President of the Romanian Ski Biathlon Federation (FRSB) Puiu Gaspar told AGERPRES that at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games at least 16 athletes will compete across all five disciplines, alpine skiing, biathlon, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and ski jumping, for the first time in the history of participation in the world's top competition.
'At the meeting of the Executive Committee we approved both the qualified athletes and the technical teams for participation in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games and we also had to confirm the allocation of quota places other than those directly qualified by athletes, because apart from alpine skiing, where the International Olympic Committee allocated us one women's place and one men's place, the other disciplines qualified through the results achieved by athletes at Olympic competitions. Practically, at this moment we have 16 qualified athletes, who by discipline are as follows: in biathlon, four men and one woman, Marian Coltea, George Buta, Dmitrii Shamaev and Raul Flore, and in the women's event Anastasia Tolmacheva. In snowboarding we have two women, Kata Mandel and Henrietta Bartalis. In cross-country skiing we have two men and one woman, Paul Constantin Pepene and Gabriel Cojocaru, and Delia Reit. In ski jumping we have two women and two men, Daniela Toth and Delia Folea, and for the men competition Daniel Cacina and Mihnea Spulber. The last athletes for whom we received a quota of one women's place and one men's place in alpine skiing are Andrei Tudor Stefanescu and Sofia Moldovan. The two qualified following a trial held with the other Romanian athletes who were eligible for participation in the Olympic Games. There are five sports disciplines. All the disciplines overseen by the federation have athletes qualified for the Olympic Games. It is the first time in the federation's history that we have athletes qualified in all five disciplines,' Gaspar told AGERPRES.
The FRSB official added that Romania still has the possibility of receiving an additional quota place if another nation withdraws an athlete from participation.
'We are obliged, through the Olympic Committee, to accept the places we have won for participation in the Olympic Games, just as other national federations have the obligation to confirm to their national Olympic committees, which in turn confirm to the IOC and the relevant international federations. If any nation gives up quota places or places to which athletes have qualified directly, then those ranked next in the world standings move up one, two or more positions and changes may occur. From our point of view, the only place we could potentially fill would be in women's biathlon, through Andreea Mezdrea. She is first below the cut-off line and it is unlikely that someone will give up a won place, but we are waiting in the hope that this might also happen. On 22 January we will know exactly whether anyone withdraws and whether we can benefit from one more place,' Puiu Gaspar explained.
The objectives of the FRSB at the 2026 Olympic Games are one top 10 finish and two top 15 finishes, the federation president said.
'The objectives for this edition are one place in the top 10 and two places in the top 15 at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. I believe this objective can be achieved because the athletes have shown on many occasions that they can reach the top 10. Let us hope that the preparation conditions and how they feel on competition days will ensure that the objectives assumed together with the athletes and technicians are also reflected in the results achieved in competition. This would also represent confirmation of the growth of winter sports in Romania in recent years,' Puiu Gaspar added.
The 14th edition of the Winter Olympic Games will take place between 6 and 22 February 2026 in Italy, in Milano Cortina. More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries are expected to compete for 195 medals in 16 Olympic sports disciplines.
Comentează