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- Russian athlete Ksenia Korzhova will compete at the 2026 Olympics: who is she and what is she known for
Russian athlete Ksenia Korzhova will compete at the 2026 Olympics: who is she and what is she known for
In just a couple of seasons, Russian speed skater Ksenia Korzhova has gone from a promising junior to one of the main hopes of the national team at the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy. How she came to speed skating and what prospects Ksenia has at the Olympics in Milan — in the material of Izvestia.
Childhood in the North and the first steps in sports
The future champion of Russia was born on September 30, 2004 in Olenegorsk, Murmansk region. As a child, Ksenia chose speed skating, while her twin sister Victoria took up figure skating. Ksenia herself also tried her hand at figure skating, but this sport did not attract her. At the same time, the sisters have supported each other in training and competitions for many years.
The idea to send Ksenia to speed skating was suggested by her grandmother. The athlete took her first steps at the Olymp Olympic Reserve Sports School, where she quickly established herself as one of the main hopes of the region. Korzhova regularly won inter-regional competitions and attracted the attention of coaches from leading training centers.
At the age of 16, she moved to Kolomna, a key training base for Russian speed skaters, where she began working under the guidance of Natalia Zykina. Already at the junior level, the athlete entered the All-Russian arena, becoming a participant in national championships and international junior tournaments under the auspices of the ISU.
Studies and the first steps in a sports career
In 2024, Korzhova entered the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports at Murmansk Arctic University (UIA). She combines her studies with a busy training schedule, preparing for long-distance starts that require significant physical exertion and a lot of work.
In the same year, the athlete became the winner of the Russian Speed Skating Championships at a distance of 5,000 m. Commenting on Korzhova's success, one of her mentors, a representative of the Skating Federation and head of the UIA Department of Physical Education and Sports, Mikhail Shelkov, noted that medals of the national championship are won in tough wrestling and are the result of many years of purposeful work.
According to him, Ksenia consistently went to the title of national champion, having achieved a Russian record, prizes at the junior World Championships and victory at the national championship. He stressed that the training of an athlete of this level is the result of the joint work of coaches, the federation and the Ministry of Sports, and the university provides scientific and methodological support, expressing confidence that with the close cooperation of the university and the regional Ministry of Sports, the number of high-class young athletes can increase.
Over time, Korzhova gained a foothold in the main Russian national team and began competing at the World Cup, scoring points in the long-distance competition. During this period, she received the title of Master of Sports of Russia, and specialized experts and the media began to call her one of the key figures of the updated women's national skating team.
The athlete herself noted that she perceives sports as a life's work and values first of all the path, not the awards themselves, emphasizing that achievements are only the result of perseverance, perseverance and faith in the best result.
Main achievements: from the Russian Championships to the World Cup
In recent years, Ksenia has become a multiple national champion, especially showing herself at distances of 3 thousand and 5 thousand m. In 2025, she had one of her best seasons, winning the national championship at three distances at once — 1.5, 3 and 5 thousand m, which distinguished her among competitors as a universal stayer.
The winners of the women's 1500 m race at the Russian Speed Skating Championships in the Kolomna Center at the award ceremony from left to right: Alexandra Sayutina - 2nd place, Ksenia Korzhova - 1st place, Anastasia Semenova - 3rd place
A separate stage in her career is reaching the international adult level, where Korzhova confidently fights for high places. At the World Cup in Hamar, Norway, in December 2025, she won the 3 thousand B division race. m and became one of the best long-distance specialists.
Among her key achievements in recent seasons are:
victories at the Russian championships at distances of 3 and 5 thousand meters;
gold medal in division B at the World Cup in Hamar (Canada);
a personal best of 3 thousand meters is 3:59.95, which made it possible to overcome the four—minute mark for the first time;
stable performances at the World Cup stages and getting into the elite ranking over long distances.
The path to the Olympic Games in 2026
On December 13, 2025, Ksenia Korzhova officially won the Olympic license for the 2026 Games. Following the results of the four World Cup stages, she scored 87 points and took 17th place in the long-distance ranking. This result secured the athlete's right to compete at the Olympics and was an important achievement for the Russian speed skating school ahead of the Games in Italy.
At the same time, Korzhova, like other Russian athletes, will compete in Milan in a neutral status: the decision of the relevant commission allowed them to compete in compliance with the established requirements. For the skater herself, participation in the Olympics will be an opportunity to prove herself on the main winter sports arena and gain a foothold among the elite of world speed skating. Ksenia will perform at the Olympics on February 7.
"It doesn't matter to me where and with whom I run. I don't focus on my opponent, I'm interested in my performance, I focus more on myself," Korzhova said in an interview with Sport-Express.
The main expectations from Korzhova's performance are related to the 3 thousand m distance, where she consistently shows results at the level of four minutes. With the preservation of her current form and a favorable distribution of starting conditions, the athlete is able to claim high positions in the final ranking and intervene in the fight for medals.
Experts call age an additional factor in her favor: by the Olympic Games in 2026, Korzhova will be 21 years old. Even in the absence of a medal result in Milan, the experience of her Olympic debut performance can become an important basis for the next Olympic cycle and consolidate her status as one of the leading athletes of the Russian women's national speed skating team.
Korzhova's personal life and hobbies
Outside of sports, Ksenia Korzhova enjoys reading, traveling, cooking and crocheting. According to her, knitting helps to relax, and she often gives toys made with her own hands to family and friends.
In an interview, the athlete noted that she has been reading a lot lately, knitting and cooking with pleasure, remaining open to new experiences and activities, including outside of speed skating.
She also said that a post-season trip to Sri Lanka with Kamila Khanbalayeva and getting to know surfing became an important experience for her: this episode helped her understand that physical fitness allows you to try different activities and choose what really brings pleasure. According to Korzhova, the key factor remains interest in the chosen occupation — in this case, everything else builds up by itself over time.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
