– I can’t keep silent. As an athlete and sane person, I agree that sport is beyond politics. But we don’t really see it: FIFA and UEFA have excluded our teams from all competitions after the International Olympic Committee called for our athletes to be suspended from all sports. Now the International Ice Union has banned the Russians from participating in the competition. This is a big mistake! – wrote on Instagram.
Plushenko criticizes sanctions against Russia
– forbade the skaters, among others his performance at the World Championships, which will begin on March 21 in Montpellier, France. For years, Russia has been a power in ice skating. At the Olympics in Beijing, she won the team competition, and Anna Szczerbakowa was the best among the soloists.
– You cannot mix sport with politics, you cannot punish athletes and deprive them of their right to compete. This is absolute discrimination and a direct and gross violation of the rights of athletes. Our ice skaters proved that they are the best in the world. The interest in figure skating will not be the same without our competitors. Without them, victories or medals will be depreciated, because in many disciplines the best will not be able to compete, argues completely embarrassed Plushenko.
Yevgeny Plushenko is one of the greatest ice skaters in history. He won Olympic gold in Turin 2006 and Sochi 2014. He also has silver with Salt Lake City 2002 and Vancouver 2010. He is also a three-time world champion, seven-time European champion.
– Everyone wants peace, and so do I. I really hope that everything will be over as soon as possible and the negotiations will bear fruit. I believe in our president! I am not a politician, I am an athlete and my goal is to unite people through the love of sport, overcoming political differences – Plushenko concluded his scandalous post.
The world reacts
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, world sport imposed serious sanctions on the Russians. FIFA kicked out the Russian national team and clubs from international competitions. Similar decisions were made by, among others, volleyball FIVB or the International Ice Hockey Federation. But the sanctions also applied to Russians and Belarusians participating in individual sports.
The world federations of athletics, badminton, rowing, canoeing and triathlon have decided to completely exclude Russian teams and athletes. On Tuesday, the International Ski Federation (FIS) threw skiers from Russia and Belarus from the competition. The Russians will probably hurt the most – as the words of Plushenko testify – to be excluded from the skating rivalry.
Not all Russian sportsmen make such shameful statements as Yegwienia Plushenko or hockey player Alexander Ovechkin. The currently best Russian tennis player, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, clearly distanced herself from Vladimir Putin in an interview with CNN. Anti-war entries were published by tennis players Dani³ Medvedev and Andrej Rublev. However, most athletes in Russia remain silent.
Source: Sport
Tristin 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.
