A Russian Olympic cross-country skiing champion becomes a mother.

Olympic champion: “I’m changing jobs and becoming a mom”

With an amusing saying, a reigning Olympic cross-country skiing champion announced a happy message: she will soon be a mother.

September 20, 2024

From: det

Things have been very quiet for Russian winter sports stars over the past two years. Due to the war of aggression against Ukraine, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has banned all of the country's athletes from competitions until further notice. And so cross-country skier Veronika Stepanova has hardly competed in any races on the big stage.

The 23-year-old was one of the greatest talents in cross-country skiing until she was excluded from Russia. At her first Olympic Games in Beijing, Stepanova immediately won the gold medal as the final runner in the women's relay. She also won a World Cup victory with the relay team.

For the past two years, Stepanova has continued to be a cross-country skier, but no longer on the big World Cup stage. Now she has announced her pregnancy with an amusing Instagram post. "I am temporarily changing my job and preparing to achieve the greatest gold in my life: I am going to be a mother. See you in the 2025/26 Olympic season."

Amusing saying at the Olympics

Stepanova is known for her amusing sayings. At the 2022 Olympics, she responded to a Swedish reporter who suspected the Russian women's relay team of cheating in the race by using unauthorized ski wax: "Why don't you look in my underwear? Maybe I'm hiding a motor in there."

Veronika Stepanova celebrates after her Olympic victory with the relay team. © AFP / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

The Olympic champion is certainly looking forward to her new task. However, it is not yet clear whether Russian athletes will be allowed to take part in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina.