Former Soviet biathlete Alexander Tikhonov, a four-time Olympic champion, has caused outrage with his shocking comments directed at Finland after the country confirmed it would continue to ban Russian athletes from competing on its territory.
Finland Stands Firm on Ban Against Russian Skiers
Sirpa Korkatti, president of the Finnish Ski Association, announced that Russian cross-country skiers will not be allowed to participate in the World Cup opener in Ruka (November 28–30) — even if the International Ski Federation (FIS) decides to reinstate them to international competition.
Korkatti explained that Finland’s entry restrictions for Russian citizens remain in force, meaning the athletes would still be barred from entering the country regardless of FIS policy. The final decision from FIS concerning the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics is expected on October 21.
Tikhonov’s Outburst Sparks Outrage
In response to Finland’s stance, Alexander Tikhonov made an incendiary statement to the Russian sports outlet vseprosport.ru, which has since sparked widespread condemnation.
“I would turn that country of damned Finns into Hiroshima — as a warning to all other nations. We should think about sport, not politics. They’ve mixed everything up. Back in the USSR, we used to say we had no friends except soldiers and sailors. But we thought Finland and the Baltic states were our brothers. I always knew that wasn’t true,”
said the 78-year-old biathlon legend.
Russian Athletes Still Under Suspension
Russian cross-country skiers have been suspended by FIS since March 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions have been extended twice, excluding Russian athletes from two full World Cup seasons and all major international competitions.
Tikhonov’s remarks come amid growing debate within international sport about whether Russian athletes should be allowed to return to competition ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. His comments, however, have drawn sharp criticism for crossing the line from sports commentary into open hostility and hate speech.
