Guberniev – on Efimova’s neutral status: “It would be a shame if the chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympics was already lost”

Commentator for Dmitry Guberniev admitted he would be sorry if the three-time Olympic medalist Yulia Efimova will not have time to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Efimova received neutral status from World Aquatics, which was awarded to the Russian on Friday, June 14. Its status allows it to participate in international competitions under the aegis of the organization, in particular the qualifiers for the Games, of which there remain a limited number.

In early April, the president of the All-Russian Swimming Federation (RSF), Vladimir Salnikov, called the upcoming Olympic Games a “turn of the page” for Russian swimmers who will not participate in these Games. He later told that no one would stop Efimova from competing in neutral status at the Paris Olympics.

“It would be a real shame if the chance to qualify for the Games was already lost.” But even if there is the slightest window, if that door is still slightly open, you have to hold on to the opportunity, like that frog who whipped the milk from the sour cream and got out of the jug, ”said Guberniev on .

Efimova won two silver medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Games. Efimova is a six-time world champion, she also has seven silver and four bronze medals at the World Championships and seven victories at the European Championships.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in December 2023 that it would allow Russian athletes who successfully qualified for the 2024 Olympics to have individual neutral status without a flag, anthem or other national symbol. The IOC also banned the participation of athletes associated with security forces or who have expressed support for the SVO.

The Paris Summer Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11.

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