A qualifying tournament where you can’t really qualify for anything. It is the wondrous and tragic reality of the Russia Cup, the tournament in Kolomna where Russian skaters could have qualified for the international competitions normally last week.

The Russia Cup is comparable to the World Cup qualifying tournament that will be held in Thialf this weekend.

But where Femke Kok secured participation in the World Cups in Stavanger, Heerenveen and Calgary with her second place over 500 meters, Angelina Golikova hardly made any progress with her victory over the shortest distance.

“I’m prepared for anything, but I live from day to day,” Golikova said in an interview with NOS correspondent Iris de Graaf. “If they say you’re going somewhere, we’re going. If they say we have nowhere to go, here we go.”

Watch the report from Russian Kolomna below:

Golikova became world champion in 500 meters in Thialf in 2021 ahead of Kok and last February took bronze at the Beijing Olympics over the same distance. For the time being the last tournament in which the Russians took part.

Due to the invasion of Ukraine shortly after the Games and subsequent sanctions against Russia and Belarus, skaters from both countries were banned from participating in all international competitions. More than training in the home port of Kolomna, 2018 still the scene of the distance European championships, is not possible.

“We can’t be angry because… Well, it’s decided for us. What can we do?” Golikova wonders.

“At first you think: It’s difficult, but we’ll survive. But after a while it becomes more and more difficult,” said Golikova.

According to the Russian team manager Sergei Gryaztsov, the mood in the team is still good. “But I can say that our frontrunners obviously lack motivation now that they have to do without their competitors internationally.”

“How is it there in the Netherlands?”

Although Thialf is further away than ever for the Russians in Kolomna, Golikova remains in touch with Kok via social media. “I text her every once in a while. How is the training going, for example, but also simple questions about everyday things.”

“Sometimes I want to know: how is it in the Netherlands? When you talk about it, it’s a bit like I’m traveling around the world.”

“Cook, I miss you!” Golikova laughs wistfully.

Kok looks with pity on the plight of some of its biggest competitors. The Russian sprinters are among the best in the world. In addition to Golikova, world leaders include Olga Fatkulina and, at least in recent years, Pavel Kulizhnikov and Ruslan Murashov.

Kok wished that she could once again compete with Golikova on the ice rink. “Golikova says: The situation is very difficult and we have no influence on it,” said Kok. “But you train for competitions. And if you’re not allowed to do that, that’s obviously super pissed off.”

“We are non-political people”

Golikova doesn’t really address the political situation in her country. “We athletes are non-political people. We live in a kind of ‘skate aquarium’, it’s our own little world.”

But it is very questionable how freely the Russians can talk about politics, explains correspondent De Graaf. “During the interview there is someone filming everything the whole time and it is constantly emphasized that we should not ask politically charged questions.”

A return to the international sports world does not seem likely for the time being. IOC President Thomas Bach recently stated that the suspension of Russia and Belarus would be maintained.

But that doesn’t even seem to be Gryaztsov’s main concern. “I hope professional athletes don’t get drafted into the army. We will continue to train and show results on the rink.”

Golikova: “I’m still alive, I still have my arms and legs. And so we continue.”

Check out the program of the last day of the Dutch World Cup qualifier below: