"It's a shame to run away, they're just fools": Russian Olympic champion insults athletes who called Putin a liar

The head of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation (RCCF), Yelena Välbe, has spoken out against Russian athletes who are moving to other national teams. The three-time Olympic champion, in particular, reacted angrily to the desire of fencers Sergei Bida, his wife Violetta, and Konstantin Lokhanov to compete for the United States.

Välbe said this in an interview with the propaganda news agency RIA Novosti. The former skier called her compatriots traitors and fools, and added with pathos that Russians "have to look millions of people in the eye and be an example."

"I don't like traitors at all. They are not needed anywhere, and no one likes them. It's not going to last. Even if something is done for them, it doesn't mean they will become Americans. The main sponsor for any athlete is the state. It's shameful to run, they are just stupid. I understand any athlete, how hard it is for them in this situation. But you have to accept any situation with honor and dignity. We need to understand that this is where we live and will live. We have to look millions of people in the eye and set an example not only on the slopes but also in our actions. We have to be patriots," said Välbe.

We would like to remind you that Sergei and Violetta Beda fled to the United States. Sergei was an officer in the Russian National Guard and played for Dynamo Moscow, and Violetta was a defense ministry employee with CSKA Moscow. The athletes were put on the wanted list in Russia. After that, Russian fans called dictator Vladimir Putin a liar.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on November 29, famous Russian ice dancers Annabel Morozov and Igor Eremenko suddenly left Russia. According to media reports, they came to their coach Angelika Krylova for a scheduled training session, but instead of training, they gave her a bouquet, saying that they had a plane to the United States in three hours.

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