Adelina Sotnikova, who controversially won a gold medal over Yuna Kim at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, is once again at the center of controversy during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This time, her comments during a broadcast on the Russian streaming platform Okko, regarding a competitor's misstep, have sparked outrage. Sotnikova suggested that the mistake was beneficial for her fellow Russian athletes, raising questions about her impartiality, especially given that she herself was embroiled in past fairness controversies. Her comments are particularly striking coming from someone once accused of having their victory influenced by judging biases.

The incident occurred during the women's single short program on February 18, where a strong medal contender, Amber Glenn of the United States, had her score plummet after a more complex jump was deemed invalid. While Glenn was visibly upset, Sotnikova's remarks highlighted a sense of nationalistic pride rather than the camaraderie expected in competitive sports. Such comments have reignited discussions regarding the integrity of Rusisan athletes competing in the Olympics under neutral status, where the expectation is to uphold the Olympic spirit above national biases.

This scenario has led to a wider backlash on social media and among the figure skating community, with many expressing that there should be respect for fellow competitors, regardless of national affiliations. Sotnikova’s choice of words has come under fire for not adhering to the principles of neutrality, particularly with her use of 'we' when referring to the advantage gained for Russian athletes. As this controversy continues to unfold, it raises critical questions about whether past injustices in sports judging will ever be fully addressed and rectified in the pursuit of fair competition in Olympics.