Fourteen-year-old Moscow gymnast Nicole Rimarachin Díaz commented on the offer received to compete in the Peruvian team.
“This is betrayal! I am very offended by this proposal, do I really not deserve to represent the country in which I was born? I have never lived in Peru (the girl’s father is Peruvian), I do not know the culture or language of this country. “I can’t imagine how I can represent another country.” – provide a comment Diaz Russian Gymnastics Federation.
In turn, the gymnast’s mother Olga MishraHe stated categorically and emotionally:
“We were already offered to participate in the World Youth Championship. They said, “Let’s say your daughter becomes a world champion.” But I don’t need it. For me it is more important that my daughter fights honestly, that she has earned the right to train in the Russian national team. Although he is only 14 years old, he is still beginning his adult career. But starting your journey with betrayal is unacceptable. Going above oneself for the sake of some imaginary benefits is simply bestiality.”
According to Olga, she still does not believe that her daughter will have the opportunity to train with Irina Viner:
“It’s really like a miracle for us. Nika really appreciates Irina Alexandrovna’s attention and is afraid to disappoint her. Nika and I, when the outing didn’t go well, were always afraid that the coach would kick us out, but it turned out that she is one of the few who in these cases calls me and reassures me, calls Nicole and explains it to me calmly. , professionally where you made a mistake, how to do it right and how to improve. “It is surprising that Irina Alexandrovna has the time, desire and love for this.”
But the 2014 rhythmic gymnastics world champion as part of the Russian team Alexandra Semenova plans to compete in international competitions for Armenia.
Semyonova is twenty-six years old, she won the world championship in group exercises with three balls and two ribbons. He also has two gold and one silver from the European Championship in his collection.
“Alexandra is going to compete for Armenia, she is already a fairly old athlete and, of course, she really wants to participate in international competitions again. He also intends to continue competing in national competitions and hold competitions named after him in Veliky Novgorod. “Armenia’s actions will not interfere in any way with this and will not affect its activities to popularize rhythmic gymnastics in our country,” — the athlete’s mother and coach told TASS Victoria Tekel.
In addition, fifty-eight former Russians performed with great success at the Paris Olympics, managing to win 17 medals for their countries (6 gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze).
And if we are already beginning to get used to the performance of our athletes in a neutral individual status without tricolor, anthem and coat of arms for six painful years, then the transition of Russians to the flags of other states still causes a feeling of indignation and protest among fellow citizens.
For example, let us deprive deserters of their citizenship, take away their passports, and anathematize them. It sounds true, but here we immediately remember our brilliant high jumper. Maria Lasitskene. You and I remember that just because she had Russian citizenship, the IOC did not allow an outstanding athlete to participate in two Olympic Games, which she probably would have won.
And, thank God, our Masha was allowed to participate in the Tokyo Games, where she took gold. But Rio de Janeiro and Paris are wounds that will not heal forever.
Previously, as a rule, those who lost the competition in the Russian team went under other flags, but today the trend is changing and the leaders are already looking beyond the borders.
And even then, the situation in international sports is only getting worse, the “bans” of our federations are now being automatically extended, and what will come up with the new IOC leadership, taking over anti-Russian surveillance in the spring of next year , is known only in the underworld.
And if we are not allowed to attend the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, or if we are forced to pass humiliating checks to arrive at the tournament under a neutral flag and with a shameful label, then our stars will go to countries foreigners in search of a better life.
But I personally will not condemn them. Although I am undoubtedly closer to the civic position of the young Moscowite Nicole and her wonderful mother.
