politics
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How Russian Athletes Got to The Olympic Games in Paris
How Russian Athletes Got to The Olympic Games in Paris
July 30, 2024
- Yuriy Marin
Digital Media Producer and Journalist
Journalist Yuriy Marin looks at the complex and varied paths of Russians to the Olympics and points out that the Kremlin has mostly avoided the topic of Russian athletes’ “neutral” status.
On July 26, the XXXIII Olympic Games opened in Paris. As expected, Russia as a national team is not represented there – starting with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Russian athletes have not been allowed to compete for their country, initially due to a doping scandal, technically competing as representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee or even just independent “Olympic athletes from Russia.”
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) went further: first it limited the participation of individual athletes based on strict recommendations and then put in place an additional “verification of neutrality” without announcing official criteria. Another barrier was formal qualification: to be invited to the Games, for most disciplines you must go through a selection process, achieving the Olympic entry standard at certain authorized competitions. Previously, Russians generally did this at European competitions, where they are now no longer allowed, meaning they have had to hastily go to Asia to qualify.
But even the Russians athletes who managed to gain coveted admission to European and international competitions over the past two years have run into trouble.
Tournament brackets have periodically pitted them against Ukrainians, often ending in scandals during handshakes (see Russia.Post about it here). (The Ukrainian Olympic Committee has even obtained official permission specially for the Olympic Games not to shake hands with Russians.)
The restrictions have affected not only athletes but also some journalists and physiotherapists, as well as volunteers. Security is the official reason given.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) went further: first it limited the participation of individual athletes based on strict recommendations and then put in place an additional “verification of neutrality” without announcing official criteria. Another barrier was formal qualification: to be invited to the Games, for most disciplines you must go through a selection process, achieving the Olympic entry standard at certain authorized competitions. Previously, Russians generally did this at European competitions, where they are now no longer allowed, meaning they have had to hastily go to Asia to qualify.
But even the Russians athletes who managed to gain coveted admission to European and international competitions over the past two years have run into trouble.
Tournament brackets have periodically pitted them against Ukrainians, often ending in scandals during handshakes (see Russia.Post about it here). (The Ukrainian Olympic Committee has even obtained official permission specially for the Olympic Games not to shake hands with Russians.)
The restrictions have affected not only athletes but also some journalists and physiotherapists, as well as volunteers. Security is the official reason given.
“Overall, 15 athletes from Russia are to compete as ‘individual neutral athletes’ at the Olympics.”
Russian Daniil Medvedev is one of the top tennis players in the world right now and a contender for the gold in Paris. Source: Wiki Commons
Russians competing as ‘neutral’ athletes
Neutral status is not new: Yugoslav athletes competed at the 1992 Games as “independent Olympic participants” as their country was breaking apart. This term quickly became a convenient way to integrate athletes who could not be accredited by national committees due to conflicts with the IOC (for example, the Indian and Kuwaiti committees in 2014 and 2016, respectively) or the lack of such bodies in their countries (East Timor in 2010 and South Sudan in 2012). However, these were always specific solutions used to remove formal obstacles. In the case of Russia today, this status is being applied on a permanent basis.
According to the conditions for “individual neutral athletes” (INAs), they do not have the right to use national emblems or logos, while the national anthem is not to be played or sung at medal ceremonies. Medals received by INAs are not to be included in national medal tables.
Russian tennis players are the biggest INA group, with seven going to Paris and Daniil Medvedev, the star of Russian tennis, being one of the favorites to win gold (he is currently ranked fifth in the world). Other notables are 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and 20-year-old Diana Schneider (21st and 22nd place in the women’s world rankings). Interestingly, there could have been even more representatives of Russian tennis in Paris had Andrei Rublev and Karen Khachanov not refused to go.
Tamara Dronova, Alena Ivanchenko and Gleb Syritsa will represent Russia in cycling, though their chances of reaching the podium are slim.
