“I think in 2021 my trip to the Olympic Games was stolen from me” – athlete Knoroz

Russian track and field athlete Polina Knoroz On the air of the show “Above Olympus” on , she spoke about the emotions she experienced in 2021, when it was decided not to include her in the team for the Tokyo Olympics.

Knoroz won silver in the pole vault at the 2024 PSB Russian Athletics Cup in Cheboksary. She had previously won the pole vault at the BRICS Games in Kazan with a career-best score of 4.80 metres. Knoroz, 24, is the Russian champion (2023) and a two-time national indoor champion (2022, 2023).

– When [в России] published [список спортсменов, которые поедут на Олимпиаду в Токио]I look – I’m not there. Everyone started to shut me up: they didn’t answer the phone, they avoided me. But when I desperately managed to call them and asked if they could explain why they didn’t hire me, they said: “Sorry, Polina, that’s all!” As I understand it, the committee or the coaches’ meeting that decided who would leave considered me too young and inexperienced, because at that time I didn’t have any international starts under my belt. And they decided that I simply couldn’t handle it.

Later they told me: “Polina! Don’t worry, you are young, you will go to the next Olympics. I didn’t go! I think then they stole my trip to the Olympics.

— Did you have any trouble?

– Yes, a lot! I understood at that moment that I would not objectively have access to the prizes, but that it would just be an incredible experience. Just going to the Olympic Games is worth a lot.

— At the BRICS Games, you achieved a personal best of 4.80 meters. With this result, you could win the European Championship. What do you think about this?

– Of course, I’m upset! What other thoughts could there be? It’s horrible! I follow the world ranking and I want to be at the top of the list so that they don’t forget what kind of athletes there are in Russia. If I jump five meters, I will jump them in Russia, at the national championship, but I will still go down in history with this result. They will always know about me.

Of course, I want to watch the Olympics, and I will try to find links, sources; one way or another, but look. These are the Olympics! – Knoroz said on the air of the program “Above Olympus. Athletics” on .

Russian track and field athletes have been suspended from international competitions due to the situation in Ukraine by decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics).

More sports news in our telegram channel .