Alexander Ovechkin speaks out on 2026 Winter Olympic Games
Photo credit: Youtube
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina are right around the corner, and fans are looking forward to the ultimate best-on-best tournament ice hockey has to offer. While the Winter Games will undoubtedly be spectacular, new reports indicate that Russia will be barred from participating.
While we like to keep politics out of our blog, it's really unfortunate that that Russian athletes are suffering the consequences of broader geopolitical issues.
Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has been extremely vocal about Russia's dismissal from the games, and the 2026 Olympics is likely his last opportunity to represent his country on the global stage.
Alexander Ovechkin wants to play in the Winter Olympics
According to RMNB, Ovechkin has long mentioned his desire to win an Olympic gold medal, and has played in three prior Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014) without winning a medal of any sort. Ovechkin's mother, Tatyana, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the Soviet Union (1976, 1980).
«The Olympics are in my blood and everybody knows how much I love my country,» Ovechkin said in 2018. «My mom was a two-time Olympic champion, and when I start to play hockey, I dream that if I have chance to play for my country, I will do it every time they ask me.
«Ever since I was good enough to play on Men's National Team, whenever they ask me, I play. I am proud that we win on Junior team and for the National team in World Championships, but we do not win the most important thing yet: Olympic Gold Medal.»
Russia is likely to be barred from the 2026 Winter Olympics, and it's clear just how much it's impacting the Caps' captain.
TRANSLATED: «The issue of participation of Russian national teams in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games was raised at the Congress of the International Ice Hockey Federation,» the tweet reads, per a translation from Google Translate. «The IIHF, the ROC and the FHR will hold additional consultations on this issue in the summer. The final decision will be made later.»
While no official decision has been made by the Olympic committee, 2026 will unfortunately be Ovechkin's last opportunity to represent his country on the international stage.
More details to follow.
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 118 ANSWERS Alexander Ovechkin speaks out on 2026 Winter Olympic Games Do you think Russia should be banned from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games? | ||
| Yes | 71 | 60.2 % |
| No | 47 | 39.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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