Three more athletes (Alexei Korovashkov, Zakhar Petrov and Olesia Romasenko) will compete in rowing, with Korovashkov and Petrov expected to be contenders for bronze. They will face the challenge of using unfamiliar boats, as they were not allowed to bring their own.
One of the most interesting stories will be US-based swimmer Evgenii Somov, who, having several years ago retired and switched to coaching, has unexpectedly posted the third best result in the world in the 100-meter breaststroke. Somov never placed in individual events, even at the Russian national championships, but his phenomenal performance this year inspires hope that he could medal.
Finally, the main hope of the Russian team is 19-year-old Angela Bladtseva, who less than a month ago won the Trampoline World Cup. Coming off this performance, she is considered the favorite in Paris.
Russians who were invited but refused to go
Besides the abovementioned tennis players Rublev and Khachanov, the Russian delegation in Paris could have been bigger if wrestlers and judokas had agreed to go.
Ten “neutral” Russian wrestlers green-lighted for Paris, though 16 should have gone based on the initial criteria and performance (the spots were issued to the national Olympic committee, which distributed them itself), but six of the picks were rejected after the additional neutrality verification – all the top wrestlers were disallowed, including two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulayev.
Neutral status is not new: Yugoslav athletes competed at the 1992 Games as “independent Olympic participants” as their country was breaking apart. This term quickly became a convenient way to integrate athletes who could not be accredited by national committees due to conflicts with the IOC (for example, the Indian and Kuwaiti committees in 2014 and 2016, respectively) or the lack of such bodies in their countries (East Timor in 2010 and South Sudan in 2012). However, these were always specific solutions used to remove formal obstacles. In the case of Russia today, this status is being applied on a permanent basis.
According to the conditions for “individual neutral athletes” (INAs), they do not have the right to use national emblems or logos, while the national anthem is not to be played or sung at medal ceremonies. Medals received by INAs are not to be included in national medal tables.
Russian tennis players are the biggest INA group, with seven going to Paris and Daniil Medvedev, the star of Russian tennis, being one of the favorites to win gold (he is currently ranked fifth in the world). Other notables are 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and 20-year-old Diana Schneider (21st and 22nd place in the women’s world rankings). Interestingly, there could have been even more representatives of Russian tennis in Paris had Andrei Rublev and Karen Khachanov not refused to go.
Tamara Dronova, Alena Ivanchenko and Gleb Syritsa will represent Russia in cycling, though their chances of reaching the podium are slim.
Three more athletes (Alexei Korovashkov, Zakhar Petrov and Olesia Romasenko) will compete in rowing, with Korovashkov and Petrov expected to be contenders for bronze. They will face the challenge of using unfamiliar boats, as they were not allowed to bring their own.
One of the most interesting stories will be US-based swimmer Evgenii Somov, who, having several years ago retired and switched to coaching, has unexpectedly posted the third best result in the world in the 100-meter breaststroke. Somov never placed in individual events, even at the Russian national championships, but his phenomenal performance this year inspires hope that he could medal.
Finally, the main hope of the Russian team is 19-year-old Angela Bladtseva, who less than a month ago won the Trampoline World Cup. Coming off this performance, she is considered the favorite in Paris.
Russians who were invited but refused to go
Besides the abovementioned tennis players Rublev and Khachanov, the Russian delegation in Paris could have been bigger if wrestlers and judokas had agreed to go.
Ten “neutral” Russian wrestlers green-lighted for Paris, though 16 should have gone based on the initial criteria and performance (the spots were issued to the national Olympic committee, which distributed them itself), but six of the picks were rejected after the additional neutrality verification – all the top wrestlers were disallowed, including two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulayev.
“In protest, the Russian Wrestling Federation decided to skip the Games, announcing this as a unanimous decision of all the athletes, with each having made the decision independently.”
There was a minor scandal, however: Shamil Mamedov remained registered until the last minute, though he eventually withdrew, citing injury.
A similar story played out with judo. The IOC allowed only four Russian judokas to participate in Paris, even though 17 had qualified and there were initially 12 spots given to the Russian Judo Federation. As with the wrestling team, it was the top judokas and contenders that were disallowed – for example, the 2023 world champion Inal Tasoev and Tokyo Olympics medalist Madina Taimazova.
