Russia Claims Norway Is Blocking its Athletes from World Cup
For years, the battle between Russia and Norway defined men’s cross-country skiing. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo versus Aleksandr Bolshunov became one of the sport’s great rivalries, producing unforgettable duels at World Cups, World Championships, and Olympic Games. Now, more than four years after Russia’s suspension, that rivalry has reignited — not on the trails, but in the media. Bolshunov rarely gives interviews; the three-time Olympic champion has generally stayed away from the spotlight since Russian athletes were excluded from international competition following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This week, however, the 29-year-old broke that silence, and his comments are likely to spark fresh debate across the cross-country skiing world.
In an interview with Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, Bolshunov claimed Scandinavian nations — particularly Norway — are deliberately preventing Russian skiers from returning to international competition, not for moral reasons, but to preserve their own dominance. “We understand that there are Scandinavian countries resisting and holding onto the situation,” Bolshunov said. “They will push until the last so that there are no Russians at international tournaments.”
He doubled down, adding, “Russia is their main competitor in cross-country skiing. Let us in, remove the Norwegian national team for the next five years, and then we’ll see what happens. If there were no Norwegians,” he added, “who would be in first place? Of course, we would.”
Bolshunov’s comments come after another extraordinary period for Norwegian men’s cross-country skiing. Since Russian athletes were suspended from FIS competition in March 2022, Norway has enjoyed unprecedented success. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo swept all six events at the 2025 World Championships before repeating the feat at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, becoming the most decorated Winter Olympian in history with 11 Olympic gold medals.
Bolshunov argues that Norway’s recent dominance has been made easier by Russia’s absence. “The Norwegians have already taken all the records,” he said. “First at the World Championships, then at the Olympic Games. They can calm down now and let the Russians back in. Those records can’t be broken anymore — they can only be matched.” Before Russia’s suspension, Bolshunov was Klæbo’s fiercest rival. The pair regularly battled for World Cup victories, Olympic medals, and World Championship titles, with Bolshunov winning the overall World Cup in 2020-21 and capturing three Olympic gold medals.
Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Russian athletes could once again participate in future Olympic Games, regardless of political affiliation, provided they satisfy the IOC’s eligibility criteria. However, the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) has not yet followed suit. That frustration was another central theme of Bolshunov’s interview. “FIS doesn’t care at all about what the IOC says,” he said. “There are recommendations, but FIS does everything in its own way.” According to Bolshunov, the federation continues postponing discussions about Russia’s return despite the IOC’s new position.
Norway’s newly elected Ski Federation president Roger Finjord rejected Bolshunov’s suggestion that the country’s stance is motivated by sporting success. Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Finjord said Norway’s position remains based on Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. “This is not a stance we have taken for sporting reasons, but for moral reasons,” Finjord said. “The war is still ongoing, and people are suffering. Therefore, we believe that a boycott is even more important now.”
Finjord did, however, acknowledge one aspect of Bolshunov’s criticism. He agreed that FIS operates independently of the IOC and said Norway has received no indication that the federation intends to immediately change its current policy regarding Russian athletes.
Bolshunov’s interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda also offered a rare glimpse into the athlete’s current mindset after more than four years away from international competition. The Russian cross-country star admitted that remaining motivated without World Cups, World Championships, or Olympic qualification has become increasingly difficult. “Five years were taken away — the best years of my sporting life,” he said.
Bolshunov explained that while he still enjoys racing domestically, preparing without a clear international target has changed his approach to training. “When you know what you’re fighting for, preparation is completely different,” he said. “There is no big goal anymore, like the Olympic Games.” He admitted recent domestic seasons have reflected that lack of motivation. “The last two seasons showed that at the beginning of the year I couldn’t do anything at all. Then I tried to reach top speed in a short period at the end of the season.”
For now, skiing is taking a back seat. Bolshunov confirmed he is delaying the start of his full summer training programme while he and his wife prepare to welcome another child. “We are waiting for an addition to the family,” he said. “Family comes first.” He added that becoming a father again would only strengthen his motivation for whatever competitions lie ahead.
Whether those competitions eventually include the World Cup remains uncertain. FIS has yet to announce any change to its current suspension of Russian athletes.
