More than 200 athletes from Russia changed their sports citizenship
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More than two hundred Russian athletes changed or are going to change their sports citizenship in 2022-2023 in order to continue to compete in international competitions after sanctions were imposed on Russia in response to the military invasion of Ukraine. These data are provided by the publication “Cold” based on open sources. Journalists note that the list includes European and world champions as well as novice athletes.
Thus, chess players changed their sports citizenship more often than others: 141 athletes changed the flag under which they compete. One of them is the 12th women’s world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.
The second place was shared by figure skating and equestrian sports, where Russia lost 11 athletes each. Among them, for example, the daughter of the honored coach of Russia Etera Tutberidze, Diana Davis. Rhythmic gymnastics and tennis are in third place: five athletes each announced a change of sports citizenship.
In motorsport and football, four Russian athletes each reported a change of citizenship. Russia lost two athletes each in cycling, motor racing, speed skating, ice hockey, swimming, rowing, boxing and sailing. Among them is the three-time European swimming champion Anastasia Kyrpichnikova. One athlete in such disciplines as freestyle wrestling, athletics, biathlon, judo, sports gymnastics, and alpine skiing was informed about the change of sports citizenship.
Most often, Russian athletes who have changed sports citizenship perform under the flag of Israel, Serbia, and Germany.
“Kholoda” journalists believe that the real number of Russians who have changed sports citizenship may be many times higher, since a significant share falls on young non-public athletes.
After the start of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee and many sports associations imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus. Athletes from these countries are allowed to compete only under a neutral flag, and some are not allowed at all.
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