“In this situation, the presidium of the Russian Judo Federation has made the unanimous decision that the Russian national judo team will not accept the humiliating conditions and will not compete at the Games in Paris with the roster proposed by officials from the IOC,” said Sergei Soloveichik, who heads the federation.
Russian athletes in other teams
Another way for Russians to get to Paris was switching their sporting nationality. The flight of Russian athletes to other national teams (see Russia.Post about it here) began immediately after February 24, 2022, and was motivated by concerns about the upcoming Olympics and also broader career prospects.
Among those who have managed to change their sporting nationality since then, there are many second-tier athletes, as well as juniors who have yet to make a name for themselves. Yet there are also those who are considered favorites in their disciplines and stand a chance at medaling in Paris.
A similar story played out with judo. The IOC allowed only four Russian judokas to participate in Paris, even though 17 had qualified and there were initially 12 spots given to the Russian Judo Federation. As with the wrestling team, it was the top judokas and contenders that were disallowed – for example, the 2023 world champion Inal Tasoev and Tokyo Olympics medalist Madina Taimazova.
“In this situation, the presidium of the Russian Judo Federation has made the unanimous decision that the Russian national judo team will not accept the humiliating conditions and will not compete at the Games in Paris with the roster proposed by officials from the IOC,” said Sergei Soloveichik, who heads the federation.
Russian athletes in other teams
Another way for Russians to get to Paris was switching their sporting nationality. The flight of Russian athletes to other national teams (see Russia.Post about it here) began immediately after February 24, 2022, and was motivated by concerns about the upcoming Olympics and also broader career prospects.
Among those who have managed to change their sporting nationality since then, there are many second-tier athletes, as well as juniors who have yet to make a name for themselves. Yet there are also those who are considered favorites in their disciplines and stand a chance at medaling in Paris.
Promising track cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev changed his sporting nationality so as to qualify for the Olympic Games without any additional conditions. Source: Wiki Commons
The most painful loss for Russia might be track cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev, who will represent Israel at the Games. Twenty-three years old, he has already medaled at the World and European championships, even setting an unofficial world record in the 200-meter race.
Wrestlers Alexander Komarov (the 2024 European champion and multiple-time world champion as a junior) and Dauren Kurugliev (a world champion multiple times) moved to the national teams of Serbia and Greece, respectively, and also look to be contenders for medals in Paris. Magomed Ramazanov, another Russian wrestler who switched his sporting nationality, will represent Romania.
Among swimmers, the biggest departure is that of Anastasia Kirpichnikova, who will compete for the Olympic host (she has already managed to set a French national record in the 1,500-meter freestyle), while in rowing, 2021 European champion and Asian Games gold medalist Hanna Prakatsen has chosen to continue her career with Uzbekistan.
Track and field athlete Elena Kulichenko is a separate case. Before the war, she received a sports scholarship from the University of Georgia and has been training there ever since. She later took Cypriot citizenship and not only qualified for the Games but became the national team’s flag bearer. Adding more color to her story is the discovery of an account with erotic pictures on OnlyFans, though Kulichenko said it was fake.
What is the attitude in Russia toward the athletes?
Despite the importance of the Olympics for Russian propaganda at home, the Kremlin, apparently, has not developed a single line toward the Games, leaving sports federations to determine their own policies in each specific case. Six months before Paris, Vladimir Putin limited himself to a recommendation that they make an “informed decision“ about participation, while this summer, after the wrestling and judo federations pointedly refused to go, Putin’s press secretary in a brief comment called to respect “collective decisions.”
Athletes who were unable to take part even in qualifying competitions due to initial criteria (the ban on team sports, athletes’ affiliation with state security agencies, etc.) received monetary compensation from the Russian Olympic Committee.
