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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that the International Olympic Committee has now extended invitations to nine Russian athletes to compete as “neutrals” in Milan Cortina ‘26.
These include cross country skiers Savely Korostelyov and Daria Nepryayeva, figure skaters Adelia Petrosyan and Pyotr Gumennik, ski mountaineer Nikita Filippov, short track speed skaters Ivan Posashkov and Alyona Krylova and speed skaters Ksenia Korzhova and Anastasia Semyonova.
Nepryayeva and the figure skaters are considered as possible medal winners. Two lugers also have qualifying point totals, but must still be approved by the IOC. Russian and Belarusian athletes have had to apply individually and pass an IOC review of their “neutrality” concerning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Raising Cane’s restaurants have announced a new entry in its plush puppy program with a co-branded Bobsled Plush Puppy for a limited time, saluting USA Bobsled & Skeleton, for which Raising Cane’s is a premier sponsor.
Introduced in conjunction with USABS “hype man” Flavor Flav, the new plush toy features the Raising Cane’s puppy in a red, white and blue speedsuit – in a USABS sled, of course – and is available in stores or online for $13.99. It’s a limited edition, available only from 14 January to 24 February of this year. USABS-themed drink cups and collectible pins are also available.
As for funding USABS, the fine print notes:
“Net Proceeds (purchase price before tax minus production cost) equals a minimum of $3.00 per Plush Puppy. Ends 2/24/26 or while supplies last. Raising Cane’s Restaurants, LLC has committed to a minimum donation of $200,000 to USA Bobsled & Skeleton.”
● Figure Skating ● The ISU European Championships concluded last week in Sheffield (GBR) and the ISU Four Continents Championships – for everyone else – is on this week in Beijing (CHN).
As yet one more way to gauge American skaters against competitors they will see at the Olympic Winter Games, we can compare winning scores from Sheffield against the U.S. Nationals:
Men:
● Euro: 273.00, Nika Egadze (GEO)
● U.S.: 324.88, Ilia Milanin
Women:
● Euro: 216.14, Niina Petrokina (EST)
● U.S.: 233.55, Amber Glenn
Pairs:
● Euro: 215.76, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO)
● U.S. 1: 207.71, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov (not Olympic eligible)
● U.S. 2: 197.12, Ellie Kan and Danny O’Shea
Ice Dance:
● Euro: 222.43, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA)
● U.S.: 228.87, Madison Chock and Evan Bates
Please note that the ISU does not recognize scores from national championships, but only for ISU-supervised events. So, the scores are not absolutely comparable. But it’s still fun.
● Football ● Amid chatter that European countries might consider boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a stand against the Trump Administration’s stated desire to acquire Greenland, French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told RMC Sport television:
“At the stage we’re talking about now, our ministry has no desire to boycott this major competition. But I’ve also heard voices coming from certain political blocs. I want us to separate sport from politics.”
● Ice Hockey ● Hockey insider reporter Chris Johnston posted Wednesday that the International Ice Hockey Federation is continuing its sanctions against Russian and Belarusian team, per a vote at the IIHF Council meeting.
● Ski Jumping ● After winning eight individual medals this season, Austria’s Lisa Eder finally got a World Cup win – her first – on the final day of women’s jumping in Zao (JPN), off the 102 m hill.
Eder led the first round of jumps and came back with a third in the second round to score 227.9 points, just ahead of second-round winner Nika Prevc (SLO: 226.5), with Canada’s Abigail Strate in third (222.3). Annika Belshaw was the top American, in 20th (183.8).
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