Pokrovskaya, synchronized swimming coach: “At first there was still hope for the Olympics, but the IOC seemed to be punishing us for many years of victories”

Head coach of the Russian national team Tatiana Pokrovskaya said that before the recommendations of the international federation World Aquatics, Russian synchronized swimming still had hope of participating in the 2024 Olympic Games in 2023.

The Russian synchronized swimming team will not be able to compete at the Paris Olympics, since the rules for admission to international qualifying competitions, even in neutral status, imply participation only solo, and this is not a program of Olympic type.

— How was this year for you?

— At the beginning, there were expectations. What if the whole world realized that all countries should get involved in sports and everyone should participate in Olympic battles? And of course we wanted to raise our flag and hear our anthem. But we were immediately excluded from participating in the Games. And it turns out that the IOC has, so to speak, punished us for our many years of victories.

— What do you wish for everyone in 2024?

-Mira. People should live in peace, raise and educate their children. And the most important thing is that everyone is healthy. The world was going through a pandemic, this terrible covid. Health, kindness and material security,” Pokrovskaya told reporters.