Wrestlers Alexander Komarov (the 2024 European champion and multiple-time world champion as a junior) and Dauren Kurugliev (a world champion multiple times) moved to the national teams of Serbia and Greece, respectively, and also look to be contenders for medals in Paris. Magomed Ramazanov, another Russian wrestler who switched his sporting nationality, will represent Romania.
Among swimmers, the biggest departure is that of Anastasia Kirpichnikova, who will compete for the Olympic host (she has already managed to set a French national record in the 1,500-meter freestyle), while in rowing, 2021 European champion and Asian Games gold medalist Hanna Prakatsen has chosen to continue her career with Uzbekistan.
Track and field athlete Elena Kulichenko is a separate case. Before the war, she received a sports scholarship from the University of Georgia and has been training there ever since. She later took Cypriot citizenship and not only qualified for the Games but became the national team’s flag bearer. Adding more color to her story is the discovery of an account with erotic pictures on OnlyFans, though Kulichenko said it was fake.
What is the attitude in Russia toward the athletes?
Despite the importance of the Olympics for Russian propaganda at home, the Kremlin, apparently, has not developed a single line toward the Games, leaving sports federations to determine their own policies in each specific case. Six months before Paris, Vladimir Putin limited himself to a recommendation that they make an “informed decision“ about participation, while this summer, after the wrestling and judo federations pointedly refused to go, Putin’s press secretary in a brief comment called to respect “collective decisions.”
Athletes who were unable to take part even in qualifying competitions due to initial criteria (the ban on team sports, athletes’ affiliation with state security agencies, etc.) received monetary compensation from the Russian Olympic Committee.
“The absence of a clear position from the Kremlin has opened up space for public discussion, and different points of view have clearly been heard.”
The head of Russia's cross-country ski association, Yelena Vyalbe, has sharply criticized Russian athletes who agreed to the conditions set out by the International Olympic Committee. Source: Wiki Commons
Two-time Olympic biathlon champion Dmitri Vasiliev criticized the Olympic participants, saying that they ignored the opinion of the state and are “endangering themselves and everyone who is near them.” The head of Russia’s cross-country ski association, Yelena Vyalbe, is of the same view, commenting that “our [athletes] are not there.”
On the other hand, many public figures reacted more moderately to Russian athletes competing in Paris and even supported them. Chair of the Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs, Dmitri Svishchev, defended them: “how can our athletes who decided to participate be called traitors, turncoats and so on? The position of certain strange pseudo-patriots is surprising.” Sports commentator Dmitri Guberniev called for respect for the decision of wrestlers and judokas to skip the Games while criticizing swimmers and gymnasts who did not even participate in the qualifying competitions.
State television has declared its own boycott, refusing to broadcast the Games for the first time in 40 years, even though the UEFA European Football Championship, held a month earlier in Germany, was shown on TV without restrictions (with the Russian national team having been banned from that tournament, too). The official reason for refusing to broadcast the Games was high costs, but Svischev has attributed it to an unwillingness to finance the IOC, which government officials believe to be hostile toward Russia.
However, Russians will not be completely without coverage of these Olympics: the official IOC website has launched a special player that is available in Russia in Russian.
On the other hand, many public figures reacted more moderately to Russian athletes competing in Paris and even supported them. Chair of the Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs, Dmitri Svishchev, defended them: “how can our athletes who decided to participate be called traitors, turncoats and so on? The position of certain strange pseudo-patriots is surprising.” Sports commentator Dmitri Guberniev called for respect for the decision of wrestlers and judokas to skip the Games while criticizing swimmers and gymnasts who did not even participate in the qualifying competitions.
State television has declared its own boycott, refusing to broadcast the Games for the first time in 40 years, even though the UEFA European Football Championship, held a month earlier in Germany, was shown on TV without restrictions (with the Russian national team having been banned from that tournament, too). The official reason for refusing to broadcast the Games was high costs, but Svischev has attributed it to an unwillingness to finance the IOC, which government officials believe to be hostile toward Russia.
However, Russians will not be completely without coverage of these Olympics: the official IOC website has launched a special player that is available in Russia in Russian.
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