics due to their views on the war, and demonstrates how the sports careers of individuals can be mediating by socio-political circumstances.