Russian world record holder Evgenia Chikunova On Wednesday, she told Russia's Match TV that she would not seek a neutral position at this summer's Paris Olympics, citing International Olympic Committee restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus.
“Will I be able to participate in the Olympics? No, I will not accept a neutral position,” said Chikunova, who broke the 200m breaststroke world record (2 minutes 17.55 seconds) at the 2023 Russian Championships held in Kazan last April. the player said.
“I don't consider myself a neutral athlete,” she explained. “Basically, I don't understand the IOC's position. Do they expect everyone to set such conditions and immediately perform from a neutral standpoint?”
In December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved Russia and Belarus to participate in the Paris Olympics as neutral athletes without national flags or anthems, unless they actively support the ongoing war in Ukraine. What bothered Chikunova most about the IOC's policy was that she would not be able to represent any team in Paris, as she had been in Tokyo a few years ago.
“I think it's an extreme situation to not even be in the medal range,” she said. “In Tokyo they competed as part of the Russian Olympic Committee team and had affiliations, but now there is nothing. It is a shame that the IOC imposes such conditions. A choice that has no choice. I think I understand that people do this.”
Chikunova vowed to support other Russian athletes if they decide to participate in the Olympics as a neutral country. However, in an interview with Match TV on Wednesday, the All-Russian Swimming Chairman said: Vladimir Salnikov He said he would be surprised if a Russian swimmer traveled to Paris as a neutral, claiming he would be the only swimmer to approve so far. Ivan Girev — Withdrew his position.
“(Gilev) wrote a statement to World Aquatics saying he couldn't imagine his performance without the team,” Salnikov said. “I am not aware of the desire of others to obtain a neutral position.”
Girev told Swimswam in January that he is celebrated, not shunned, for being seen as a neutral athlete by those around him.
Last year, Salnikov said he believed the chances of Russian swimmers competing in the Paris Olympics were close to zero. Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned the conditions for participation in the Olympics in December, saying no decision has yet been made on Russia's participation in Paris this summer.
But just last month, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said that athletes “probably should” go to the Paris Olympics if given the chance as a neutral country. Indeed, there appears to be a boycott, at least among Russian swimmers.
According to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, only 12 Russian athletes and seven Belarusian athletes have so far been approved as neutral athletes for the Paris Olympics.
As for Chikunova, she said she plans to watch the Olympics as a spectator again this year, but that her record will be considered important in Russia as well.
“I'm turning 20 this year,” Chikunova said. “I'm not going to end it. I still hope the Olympics will take place. I'm going to perform in Russia, my record is important.”
Last September, two-time Olympic champion swimmer Evgeny Lilov told Russian media that he would refuse to sign a political declaration in exchange for a return to international competition. In particular, neutral athletes will no longer be required to sign a declaration condemning last year's invasion of Ukraine. Instead, like other athletes, they must reaffirm their commitment to respecting the Olympic Charter, including the “peace mission of the Olympic Movement.”
World Aquatics has decided to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competition in September. Several Belarusian swimmers competed in the final round of the World Cup series in Budapest in October. Russia opted to skip the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, last month, where neutral athletes were prohibited from speaking to the media, among other restrictions.
