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Germany To Have No Women’s Singles Figure Skater at 2026 Olympics

The decision follows an August assessment that found no woman with realistic qualifying chances after national champion Kristina Isaev retired.

Overview

  • The Deutsche Eislauf-Union confirmed it will not enter a woman at the September 19–21 Olympic qualifier in Beijing after its Oberstdorf test produced no viable candidate.
  • Seventeen-year-old Genrikh Gartung was selected over national champion Nikita Starostin for the men’s qualifier based on the federation’s view of his chances to earn a quota.
  • Gartung does not yet hold German citizenship and would need to obtain it in time to compete at the Olympics if he secures a place in Beijing.
  • Germany already holds two pairs and one ice dance Olympic quotas earned at the 2025 World Championships in Boston.
  • The ISU shifted the remaining Olympic qualification from the Nebelhorn Trophy to a standalone Beijing event with five women’s spots available, and a German woman could now only appear via a team-event berth.