Swimmer Nikolaev – on his participation in the Paralympic Games in neutral status: “First of all, I am going as an athlete”

Paralympic swimming champion Andrei Nikolaev He told that he was not used to neutral status, but that the condition did not matter to him.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allowed Russian athletes to participate in the Paris Paralympic Games in individual neutral status.

“I don’t really feel anything, just a kind of partial joy that we were given the opportunity to show ourselves. Everyone knows us on the international stage. It doesn’t matter whether we play with or without a flag. The most important thing is what’s in our soul. When we stand on the pedestal, the anthem will resound within us. Our loved ones, our compatriots will see it. This is the most important thing.

— What goals do you set for these Paralympic Games?

— First of all, show a good result. To show that we are not so easy to defeat, that we are fighting, that we are also worth something, so as not to be forgotten. Difficulties in our life are given for a reason, but so that we can achieve something, look at the situation in a new way and improve somewhere.

— Have you already managed to get used to the neutral status?

— I wouldn’t say that I’m used to it. First of all, I ride as an athlete. For me, all competitions are the same: Russian, European, world championships. The same people are everywhere, we just speak different languages. We are all friends, we know each other.

— What distances do you compete in?

— I will compete in the 400-meter freestyle. This is my signature distance. And 100-meter freestyle,” Nikolaev told .

The Paralympic Games will be held in Paris from August 28 to September 8.

The performances of Russian athletes at the Paralympic Games can be watched live on the Match! family channels, as well as on the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.

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