BORMIO, Italy – A 23-year-old Russian ski mountaineer made Olympic history Thursday by becoming the first individual neutral athlete to earn a medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, taking silver in the inaugural men’s ski mountaineering sprint competition.
Nikita Filippov climbed onto the podium as friends cheered “Nikita, Nikita” from the stands, though no Russian flags were visible due to International Olympic Committee regulations. The crowd showed no hostility toward the silver medalist, and fellow athletes expressed no concerns about his participation.
While Filippov noted he hasn’t faced negativity in person during his time in Italy, he acknowledged receiving critical comments on social media platforms. “I don’t care about this,” he stated, choosing instead to focus on the welcoming nature of the ski mountaineering community.
Spanish competitor Ot Ferrer Martinez, who finished fifth, voiced his support: “I’m very happy that Nikita is here and he can compete and show his level.”
The result didn’t shock those familiar with the sport, as Filippov had claimed bronze at a World Cup sprint event in Spain earlier this month. French bronze medalist Thibault Anselmet, who won that February competition, regularly competes alongside the Russian. “Nikita is really strong, he’s a great athlete,” Anselmet commented.
For Filippov, the Olympic medal represented the fulfillment of childhood aspirations, though it came with additional pressure as social media users labeled him the “main hope” for a neutral athlete medal. “I told myself, ‘Just relax, Nikita, do your thing and the medal will come,’” he reflected.
The unique circumstances weren’t lost on the young athlete. “It’s hard because I see other athletes with flags of their nations and wearing uniforms of their nations,” Filippov explained to reporters following his race. “But it’s OK, everybody knows what country I am from, and I’m just happy to be here and to realise my childhood dream.”
Looking ahead, Filippov expressed optimism about future competitions. “I hope next year, after the Olympics – in World Cups and overall in the world – we’ll be no neutral athletes, where we’ll be just like in the past,” he said.
