Vladimir Semirunniy

Vladimir Semirunniy
Personal information
Born (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002
Sport
CountryPoland
SportSpeed skating
Event(s)
5000m, allround
Medal record
Men's speed skating
Representing  Poland
Olympic Games
2026 Milano Cortina 10000 m
World Single Distances Championships
2025 Hamar 10000 m
2025 Hamar 5000 m
World Allround Championships
2026 Heerenveen Allround
European Championships
2026 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 5000 m
2026 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 1500 m
Representing  Russia
World Junior Championships
2022 Innsbrück 5000 m

Vladimir Sergeyevich Semirunniy (Russian: Владимир Сергеевич Семирунний) or Władimir Siemirunnij in Polish (11 December 2002) is a Polish speed skater. He won a silver and a bronze medal representing Poland at the 2025 World Championships. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres event. Semirunniy placed third at the 2026 World Allround Championships.

Career

In January 2022, Semirunniy represented Russia and won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in Innsbruck. In February that year, Russia invaded Ukraine and Russian athletes were banned from international competitions. In that season, Semirunniy won the Russian national championships in the 5,000 meters.

In September 2022 he decided to leave Russia to pursue his international sports career.[1] In Poland, he could train with the national team but faced a 14-month suspension from competitions.

In the 2024–25 season, Semirunniy became the national Polish allround speed skating champion and set a national record in the 10,000 meters. Later that season, he obtained a silver medal at the 10,000 meter race and a bronze medal at the 5,000-meter race of the 2025 World Championships in Hamar, Norway.[2][3]

On 26 August 2025 he received Polish citizenship.[4] Semirunniy won the silver medal at the 10,000 meter race of the 2026 Winter Olympics. It was Poland's second medal of the games.[5] At the 2026 World Allround Championships, Semirunniy obtained the bronze medal.[6]

References

  1. ^ "The Russians were furious. Their great talent wants to represent Poland. Big scandal - SURE ODD PREDICTION". 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  2. ^ Tilles, Daniel (2025-01-11). "Speed skater who fled Russia and condemned invasion of Ukraine makes debut for Poland". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  3. ^ "Sensacja na MŚ! Rosjanin reprezentujący Polskę napisał historię". Sport.pl (in Polish). 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  4. ^ "Władimir Semirunnij z polskim obywatelstwem! Będzie mógł reprezentować Polskę na igrzyskach w Mediolanie". TVP Sport (in Polish). 26 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  5. ^ Goutam Hoom, Rahul (2026-02-13). "Russian-Born Olympian Wins at Milan Games After Forfeiting Citizenship forAnother Country". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  6. ^ "Poland's Semirunniy wins bronze at world all-round speed skating championships - English Section". www.polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2026-03-22.