Since 1998, Belarusian freestyle skiers have consistently won medals at every Olympic Winter Games. Each Olympic cycle, the Belarusian school of freestyle demonstrates its strength. It has become a tradition. While it's unwise to make predictions about the performances of Belarusian athletes in Milan -predictions, as we know, are a thankless task - it is certainly worth believing and hoping that this time, Belarusian freestyle will stay true to its legacy. It is also worth getting to know the athletes representing this renowned school at the 2026 Olympic Games, especially since the competition is about to begin. Hanna Huskova, Anna Derugo, and Anastasiya Andryianava will start their qualification rounds in the aerials event on 17 February. Chairman of the Belarus Ski Union Aleksandr Grebnev spoke to BelTA about their preparation and chances for success.
Unique case
The very fact that the athletes have the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games is a major success. This is not a matter of sports analysis, but of life itself. The Olympic qualification period in freestyle skiing spans two competitive seasons: in this case, the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. Belarusian athletes, having been suspended from international competitions, missed the entire previous season. On 2 December 2025, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the International Ski Federation's decision to bar Belarusian athletes from international competitions. A small window of opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games opened. No one was going to let it slip away.
As Aleksandr Grebnev notes, events then unfolded with incredible speed. "On December 2, we received the court's decision, and on 3 December, we submitted documents to obtain neutral status for our athletes. Normally, this procedure takes up to 30 days, but with the support of the National Olympic Committee, we accelerated the process by every conceivable and inconceivable means. We even sent the athletes to one of the World Cups so they could wait for a response there and, if neutral status was granted, immediately take to the start line. Yes, we took risks, including financial ones. But our main objective was to qualify for the Olympic Games. And the risk was justified. By the time our athletes were confirmed for neutral status, only two World Cups in Canada, two in the USA, and one in China remained before the end of the Olympic qualification period. A new quest had begun. The whirlwind of events that unfolded in that short time could easily serve as the plot for an adventure epic,” he said.
The tournament in China, where the Belarusians competed, ended on 20 December. And then the New Year holidays came, sending all embassies on vacation. And the athletes, it should be recalled, vitally needed to obtain visas in order to compete at the World Cups in the United States.
The decision was made to skip the World Cup stages in Canada because obtaining visas to Canada is extremely difficult and there simply wasn’t enough time. Therefore, all efforts were focused on competitions in the United States. Fortunately, the visa issue was resolved favorably, and the athletes were able to compete in the qualifying events.
As a result of all this hassle, Hanna Huskova, Anna Derugo, and Anastasiya Andryianava qualified for the Olympic Games. This is a unique case for freestyle skiing, as breaking into the top 25 in such a short time is extremely difficult. But, as it turns out, it is entirely possible.
Online system will handle everything
“What particularly pleased me was the consistency of our athletes and the Belarusian freestyle school as a whole. No matter how difficult it was, the girls delivered consistent jumps. It’s important to add that before the World Cup stage in China, they hadn’t spent a single day on snow; they were practically performing straight from dry land. They arrived, trained for two days, and then went to compete. This speaks volumes about the skill, courage, and strength of the athletes and the professionalism of the coaching staff. And it speaks volumes about how determined everyone was to compete in the Olympics. The desire to compete at the Olympic Games was so great that they achieved the practically impossible. We knew perfectly well that our chances of qualifying for Milan were 50/50. Because it’s not the world ranking that counts, but the ranking determined by the results of qualifying competitions over a two-year period. Of course, there were concerns that the situation might turn against us. They say paper can handle anything. In our case, it was the online system, which shows the real state of play in the rankings. And our girls broke through. We always hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” emphasized Aleksandr Grebnev.
According to him, it was exactly the same in this case. “It’s a bit disappointing that the men couldn’t qualify for the Olympics. But it’s encouraging that we have people to work with and train for the next Olympic Games. The Belarusian freestyle school has consistently demonstrated good results and progress for the last 30 years. And I urge our athletes to uphold such fine traditions,” said the chairman of the Belarus Ski Union.
Fusion of youth and experience
The most experienced athlete on the Belarusian team, Hanna Huskova, is continuing the traditions she herself helped establish. The 2018 Olympic champion and 2022 Olympic silver medalist has struggled with injuries this season. But her athletic character helped her overcome them and remain competitive. “Hanna has two Olympic medals, and I always remind her that God favors trinities. Hanna is a highly motivated athlete, a person with a strong inner core. She’s a true fighter, someone you could take on reconnaissance or any combat mission,” Aleksandr Grebnev noted.
For Anna Derugo, the Milan Games are her second Olympic appearance. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she had a solid jumping program, but according to her, emotions kept her from advancing from the qualification round to the final. Over the past four years, Anna has consistently delivered strong results and significantly improved her form. “Anna is an intellectual, a thoughtful athlete who loves to learn and explore new things. She is highly ambitious in the best sense of the word and is quite strong technically,” Aleksandr Grebnev said.
Anastasiya Andryianava is the youngest athlete on the team, yet she already has Olympic experience. At the previous Olympic Games, she advanced to the final, finishing 12th. Over the four years from Beijing to Milan, she has continuously honed her skills. “Anastasiya is someone who constantly works on herself and strives to master new things. She is open to challenges and unafraid of difficulties. Anastasiya is a very good strategist and a resilient athlete who knows how to pull herself together when it matters most,” the head of the Belarusian Ski Union said.
Thus, at the 2026 Olympic Games, Belarusian freestyle skiing will be represented by a blend of youth and experience. Whether it will be harder for Hanna Guskova, on whom fans pin their hopes and rivals look with apprehension, or for Anastasiya Andryianava, who does not carry the weight of big titles, is a rhetorical question. But one thing is clear: it will not be easy for any of the athletes in Milan.
Only up and forward
“Athletics needs internal competition. It inspires and motivates. I am glad that athletes with different personalities and achievements are going to the Olympics. They are all talented and multifaceted. Freestyle skiing is a special sport, practiced by people with a particular mindset. Each of our athletes is unique. I will never believe that any of them will be afraid of difficulties. At the Olympic Games, we will see absolutely honest, fair, genuine athletic competition. Competition with rivals, competition within the team, and competition with oneself. It will be very compelling,” Aleksandr Grebnev said.
However, at the Olympic Games, the athletes will have to contend not only with their rivals and themselves, but also with the fact that freestyle skiing has evolved over the four years they have been absent from international competitions. Progress cannot be stopped, and the sport is changing. According to Aleksandr Grebnev, the main battle at the Olympic competition will be between those who are already performing triple somersaults and those capable of executing doubles flawlessly: “Our motto - Only Up and Forward! - applies both on the ski jump and in life. We, of course, keep an eye on our rivals, analyze their jumps, and understand what they will bring to the Olympic Games. But I am firmly convinced that the Olympics and World Cup stages are completely different competitions from a physical and psychological standpoint. Because the Olympic Games are also a battle of psychology: whoever is stronger mentally will emerge victorious. And that is what makes the Olympics so wonderful - it is full of surprises.”
Valeriya Stetsko,
photos by the Belarusian Ski Union and the NOC of Belarus,
BelTA
Follow us on:
