Darya Dolidovich, a Belarusian biathlete, achieves a milestone by competing for the newly formed Biathlon Refugee Team (BRT) after fleeing her homeland due to political persecution.
Exile from Belarus Amid Political Unrest
Four years ago, authorities in Belarus barred the then-17-year-old Dolidovich from the Beijing Winter Olympics. She and her family sought refuge in Poland, fearing reprisals following her father Sergei’s involvement in protests against President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed re-election. Critics claim the vote was rigged, with Lukashenko maintaining close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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.”
Reviving Career with Refugee Team
Now 21, Dolidovich rebuilds her biathlon career—which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting—in Poland. She becomes the first athlete to represent the BRT, established in 2024 to support competitors displaced by war or political oppression.
Dolidovich debuts for the team at the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Germany, finishing 68th in the women’s 7.5km sprint. She demonstrates strong marksmanship, hitting eight of 10 targets.
Challenges for Neutral Athletes at 2026 Olympics
Post-2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, sanctions limit Russian and Belarusian athletes. Eligible competitors enter the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), displaying a teal flag with an AIN emblem and a neutral anthem. Participants must prove no support for the invasion or links to military/security forces, competing only in individual events.
Only 20 athletes—13 Russians and seven Belarusians—qualify across disciplines like figure skating and freestyle skiing. Dolidovich falls short but, at her young age, eyes future opportunities, potentially at the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
