A Belarusian biathlete who fled her country due to her family’s political stance has achieved a milestone by competing for a refugee team.
Escape from Persecution
Darya Dolidovich, now 21, sought refuge in Poland at age 17 after authorities barred her from the Beijing Winter Olympics. Her father, Sergei Dolidovich, had joined protests against President Alexander Lukashenko’s re-election, which critics claimed was rigged. The family feared arrest amid the crackdown.
Sergei Dolidovich stated at the time: “Darya has been stripped of her right to take part in competitions. I don’t see the possibility of her continuing her career in Belarus. We could be accused of staging a demonstration and shouting opposition slogans, then just be sent to prison. Three months ago, I couldn’t have imagined, even in a nightmare, that I would end up leaving my country.”
Revival in Biathlon
In Poland, Dolidovich rebuilt her career in biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. She became the first athlete to represent the Biathlon Refugee Team (BRT), established in 2024 to support competitors displaced by war or political threats.
Dolidovich made her BRT debut last month at a Biathlon World Cup event in Oberhof, Germany. In the women’s 7.5km sprint, she finished 68th among a strong field, hitting eight of 10 targets with solid shooting.
Olympic Restrictions and Future Hopes
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, international rules limit Russian and Belarusian athletes. For the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, qualified individuals compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), without national flags or anthems. They use a teal AIN flag and a neutral instrumental piece.
Athletes must prove no support for the invasion and no links to military or security forces. Only individual events allow participation, excluding team sports like ice hockey. Just 20 athletes—13 Russians and seven Belarusians—met criteria for 2026 across disciplines such as figure skating and freestyle skiing.
Dolidovich did not qualify this time, but her youth positions her well for future opportunities, including the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
