Alexander Enbert, the silver medalist of the 2018 Olympics in the team event and bronze medalist of the 2019 World Championships in pairs skating, has weighed in on reports that Sofia Muravyova, the 2024 Russian National Championships silver medalist, may be considering a change of sports citizenship.
“I am neutral about it. An athlete seeks the best path for their own development in sports. Changing sports citizenship is one of those paths. It is spelled out in the regulations of the ISU and our federation. So, if she sees her future in another federation as more promising, that is her decision. The athlete always knows better than outside experts or spectators—she understands her own readiness, situation, condition, and so on. Therefore, I wish Sofia success with any sports citizenship she chooses.”
When asked whether Muravyova could be called a traitor, Enbert firmly responded: “No, you cannot. There is a regulation for changing sports citizenship, including a quarantine period the athlete must observe and a release from the figure skating federation. It is a completely normal procedure. For example, I skated with Natalia Zabiyako. She changed her sports citizenship. She first competed for Estonia, and then we skated together for Russia. This is a normal process in all countries.”
Enbert’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about Muravyova’s future in Russian figure skating. The 19-year-old skater has reportedly expressed intentions to withdraw from the Russian national team, seeking new opportunities abroad. Such moves have become increasingly common in the sport, with athletes weighing competitive prospects, training conditions, and personal growth against national loyalties.
