Team Head Coach Russia in synchronized swimming Tatiana Pokrovskaya believes that the three-time Olympic champion Svetlana Kolesnichenko will not change sports citizenship.
The Russians, by decision of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), are suspended from competitions of departures under the auspices of this organization until the end of 2022 on the background of the situation with Ukraine.
“There is always interest in our athletes and coaches,” Pokrovskaya told reporters.
– What is the current situation in the context of a possible change of sporting citizenship?
No one can guarantee anything. I think our athletes will stay in Russia and defend Russia’s honor. It is certain that this (change of sport citizenship) will not happen. The mark of Russia will not go anywhere – someone will move to another country or not. Take the Austrian duo: they are Greek and a sort of “changed” Greece, not all the judges took this fact positively. They prepared in Greece, where they mainly went to school. Maybe that’s why they were kept for so long. <…>
Of course, we are worried (for having participated in the 2024 Games). Sveta Kolesnichenko will not leave our country anywhere, she will perform, but there must be motivation. We will do everything we can to ensure that she does not leave the sport. We are very worried about Sasha Maltsev – he has to play, he is the strongest.
Source : MatchTV
