Russian cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov has dismissed the current level of competition in Olympic cross-country skiing as “a circus,” claiming that winning medals has become too easy. His comments, reported by the Russian news agency Sport-express, came after watching events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
Bolshunov, who was barred from competing internationally following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, specifically referenced the dominance of Norwegian skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who has won six gold medals across three Olympic Games. “I just watched the skiathlon at the beginning. Then I realized: just arrive, get the medals and leave, it’s simple. That’s why I don’t watch it anymore,” Bolshunov reportedly said.
Klæbo, responding to Bolshunov’s remarks through Norwegian broadcaster NRK, expressed skepticism. “I don’t know what to say. We see that Savelij Korostelev has won everything in Russia. But it’s not just for him to come and pick up those medals. So I don’t know if it’s as easy as that,” he stated. Korostelev, who competed as a neutral athlete at the Olympics, finished fifth in the 50km freestyle event.
Eirik Myhr Nossum, the Norwegian national team coach, also disputed Bolshunov’s assessment. “I don’t quite believe that. But a Bolshunov in good form would of course have been one of those we would have feared the most. But I still think Klæbo could have gone home with six golds, even if Bolshunov had been there,” Nossum told NRK.
Bolshunov recently won a sprint race at the Russian national championships, but finished fifth in a 20km skiathlon, according to Tass. This performance has fueled further debate about the current disparity in competitive levels.
Ansgar Evensen, a Norwegian sprinter who did not qualify for the Olympics, also questioned Bolshunov’s claims. “He was good a few years ago and I don’t know what his level is like now. But I didn’t have the same feeling, at least. It was a good level, without a doubt. I don’t think I can support that claim,” Evensen said to NRK.
Bolshunov’s last international competition was in Lahti, Finland, four years ago. He attempted to participate in the 2026 Olympics as a neutral athlete, but his application was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to the FIS website, Klæbo has won 109 individual World Cup races and five overall titles as of March 3, 2026.
Torgeir Bjørn, NRK’s cross-country skiing and biathlon expert, suggested Bolshunov’s comments stem from frustration at being excluded from international competition. “I think first and foremost it’s a sign that Bolshunov misses competing against the best skiers in the world. Last time it was the Olympics in 2022, he was the best skier in the world. It must be terrible to be on the sidelines, but I don’t think Bolshunov in today’s form could just pick up medals.”
