“Athletes should not waive their obligation to participate in international competitions” – Denis Pankratov

Double Olympic swimming champion Denis Pankratov said on that sanctions against Russian athletes are leading to the destruction of the Olympic movement.

In March, the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that international federations, if Russians are allowed to start, do so individually, in a neutral status, without participation in team events, and also exclude the participation of Russians. athletes associated with law enforcement and expressing support for the OSV The participation of Russian athletes in the Paris 2024 Games has not yet been decided by the IOC.

– I think that athletes should not give up the right, even the obligation to compete in the Olympic Games. Let’s not forget that the State and the taxpayers have spent an enormous amount of money on them, on their preparation. And just to bury it in the sand… They just don’t have the right because of some kind of stupidity. Moreover, in the country, no one will accuse them today, no one forbids them to perform.

Under no circumstances should athletes waive their obligation to participate in international competitions. That’s what they were bred for.

I have all the complaints, all the negativity is directed at our foreign colleagues, who to be honest I don’t really consider colleagues. Because, with the wave of a magic wand, in two days, everything we’ve been working on for years is simply crossed out in the name of something incomprehensible.

Since we were expelled from all international institutions, I don’t want to hear: “Come without an anthem, come without a flag”. It seems to me that guys take too much and do too much. If there is a task to kill the Olympic movement, then the flag is in your hands and we are ready to participate. If you want to keep it, remember the Olympic Charter and the Olympic principles,” Pankratov said on .

Denis Pankratov is the winner of two Olympic gold and one silver medals, world champion, winner of five gold medals at the European Championships, 10 times world record holder.