The Norwegian champions unfurled the flag of Ukraine and provoked a "heart attack" in Russia. Photos and videos from the Biathlon World Cup

Russian Olympic champion and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova threw a tantrum over the actions of Sturla Legreid, brothers Tarjei and Johannes Tingnes Bjo at the 4th stage of the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Germany. The titled Norwegians took a picture with the Ukrainian flag.

The Norwegians explained this gesture as support for Ukraine, but in Russia, they again saw it as "Russophobia" and an attempt to "keep Russians in isolation."

On Saturday, January 11, the Norwegian champions took the entire podium in the pursuit, and Ukrainian Dmytro Pidruchny, who finished sixth, came out to the flower ceremony with the flag of Ukraine. The Norwegians decided to support our compatriot by taking the yellow and blue cloth to the podium and taking photos together.

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) reported that such actions do not contradict the rules, but Russia saw this as a cause for outrage.

Zhurova accused the athletes of foul play, saying that the Norwegians were allegedly trying to prevent the return of Russian biathletes, fearing competition.

"Real athletes, of course, will not do this. And those who believe that there is an easier way to achieve the result are doing everything to keep the Russians from returning for longer. If anything, they will say: we are acting in the vein of our politicians, it's about position. But it is possible to mix position and real intentions, to blur the line. And no one can say for sure whether it is a position or an unwillingness to see competitors from Russia," Zhurova said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Social media mocked the official's position. Russian fans in the comments wondered why, instead of focusing on stopping a full-scale invasion of a foreign country, the State Duma continues to justify the sports isolation with an alleged political conspiracy.

In response to the words about "fake athletes," Zhurova was also reminded that Tarjei Boe won the Olympics three times and the World Championships 11 times, and Johannes Boe is a five-time Olympic champion and 20-time world champion.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, a similar action from the Norwegians at the 4th stage of the World Cup took place after the sprint. The Olympic champion and 6-time world biathlon champion Sturla Legreid, together with his countryman Martin Uldahl (winner of the World Youth Championships), supported Pidruchny.

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