At the Winter Paralympics held in Milan-Cortina, Russian athlete Barbara Bolontikhina secured the first medal for her team, achieving a bronze in the women's standing downhill event with a time of 1:24.47. After the race, she acknowledged the applause from the crowd with a raised hand, marking a significant moment for Russian athletes competing under their national flag since being barred from the previous Winter Games in Beijing due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Bolontikhina expressed her happiness at winning her first medal after being unable to compete in the 2022 Beijing Games, emphasizing the personal achievement while deflecting questions from reporters regarding the implications of competing against Ukrainian athletes, stating, 'I don’t want to talk about politics.' This highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding sports and politics, particularly given the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which continues to overshadow Russian participation in international sports events.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided to allow Russian athletes to compete as a national team again in this edition of the Games, reversing prior sanctions. This decision permits the use of the Russian flag and national anthem, signaling a shift in policy, yet echoes of past controversies remain, especially considering Russia's previous exclusion due to state-sponsored doping scandals and the ongoing geopolitical struggles. Bolontikhina's win thus serves as a focal point for discussion around the role of politics in sports, an area she expressly chose to avoid during her interviews.