Who Is to Blame and What Is to Be Done? The Rise and Fall of Russian Authority in the Olympics
Journal: Journal of Olympic Studies
Year: 2023

In February, I sat riveted as the Russian women's singles figure skating team imploded during the final free skate at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. I witnessed the despair of the gold medal favorite, Kamila Valieva, as her dreams evaporated in repeated (and highly uncharacteristic) falls. I was fascinated by the anger and frustration of the silver medalist, Aleksandra Trusova, who seemed angrier at losing the gold than happy about her own success at making the podium. I felt the insecurit