“Russia would not have acted like Germany, which did not let our rowers take part in the world championship” – canoeist Pavlov

Russia would not have treated foreign athletes in the same way as Germany, which did not allow Russians to participate in the World Kayaking and Canoeing Championships, Mikhail Pavlov, four-time champion of the kayak, told . canoe world.

At the end of April, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) admitted the Russians to international competitions as neutral athletes. At the same time, in August, the German Kayaking and Canoeing Association did not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Duisburg World Championships, qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

– At the global level, we would show our teeth. We are not offended by Germany not letting us participate in the World Cup. But in the future, we will treat these people as they treat us today. The wheel is round. Today they are us, tomorrow we are them. But we wouldn’t have acted like the Germans. It is a pity that there is such propaganda in the West. Sport is a separate story, where people work, work, want to show their strength and skills.

Russian athletes do not deserve such treatment. We are not politicians, we are athletes, we want to play for Russia, for our native flag, our anthem. For this we work. We invited everyone to the Goodwill Cup in Moscow, foreigners were invited. We are open, guys, come to us, we will run honestly,” Pavlov told .