Road to Beijing 2022

Russian sport has its eyes focussed on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics which are taking place in China from February 4 to 20.

The country will be competing in every Olympic sport, and has medal hopes in several of them.

A total team of 212 athletes - 109 men and 103 women - has been sent to China.

Training camps were utilised across the country to prepare the Russian squad.

As with Tokyo 2020, Russia made use of its vast geography by holding some camps in the east of the country.

These put athletes into a similar time-zone to China - reducing challenges caused by travel fatigue and jetlag. 

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko announced in December 2021 that 10 training camps had been opened, taking into account the Chinese climate and time-zone. 

Some athletes were also sent abroad, including Russian skiers who attended a training camp in Italy.

Speed skaters, who will compete in Beijing for the greatest number of medals, trained in Irkutsk in the Chinese time-zone.

Their camp took place at the Baikal Ice Palace, where they were five hours in front of Moscow.

Other training camps have taken place in Novogorsk, Sochi, Kolomna, Yaroslavl, Bannoye, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and Krasnoyarsk.

After the Winter Olympics, the Paralympics will follow between March 4 and 14.

Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin have wished the country's athletes good luck in Beijing.

Putin said: "Leaders of the Russian Olympic Team - a good and old tradition. 

"I am happy that despite the circumstances, it continues, albeit in a different format. 

"I understand well how important it is to hear the wishes before the long journey and serious challenges. 

"This is important for each of us, and the challenges that you will face, are more than serious, a test of character, willpower. 

"Very soon you will represent our country at the Beijing Winter Olympics. 

"First of all, I wish you good health and fighting mood, and also congratulations on joining the national team.

"Everyone who entered the Olympic team thinks about important, responsible competitions. 

"You went to them after years of hard and exhausting training, you have earned the right to present your talent. 

"You have proved that you are worthy to continue the great traditions of Russian sport. 

"The pandemic has seriously changed the way of our lives, but you were able to overcome difficulties, strengthen your character even more and make the selection for the Olympics."

"Before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, it was not an easy path, and we went through it together as a team," Matytsin said. 

"Each of you is already a winner, you are real heroes representing a great country at the Olympic Games. 

"The most important step remained before the fulfillment of the cherished dream, and at this moment the support of team-mates, friends, all residents of Russia is very important.

"Rest assured, we will support you along the way. 

"The whole country proudly follows your performances in Beijing, the Russian anthem and flag are always with you. 

"Let the energy of compatriots inspire and charge you with victorious energy. 

"Support each other, keep a positive attitude and confidently go to your goal.

"I wish you health, successful performances and beautiful victories at the Games in Beijing."

Beijing 2022 sports

Alpine skiing

Russia has qualified three men and four women for Alpine skiing at Beijing 2022.

The country will also compete in the mixed team event.

Svetlana Gladysheva is the country's only medallist in the sport - winning super-G silver at Lillehammer 1994.

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Biathlon

Russian biathletes have won 22 medals in the country's Winter Olympic history since Lillehammer 1994 - including nine golds.

It is one of the country's most successful Olympic sports, and five men and five women have qualified for Beijing 2022.

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Bobsleigh

Russia has won a silver and a bronze medal in its Winter Olympic bobsleigh history.

Qualification was based on the 2021-2022 season.

Two Russian sleds have qualified in the four-man event, as well as two in the two-man.

Two sleds will compete in the women's two-man, as well as one in the women's monobob - Nadezhda Sergeeva.

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Cross-country skiing

In cross-country skiing, Russia has qualified the maximum eight women and eight men for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Cross-country proved to be a fruitful sport for the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at Pyeongchang 2018.

The country won eight medals, with Alexander Bolshunov contributing four after he won three silvers and a bronze.

Russia has won 41 Olympic cross-country medals - 14 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze - since first appearing at the Winter Olympics in the post-Soviet era at Lillehammer 1994.

Bolshunov won gold at the 2021 Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti in Oberstdorf in Germany, in the 30 kilometres skiathlon, and is part of the Beijing team.

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Curling

Russia has earned quota spaces in both the men's and women's curling tournaments at Beijing 2022.

