Eye-Catching Outfits Lighting Up World Figure Skating Championships in Stockholm

The Swedish capital has been brightened up by bold leotards as various countries compete in the World Figure Skating Championships.

However, Russia is not officially one of them, which is why one particular outfit has caught the eye. It's being sported by skaters representing the Figure Skating Federation of Russia; Russian skaters aren't allowed to compete for their country – there's no tricolour or emblem on their costumes because in 2019 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Moscow from all international sport for four years. As a result, entering as members of the federation is the only way to skate for the Russians.

What's more, during the awards ceremony, the Russian national anthem was replaced by Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1.

Check out Sputnik's photo gallery to see the most striking skating costumes worn by competitors from the likes of Belarus, France, Italy, Japan, China, and the United States.

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France's Cleo Hamon and Denys Strekalin in action during the pairs free skating final at the World Figure Skating Championship in Stockholm on 25 March 2021.

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Konstantin Milyukov of Belarus performs during the Men Short Programme in Stockholm.

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Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise of Italy perform during in Pairs Free Skating category.

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Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise of Italy perform during the Pairs Short Programme.

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Bradie Tennell of the US during a practice session.

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Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan performs during men single's short programme.

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Russia's Alexandra Trusova in action during the women's short programme.

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Russian pair Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov perform during the Pairs Short Programme.

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Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky of Russia.

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Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China perform during the Pairs Short Programme .

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Rika Kihira of Japan performs competing in the women single's short programme.

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Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia in women single's short programme.

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Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihar in action during the pairs short programme.