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- The Daring skier: how Savely Korostelev made his way to the international starts and the 2026 Olympics
The Daring skier: how Savely Korostelev made his way to the international starts and the 2026 Olympics
The rising star of Russian skiing, Savely Korostelev, grew up at a ski base from childhood and went from a junior world champion to a Russian Cup winner, forming the image of an athlete who goes beyond the usual. He became the first Russian skier to return to the international arena in a neutral status in preparation for the 2026 Olympic Games. For more information about Korostelev's biography and sporting career, see the Izvestia article.
Biography of Savely Korostelev: birth in a sports dynasty
Savely Korostelev was born on November 30, 2003 in Perm in a family where skiing was an integral part of everyday life. His mother Natalia Korosteleva is a bronze medalist at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver in the team sprint. The athlete's uncle Nikolai Morilov also became a medalist at the Olympic Games and world Championships.
Natalia Korosteleva at the team sprint freestyle race at the XXI Winter Olympic Games in 2010
The foundations of Korostelev's sports career were laid by his grandparents, Alevtina and Sergey Morilov, honored coaches of Russia, who put Savely on skis. Pavel Korostelev, the athlete's father, went through biathlon and cross-country skiing school, and later worked as a servicer for the Russian national team.
Natalia Korosteleva previously noted that she trained almost before giving birth, and a month after the birth of her son, she returned to training. During this period, little Savely was next to her at the ski base, spending time in a wheelchair by the track.
Education and a unique approach to racing
Alexander Kravchenko became his first coach outside the family circle. A significant breakthrough in Korostelev's career occurred in 2020 at the Russian Student Sports Contest in Krasnoyarsk, where he won a gold and two bronze medals. In February 2022, the athlete won two gold and a silver at the World Junior Championships in Norway.
Subsequently, Korostelev quickly established himself among the leaders of Russian ski racing, becoming the winner of the Cup of Russia in the 2024/25 season.
Savely Korostelev, who took first place in the overall standings in the men's cross-country skiing competition at the Cup of Russia in Kirovsk
The athlete's educational trajectory has developed outside the box: he graduated from the Physics and Mathematics Lyceum, which, according to him, helps him in competitive activities. Korostelev noted that he closely follows the performances of other skiers and tries to learn from their experience, including analyzing the tactical decisions of Johannes Klebo.
After graduating from high school, the athlete entered the Smolensk State University of Sports, where he studies remotely in the field of coach training. The analytical mindset formed during his studies helps him to build a racing strategy and quickly assess the situation at a distance.
The path to the international arena by Savely Korosteleva
Korostelev stands out noticeably against the background of the usual image of a professional athlete. For his bright and provocative style, he is often called the most daring skier: he experiments with his appearance, including dyeing his hair in the colors of the flag of Tatarstan and going out in public as a Joker.
The athlete actively runs a Telegram channel, willingly communicates with the press, avoiding memorized formulations, and does not shy away from publicity after unsuccessful performances.
His history on the international stage began in February 2022 at the World Junior Championships in Norway. This start was Korostelev's first major international tournament and was immediately successful: he won and rose to the podium under the flag and anthem of Russia. Thus, Savely actually became the last Russian skier awarded at international competitions with national symbols.
The very next day, the rules changed, and subsequent awards were held under a neutral flag. Later, Korostelev was among the athletes deprived of the opportunity to compete at international competitions at the very beginning of his career. Almost three years later, he became the first Russian skier to return to the international arena.
Return to neutral status: CAS decision and Davos debut
After the Court of Arbitration for Sport recognized the decision of the International Ski Federation (FIS) as unlawful and allowed the filing of individual applications, Korostelev traveled to Europe without guarantees to prepare for international starts. Egor Sorin, the senior coach of the Russian national team, explained this step by the need to prepare in conditions as close as possible to those in which key competitions take place, noting that when conducting the main starts in the mountains, training should also be conducted in mountainous terrain.
The athlete passed an individual check to obtain a neutral status without formal comments. He was one of the first to be admitted to international competitions and soon arrived in Davos, where he made his World Cup debut.
Savely Korostelev participates in the prologue of the men's free technique sprint at the World Cup of Cross-country skiing in Davos
During Korostelev's training sessions, he was warmly welcomed by foreign athletes, and his communication was calm and working. He was greeted by one of the leaders of the world ski racing, Johannes Klebo, and some competitors expressed support and said a few kind words.
Savely Korostelev will perform at the Olympics on February 8, 10, 13 and 21.
Preparations for the Olympic Games – 2026
Savely Korostelev's preparation for the Olympic Games began long before he received neutral status and was largely conducted at his own expense. Over the past year and a half, the athlete has spent about 120-130 days at an altitude to adapt to the conditions of future competitions.
According to him, he considers the cost of training camps as an investment in himself and his career, and the goal was clear: to prepare for the 2026 Games and be competitive at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, where the Olympic starts will take place. The athlete also solved all the formal issues in advance, including obtaining a Schengen visa, so as not to postpone important details until the last moment.
Korostelev's athletic achievements cover both the junior and adult levels:
— Two-time World Junior Champion (2022, Norway);
— winner of the overall Russian Cup (2024/25 season);
— two-time champion of Russia in team sprint and relay (2024 and 2025);
— Two-time winner of the Russian Youth Spartakiad (2023 and 2024).
Personal life and interests outside of sports
Savely Korostelev's personal life remains closed to public attention. In his free time, the athlete prefers to watch football, rooting for Barcelona, as well as TV series, among which his favorite is The Territory.
As for finances, Korostelev notes that he is saving up for his own apartment. He leads a modest lifestyle and sees the prize money as an investment in the future.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
