Five athletes represent Bashkiria of 169 Russian athletes admitted by IOC to Olympic Games

UFA, 26 January 2018. /Bashinform News Agency, Daria Petrova/. The International Olympic Committee has published a list of Russian athletes admitted to the Olympics in Pyeongchang. The Republic of Bashkortostan will be represented by five people:

- Anton Babikov (biathlon);

- Ernest Yachin (Nordic combined);

- Christina Spiridonova (freestyle);

- Olga Sosina (hockey);

- Semen Elistratov (short track).

The Russian national ice hockey team also includes a trainee of the Ufa Salavat Yulaev, now competing for St. Petersburg SKA, Andrei Zubarev.

According to the Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, the list of 169 athletes is official and final. "The IOC will send the Olympic Games invitations to the athletes included in it. At the same time, they can take any decision about their participation or non-participation in the Games", the Russian Olympic Committee website quotes Kolobkov.

Meanwhile, Semen Elistratov on his Instagram page announced his intention to go to Pyeongchang.

"The Olympic Games mean not only a medal and a podium, they mean families who root for us, believe in us and give us part of their lives, this is not an easy road called "life for a dream", the athlete writes.