Three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov missed the 30 km classic technique mass start at the Russian Roller Skiing Championship in Malinovka on 21 September.
Senior coach of the Russian national cross-country skiing team Yuri Borodavko confirmed that Bolshunov did not take part in the race, according to Russian newspaper Sport-Express.
Borodavko stated that the star skier had originally intended to compete in the mass start. However, the senior coach acknowledged that he did not know the specific reasons behind the athlete's absence from the starting line.
Coach comments on decision making
Borodavko explained that he and Bolshunov operate under an explicit agreement concerning competition schedules. Under this arrangement, the skier retains full autonomy to decide which races he will enter throughout the season.
Borodavko told Sport-Express that Bolshunov is an adult who is fully responsible for his own actions. The coach added that if Bolshunov chose not to attend the competition, there was undoubtedly a valid reason for the decision.
Borodavko suggested that journalists address any further inquiries about the missing start directly to Bolshunov, noting that the athlete would be able to offer a far more detailed explanation of his circumstances.
Mass start results in Malinovka
With Bolshunov out of the field, Alexey Chervotkin secured victory in the men's 30 km classic mass start on 21 September.
Saveliy Korostelev took second place in the competition, while Sergey Ardashev finished third to round out the podium positions.
Background on Bolshunov and national team
Bolshunov is widely regarded as one of the dominant figures in international cross-country skiing. He achieved major career highlights at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, where he secured three gold medals across individual and relay disciplines, alongside overall World Cup titles.
Borodavko serves as senior coach for Russia's elite cross-country skiing squad. He oversees the specialized training group that includes Bolshunov as well as several other leading members of the national team.
Role of roller skiing in seasonal training
The Russian Roller Skiing Championship in Malinovka, located in the Arkhangelsk region, is a central fixture of the domestic summer and autumn preparation calendar. Roller skiing utilizes specialized wheeled frames on asphalt tracks, replicating cross-country skiing techniques when snow is unavailable.
National team athletes use these autumn competitions to test endurance, evaluate equipment, and sharpen race tactics ahead of the upcoming winter cross-country skiing season.
