Olympic cross-country skiing champion Veronique Stepanova In a column on , she wrote that in most cases, support or boycott of the idea of the return of Russian athletes to the world stage is associated with business decisions, not ideological motivations.
Russian skiers have not participated in international competitions since 2022.
— Almost all ski teams are divided into Team A, Team B, Team C, etc. Each has its own salary (scholarship), compensation for food, sponsor cars, etc.
To go from B to A and improve your financial situation, you need to be in the top 6 of the World Cup three times a year. And one of my friends from junior days looks at this and thinks: “It’s good to race with Russian girls, but it’s much better to race without them! It would be difficult for her to beat us in any race. In other words, nothing personal, just business.
Only those for whom material matters have long been unimportant – Klebo, Frida Karlsson, the eternally young Johaug – can regret us and plead for our speedy return. Although, in theory, Lynn Swan should also be bored, but this is only a very rare case – the Swede, for ideological reasons, does not want to be on the same ski slope with me. And yes, Swan is simply capable of boycotting our (inevitable) return. The vast majority of skiers do not have and will not have such a desire; they are still quite friendly. “Friendly and passive,” Stepanova wrote.
Stepanova announced in late August that she was preparing to become a mother and would therefore miss the 2024/25 season.
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Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
