In Russia, legendary swimmer was called an American for wanting to compete at the 2024 Olympics without the Russian flag

The President of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (RRF), Yelena Välbe, has criticized athletes who want to compete in the Paris Olympics in a neutral status. In particular, she reacted sharply to the plans of the famous swimmer Yulia Yefimova to go to the French capital.

Välbae said this in an interview with the propaganda channel Russia Today. The accomplice of Vladimir Putin's dictatorial regime called the six-time world champion an American, hinting that Yefimova had lived in the United States for a long time, from where she returned to Russia after her country's attack on Ukraine.

"As for those who will go to the Games in Paris, most of our residents will have a negative attitude. For us, Yefimova is an American. I don't want to condemn her in any way, it's her life, she chose this path, she achieved her own results," said Välbe.

The head of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation (VFHG), Irina Viner, compared the Russian athletes at the 2024 Olympics to a "team of homeless people." And pentathlete Ulyana Batashova was dismissed from the national team for having received the so-called neutral status.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Russia continues to harass so-called neutral athletes. The gymnastics federation called them traitors.

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