Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for 113 days
Olympic medalist Anna Ryzhikova said that she received death wishes from Russian athletes.
The Ukrainian runner traveled abroad in mid-March, in the midst of a full-scale Russian invasion.
“Many European colleagues wrote to me, offered a free room, offered to move the family. There were thousands of such messages,” Ryzhikova said.
“Russian athletes wished me dead, wrote that it was our fault, wrote terrible things about my family.”
“This is a terrible situation. Some of our athletes were killed in the war. I have a friend that I haven’t heard from in a month.”
“We live in the 21st century. It’s hard. We spent the first two weeks at home. I was so scared and confused. On March 21, I crossed the border and arrived at the training camp.”
Since then, Ryzhikova has resumed playing internationally and has won two bronze medals at the Diamond League rounds in Birmingham and Rome.
Anna specializes in the 400m hurdles. At the 2012 Olympics, the Ukrainian won bronze in the relay.
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for the 113th day.
Source: Sportarena