The women qualified after the rink skipped by Alina Kovaleva finished as runners-up at the 2021 World Women's Curling Championships in Calgary.

At the 2021 World Men's Curling Championships, also in Calgary, the Russian men qualified for the Winter Olympics after the rink skipped by Sergey Glukhov finished fourth.

Russia has never won an Olympic medal in curling.

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Figure skating

Figure skating is Russia's most successful Winter Olympic sport, earning the country a fantastic 16 gold medals, 11 silver and three bronze.

At Pyeongchang 2018, the country won gold and silver in the women's event with Alina Zagitova leading Evgenia Medvedeva.

Silver was also claimed in the team event.

Through the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships in Stockholm, Russia qualified 17 skaters for Beijing 2022 - two men's, three women's, three ice dance duos and three pairs.

It has now been confirmed that three male skaters will represent the country, taking the total to 18.

Russians won three of the four gold medals available at the World Championships in Sweden's capital.

Anna Shcherbakova won the women's title, Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov were crowned as pairs champions and Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov were the ice dance winners.

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Freestyle skiing

Russians have confirmed 23 quota spots for freestyle skiing at Beijing 2022, across the disciplines of aerials, slopestyle, moguls, halfpipe, big air and ski cross. Fourteen women and nine men will compete.

The country won two freestyle medals at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, with this success adding to the four freestyle medals previously won by Russia at the Winter Olympics.

At the 2021 Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships, Russian freestyle skiers brought home four gold medals to help the country top the medal table.

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Ice hockey

Russia have qualified both its men's and women's ice hockey teams for Beijing 2022.

The men, who are the defending Olympic champions after winning gold at Pyeongchang 2018, earned their space as they placed second in the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) 2019 world rankings.

The women's team booked their spot by ending fourth in the IIHF world rankings in 2020.

Gold at Pyeongchang 2018 meant Russia now has a full set of Winter Olympic medals, after previously winning silver and bronze.

Two Russian men's squads were planned for Beijing 2022, while the decision on if National Hockey League (NHL) players would play was ongoing. It has now been confirmed that the NHL will not be involved in China. 

Russia's men have also qualified for the ice hockey competition at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.

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Luge

Russia's luge haul from the Winter Olympic Games stands at three silver medals.

Qualification for Beijing covered the 2021-2022 campaign, with three Russian men, three Russian women and two doubles pairings qualifying.

At the 2021 World Luge Championships, Russian Roman Repilov was the men's gold medallist and he will be a big hope in Beijing.

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Nordic combined

Russia has qualified three male athletes for the Nordic combined competitions at Beijing 2022.

The country has won a single bronze medal in the sport in its Winter Olympic history.

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Short Track

Russian short track athletes have celebrated three golds, one silver and two bronze medals in the country's Winter Olympic history.

One bronze was claimed last time out at Pyeongchang 2018.

Following the completion of the 2021-2022 World Cup season, countries were informed of their Beijing 2022 quota places on December 13, 2021.

Nine skaters will form the Russian team across the men's and women's events.

There will be five women and four men in China, with the country also earning a spot in all three relay competitions.

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Skeleton

Skeleton has provided Russia with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Winter Olympics.

As with bobsleigh, qualification for Beijing 2022 has been based on the 2021-2022 season.

Three Russian men and three women have booked their place in China.

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Ski jumping

The Russian Olympic Committee team has qualified five men and four women for ski jumping at Beijing 2022.

Russia has never won an Olympic medal in the sport.

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Snowboard

Snowboarders from Russia have won five Olympic medals - two golds, two silver and a bronze.

Russians won two gold medals at the 2021 Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships.

Fourteen Russians have booked their sports at Beijing 2022 across the disciplines.

Eight will compete in the parallel disciplines, with five in snowboard cross.

Vlad Khadarin will compete in both big air and slopestyle.

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Speed skating

In speed skating, Russians have won three golds, five silver and six bronze medals at Beijing 2022.

Sixteen skaters from the country have booked their places at the Winter Olympics.

There will be eight men and eight women.