"Not to go, not to compete": another Russian Harlan's reval withdrew from the 2024 Olympics

The two-time Olympic saber fencing champion has confirmed that she will not compete at the 2024 Games in Paris. One of her main Olha Harlan's rivals refused to participate in the competition in neutral status, calling it unacceptable.

Pozdnyakova announced this in an interview with the propaganda TV channel Match TV. The 26-year-old athlete, whose father is the head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) who called for a complete boycott of the 2024 Games, said that she could have qualified for the Games, but could not afford to participate because of her patriotism.

"I have made my choice: for me, under the current conditions, a trip to the Olympics is unacceptable. I had a technical opportunity to go to the qualifying tournament for the Games, as far as I know, it is due in mid-April, and I was on the list. If I had won it, I would have gone to Paris. But my position is not to go, not to compete. Maybe it sounds loud, but I am a patriot of my country, and my personal position is not to go under such conditions," Pozdnyakova said.

Earlier, former tennis player Andrei Chesnokov required Pozdnyakova to return her Olympic medals after her father demanded Russians be banned from visiting Paris in 2024. The head of the Russian Fencing Federation (RFF), Ilgar Mamedov, said that none of the Russian fencers will compete at the Games. Another of Harlan's rivals, Olga Nikitina, also refused to participate in the Olympics.

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