Belarusian skaters Puzanau, Safonova to vie for Olympic spots

Belarusian athletes will compete in 2025 ISU Figure Skating Olympic Qualifying Competition due in Beijing on 18-21 September, the press service of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus told BelTA.

Belarus’ Yauheni Puzanau in men’s singles and Viktoriia Safonova in women’s singles will compete for spots at the Olympic Winter Games 2026 in Italy. The remaining quota spots will be obtained in Beijing: five each in men’s singles and women’s singles, three in pairs, and four in ice dance. Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) can only secure one quota per discipline.

The competitions in Beijing will be held at China’s National Indoor Stadium. The women’s short program is scheduled for 19 September, with the free skate to follow the next day. The men will compete in the short program on 20 September and in the free skate on Sunday.

The figure skating tournament of the Winter Olympic Games will be held at the Milano Ice Skating Arena from 6 to 19 February 2026. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Viktoriia Safonova finished 13th in women’s singles.