Athletistic/Hockey. Russian Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev has announced his desire to play for the national team at the Winter Olympics.
“Do I understand that I may never play for the Russian team at the Olympics again? I never thought about it and I don’t even want to think about it. I already have Stanley Cups, but no Olympic gold. I hope we always play there. But of course there is an understanding of that. It’s very sad, because it’s a lifelong dream to play for the team nationally at the Olympic Games, not even necessarily to win. It’s an honor for me, it would be a shame not to participate.
Do I feel unfair? Of course, it’s unfair, especially for those who live for the Olympics, train for four years and then can’t go. People cannot make money, even if they themselves have spent huge amounts of money in preparation in order to advance and show themselves. But they don’t have that. It is clear that it is much more difficult for them.
I no longer worry about myself, but about the young players who are now 16-17 years old. They are unable to play in various junior and youth tournaments, which gives them a huge boost in their development. The scouts could watch them. I’m really sorry for them.
If I don’t participate in the Olympics, it will be a shame, but my career is already going well,” Sergachev was quoted as saying. YouTube channel “Attention: Sobchak”.
Since February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes, according to IOC recommendations, can no longer participate in international competitions. The Russian team has already missed two World Cups and will definitely miss the 2024 World Cup in the Czech Republic.
Source: Sport
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
