Dec 27, 2023 at 12:43 Update: 25 minutes ago
Russian swimmer Kliment Kolesnikov will not participate in the Olympic Games in Paris. The world record holder in the 50 meters is allowed to participate under a neutral flag, but refuses to take action under the current rules.
“At the moment, under the current circumstances, it is unacceptable for me to participate in the 2024 Games,” Kolesnikov, 23, told the French news agency AFP at recent swimming competitions in St. Petersburg.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) previously decided that individual athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus may only compete in Paris as neutral athletes, without a national flag and anthem. Athletes must also have no ties with the army or security authorities and must emphatically distance themselves from aggression in Ukraine.
According to the IOC, eight Russian athletes have met all the criteria and have qualified so far. Kolesnikov says he will not be present in Paris anyway, despite his dream of Olympic gold.
“The dream of an Olympic gold medal remains, but I am not sad that I cannot go,” Kolesnikov said. “Other boys can participate as if nothing ever happened, while we have no right to a delegation, nor to a flag, nor to a national anthem. I don’t want to be a black sheep among the others.”
Kolesnikov is a six-time European champion and six-time world short track champion. He won bronze in the 100-meter freestyle and silver in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
Kliment Kolesnikov poses with his bronze medal after the 100 meter freestyle at the Tokyo Games. Photo: Getty Images
2023-12-27 15:40:14
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