In July, during the nomination process, 53 applications were received from 36 all-Russian sports federations for Olympic sports . The elections themselves took place in August, with the ROC sending out 518 ballots to all current Russian champions in Olympic disciplines. Each athlete could choose up to 10 candidates to vote for.
At the end of counting, 10 athletes received the most votes, including three current members of the Commission: Anastasia Fesikova, Sofya Velikaya, and Olga Denshchikova. According to the rules, five more athletes were appointed to the Commission by the ROC Chairman Michael Degtyarev: Vladlena Bobrovnikova, Maria Gruzdova, Bogdan Kiselevich, Anastasia Maksimova, and Taras Khtey.
The 15 members of the new Commission represent 14 sports, while athletics is represented by two athletes. The gender equality principle has been observed, with eight women and seven men in the Commission. It should be noted that most of the new members are active athletes.
The Commission chair and deputy chair will be elected at the first meeting of the renewed ROC Athletes’ Commission, which will take place in the near future.
The ROC Athletes’ Commission composition:
Vladlena Bobrovnikova
Sport: Handball
Achievements: Olympic champion (2016), Olympic silver medalist (2020), World Championship bronze medalist (2019), Europa League winner (2017), Champions League finalist (2019), six-time Russian champion, multiple winner of the Russian Cup and Super Cup
Sofya Velikaya
Sport: Fencing
Achievements: Two-time Olympic champion (2016, 2020), three-time Olympic silver medalist, eight-time world champion, 14-time European champion, multiple World and European Championships medalist. A member of the ROC Athletes’ Commission since 2016, its chairwoman until December 2022
Maria Gruzdova
Sport: Weightlifting
Achievements: Silver medalist at the BRICS Sports Games (2024) and the ALBA Games. Bronze medalist at the World Youth Championships. Champion and winner of the Russian Cup.
Artur Dalaloyan
Sport: Artistic Gymnastics
Achievements: Olympic champion (2020), three-time world champion, five-time European champion, multiple medalist at World and European Championships, silver medalist at the BRICS Sports Games (2024), multiple Russian champion.
Olga Denshchikova
Sport: Skeleton
Achievements: First Russian winner of a World Cup stage (2011), silver medalist at the World Junior Championships (2012), multiple Russian champion, participant of the Sochi Olympic Games, member of the ROC Athletes’ Commission since 2022.
Semyon Elistratov
Sport: Short-track
Achievements: Olympic champion (2014), two-time Olympic bronze medalist, world champion (2015), 14-time European champion, multiple World and European Championships medalist, multiple World Cup stage winner and medalist.
Bogdan Kiselevich
Sport: Ice Hockey
Achievements: Olympic champion (2018), World Championships bronze medalist (2017), two-time winner of the Gagarin Cup (2022, 2025), five-time winner of the Continental Cup.
Polina Knoroz
Sport: Athletics
Achievements: winner of the BRICS Sports Games in pole vault (2024), winner of the Diamond League stage, Russian champion, multiple medalist at Russian championships.
Mark Kondratyuk
Sport: Figure Skating
Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2022), European champion (2022), Russian champion, three-time medalist at the Russian Grand Prix finals, multiple winner and medalist at international and Russian competitions.
Anastasia Maksimova
Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics
Achievements: Olympic champion (2016), Olympic silver medalist (2020), seven-time world champion, five-time European champion, three-time European Games winner (2015, 2019), three-time Universiade champion (2013), multiple World and European Championships medalist, member of the ROC Athletes’ Commission since 2016.
Alexander Maltsev
Sport: Artistic Swimming
Achievements: Seven-time world champion, three-time World Championships silver medalist, six-time European champion, four-time champion at the BRICS Sports Games (2024), multiple winner and medalist at World Series stages, multiple Russian champion, was recognized four times as the world’s best synchronized swimmer at the year end.
Valery Pronkin
Sport: Athletics
Achievements: Silver medalist at the World Championships in hammer throw (2017), European Junior champion (2013), silver medalist at the European Youth Championships (2015), winner of the BRICS Sports Games (2024), multiple Russian champion, Olympic Games participant (2020)
Anastasia Fesikova
Sport: Swimming
Achievements: Olympic silver medalist (2012), World Champion (2011), four-time World Championships silver medalist, four-time European Champion, four-time European Championships silver medalist, winner and medalist of the European Short Course Championships, three-time Universiade Champion (2013), member of the ROC Athletes’ Commission since 2021.
Gulnaz Khatuntseva
Sport: Cycling
Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2020), European champion (2021), three-time silver and two-time bronze medalist at European Championships, winner and medalist at international competitions, multiple Russian champion.
Taras Khtey
Sport: Volleyball
Achievements: Olympic champion (2012), Olympic bronze medalist (2004), World Championships silver medalist (2002), European Championships silver medalist (2005), World Cup winner (2011), two-time World League winner (2002, 2011), two-time Russian champion, Russian Cup.
