Irina Rodnina said that the rules do not require handshakes between skaters
Three-time Olympic champion and State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina acquitted Ukrainian figure skaters Violetta Serova and Ivan Khobta for refusing to shake hands with the Georgian couple Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulava at the Junior Grand Prix stage in Budapest. Her words are quoted by Match TV.
Rodnina said that the Ukrainian athletes showed a disrespectful attitude, but the rules do not require handshakes between skaters. “In fencing it’s written in the rules, we don’t have that,” she explained.
Earlier, the behavior of Ukrainian figure skaters was assessed by the honorary vice-president of the International Skating Union, Alexander Lakernik. He noted that political elements should not be introduced into sports.
Metelkina and Berulava became the winners of the tournament in Budapest. During the awards ceremony, the skaters approached second-place finishers Serova and Khobt for mutual congratulations, but they refused to shake their hands.
Metelkina has been playing for Georgia since 2020, Berulava since 2019. The couple trains in Russia with Pavel Slyusarenko.
Source: Lenta
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