The Russian national team complained that athletes are forced to "hide like ostriches in the sand"

Russian swimming coach Irina Vyatchanina went against the Kremlin's propaganda and advocated for the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Olympics in a neutral status. She noted that the medals of the Games are valued worldwide more than all the awards of any competition.

Vyatchanina said this in an interview with the Russian TV channel Russia Today. The Russian national team coach added that officials are forcing athletes to "hide like ostriches in the sand" by refusing to travel to the French capital next summer.

"Why are we hiding like ostriches in the sand from the problem? Why don't we want to show the world that, despite all the difficulties, we are alive, ready to compete, and have results? That we will perform and fight for victory. We want our athletes to be remembered. Especially at the Games. You can be a champion and record holder of your country a hundred times, and even a European or world record holder, but if you don't have the title of champion... It is prestigious all over the world to be not only a prize winner or finalist, but also a participant in the Olympic Games - this status is so high," Vyatchanina said.

Earlier, two-time Olympic swimming champion Yevgeny Rylov, who took part in the Z-concert in March 2022 in Luzhniki, announced his refusal to go to the 2024 Olympics.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the president of the All-Russian Swimming Federation (RAF), Vladimir Salnikov, confirmed that Russian athletes would not compete in this sport at the 2024 Olympics.

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