- Rising star edges out Japanese and Canadian rivals to secure top podium finish amid ongoing neutral-status policy
BANGKOK, Thailand – Russian figure skater Sofia Dzepka captured the gold medal in the women’s singles event at the 2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix, held on Friday in Bangkok.
Dzepka, 17, delivered a commanding performance across both the short and free skate programs, accumulating a total score of 205.73 points. Japan’s Sumika Kanazawa claimed the silver medal with 202.79 points, while Canada’s Lia Cho took bronze with 192.75 points.
A medalist at the 2025 Russian Junior Championships and winner of the 2026 Russian Junior Grand Prix Final, Dzepka also secured a victory earlier this season at the ISU Junior Grand Prix event in China in August 2026.
Neutral Status in Effect
Since March 2022, the ISU had barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions under its purview, citing the geopolitical situation in Ukraine. However, at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the ISU permitted two Russian skaters—Adelia Petrosyan and Petr Gumennik—to compete as neutrals.
In a subsequent policy shift, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in July 2026 the reinstatement of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and recommended the removal of participation restrictions for Russian athletes across international tournaments, both in team and individual events.
Effective from the 2026/27 season, the ISU has officially allowed Russian figure skaters to return to international competition under neutral status, paving the way for Dzepka’s gold-medal performance in Bangkok.
BY: The Times Union
