A World Cup men's luge race in Lake Placid, New York, is set to feature a politically charged moment this Saturday, as sliders from Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to start in immediate succession.
A Consecutive Start Order Creates Proximity
The start list, published on Thursday, places Ukraine's Andriy Mandziy as the second competitor down the Mount Van Hoevenberg track. He will be followed directly by Matvei Perestoronin, a Russian athlete competing as an independent neutral. This sequence all but guarantees the two will cross paths at the track's summit and likely again in the finish area after their initial runs.
The arrangement also increases the possibility of interactions between Ukrainian and Russian coaching teams. The order was determined by results from Thursday's Nations Cup qualifier, where the top five finishers earned World Cup starting positions in reverse order. Perestoronin placed third and Mandziy fourth, leading to their adjacent slots on Saturday's start sheet.
Russian Participation Under Scrutiny
This weekend marks the first World Cup events Russian sliders have been permitted to enter since the 2021-22 season, shortly before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Only three of an intended six Russian athletes were cleared to compete in Lake Placid after the International Luge Federation (FIL) received new evidence suggesting three others were not neutral regarding the war.
The remaining trio—Perestoronin, Pavel Repilov (men's luge), and Daria Olesik (women's luge)—have been training separately from Ukrainian athletes this week. Their participation is crucial for keeping alive their hopes of qualifying for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, in line with International Olympic Committee guidance allowing neutrals in individual sports.
A Community's Stance and Olympic Stakes
The atmosphere in Lake Placid is expected to be supportive of Ukraine, given the village's strong ties to the nation's sliding community. Local residents have actively aided Ukraine during the war, even raising the Ukrainian flag in solidarity. On Wednesday, Ukrainian athletes joined a walk of support with locals, carrying flags and signs condemning Russian aggression.
The Lake Placid race is the third of five Olympic qualifying events. With the final two races scheduled for Latvia and Germany—where Russian athletes may face visa complications—strong results this weekend are vital for the neutral athletes' Olympic ambitions.
In related sliding sports news from Sigulda, Latvia, Belgium’s Kim Meylemans won the women's skeleton World Cup on Thursday, with Britain’s Tabitha Stoecker claiming second place.
