"Trump has given me permission": a Russian athlete takes part in an international tournament under the country's flag for the first time

Three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov has won the Sudtirol Moonlight Classic international cross-country skiing tournament held in Seiser Alm, Italy. The 28-year-old native of the Bryansk region won the classic 30-kilometer mass start.

The Russian left behind the silver winner by 14 seconds. Bolshunov was shown in the final table under the Russian flag.

The competition is not on the calendar of the International Ski Federation (FIS), so the Russian was able to participate. Commenting on their presence in Italy, Bolshunov jokingly admitted that Donald Trump himself gave them permission to participate.

"Motivation? It's complicated, but the main thing is that we were allowed to participate in this race. Trump himself gave me permission," NRK quoted the athlete as saying. It is noted that he said it jokingly.

Bolshunov admitted that at the moment the best skiers in the world are competing in the World Cup, and he is forced to participate in alternative races.

When asked whether he misses competing against Johannes Klaebo, a five-time Olympic cross-country skiing champion from Norway, the Russian replied, "It's you who miss me."

When he was reminded that the participation of Russian athletes has been sharply criticized in Norway and Sweden, Bolshunov reacted as follows, "There are probably a few people who think so, but the vast majority are fine with this. You can see for yourself that people come over and take pictures."

Earlier, Bolshunov called "all countries involved in the conflict" guilty of the war in Ukraine. The athlete demanded that people in European countries stop blaming Russians for everything.

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