"This is a disgrace to the IOC. A choice without a choice": Russian world record holder withdraws from the 2024 Olympics

Russian swimmer Yevgenia Chikunova has refused to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in neutral status. The 19-year-old world record holder in the 200-meter breaststroke complained about the conditions of admission for athletes from the Russian Federation, which she called a disgrace.

Chikunova said this in an interview with the propaganda TV channel Match TV. The European short course champion criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which allegedly left no choice for Russian athletes who wanted to compete at the Olympics.

"Am I going to the Olympics? No, I'm not. And I will not receive a neutral status. I don't see myself as a neutral athlete. In principle, I do not understand the position of the IOC. Do they set such conditions and think that everyone will immediately run away to compete in a neutral status? In Tokyo, I competed for the Russian Olympic Committee team, I had an affiliation, and now there will be nothing at all. It's a shame for the IOC to set such conditions. A choice without a choice. I think they realize that a small number of people will go for it," Chikunova said.

Earlier it became known that representatives of the Russian national swimming team will not compete at the 2024 Olympic Games. And the team's head coach, Sergey Chepik, called the Olympics a tournament of "NATO countries and their minions."

As OBOZ.UA reported, the day before it became known that Russian rowers refused to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. And the governor of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov ordered athletes from the occupied peninsula to refuse to travel to the French capital.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes