Russian Olympic champion in high jump Maria Lasitskene said she was not considering the possibility of changing sport citizenship in the first place because Russia is her homeland and she wants to represent the country on the international stage.
Many Russian athletes are currently suspended from international competitions due to the situation in Ukraine.
— Have I ever considered or am I currently considering the possibility of changing my sports citizenship? No. And now it makes no sense. If this meaning was, then at the time our officials decided whether to pay a fine to the World Athletics Association (World Athletics) for our federation or not to pay. I spoke on the phone with the presidential administration and explained to them why they had to pay. Why I did this is a separate question, but then there was a sense of desperation. The feeling that we will be deprived of the second Olympics in a row. But even then, it was unrealistic to change nationality: I would have missed three years because of the “quarantine” and I would have obtained nothing.
But the first reason why I don’t want to change my sports citizenship was, is and will be that I am Russian. I have a homeland, I was born here and I want to play for Russia, – RIA Novosti Sport quotes Lasitskene.
Lasickienė is 29 years old and is also a triple world champion, double world indoor champion, European champion, double European indoor champion.
RIA Novosti Sport
Source : MatchTV
