Record-breaking Russian cyclist explains change of sport citizenship

Former Russian cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev, who now competes for Israel, explained his change of sporting citizenship in an interview with journalist Vitya Kravchenko’s YouTube channel.

The athlete said that he needed international tournaments. “I raced in Russia for several months and had enough, the same opponents,” he said. Yakovlev emphasized that he represented the Russian Cycling Federation at the European and World Championships and won medals for them, so they were obliged to let him go.

Yakovlev changed his sporting citizenship in November 2023. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ratified the decision without the approval of the Russian side.

Yakovlev is the world record holder in the 200-meter sprint. As part of the Russian national team, he won bronze in the keirin at the World Championships in 2021, and in 2024, representing Israel, he won bronze at the European Championships in the sprint.