Irina Rodnina refused to name Canadian Tessa Virtue the most titled figure skater in the world
Three-time Olympic champion, State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina condemned Canadian figure skater Tessa Virtue, who opposed the admission of Russians to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Her words are quoted by Sport-Express.
Rodnina refused to call Virtya the most titled figure skater in the world, drawing attention to the fact that they both won three golds at the Olympics, but the Russian woman won ten more world championships. “What Tessa Virtue said doesn’t bother anyone at all,” she said.
On March 9, a group of 42 former Canadian Olympians called on the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Canada to abandon the idea of supporting the admission of Russians to participate in the Olympics. The document was signed by the most titled figure skater in the world, three-time Olympic champion in ice dancing Tessa Virtue.
The initiative was prompted by the words of the head of the NOC of Canada, David Shoemaker, who advocated studying the possibility of Russian participation in tournaments in a neutral status. In his opinion, the decision to exclude athletes because of their nationality is contrary to the basic principles of the Olympic movement.
The Olympic Games are to be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Source: Lenta
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
