At the beginning of the month, the International Swimming Federation (WA) established a criterion that allows athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions again as neutrals, but subject to strict restrictions. Only one athlete may participate in each competition, and each athlete’s right to compete is assessed separately.
One of the conditions is that the swimmer must not under any circumstances support the war in Ukraine, nor have any connection with the Russian military. Athletes from aggressor countries cannot participate in team competitions, they are forbidden to wear national symbols, as well as to communicate with the media.
Although the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not yet decided whether athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed in the Olympics and under what conditions, it looks like Rilov will not participate in any case. Under no circumstances will he agree to sign a declaration condemning war.
“I can only speak for myself. If I had to sign such a political declaration, I would refuse. In that case, I would say that my country is bad. I do not want to agree to such conditions. Their insolence against us is only growing. I think that we should only return to the international arena when all our rights will be restored, otherwise we risk remaining neutral athletes for the rest of our lives,” said swimmer Rilov, who won four Olympic medals during his career.
Twenty-six-year-old Rilov won Tokyo Olympic gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke distances, as well as silver in the Russian national team in the 4×200-meter relay. He has won eight medals at the World Championships, two of them gold in the 200-meter backstroke.
Jauns.lv already reported that Yevgenii Rilov was one of the eight high-level Russian athletes who participated in the pro-war event of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin at the Luzhniki Stadium. At that time, the twenty-five-year-old Rilov had come to the event in a full suit, with Olympic medals and the letter “Z”, a symbol of Russian military aggression, pinned to his chest.
List of Russian athletes involved in pro-war rally in Moscow:
* Alexander Bolshunov
* Arina and Dina Averina
* Evgenia Tarasova
* Evgeny Rylov
* Nikita Katsalapov
*Victoria Sinitsina
* Viktoriia Listunova
* Vladimir Morozov pic.twitter.com/J0jUR6uCzZ— Fuad Alakbarov (@DrAlakbarov) March 19, 2022
Other athletes who publicly expressed support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine included Russia’s leading cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov, figure skaters Nikita Katsalapov and Viktoria Sinitsina, Yevgenia Tarasova, famous artistic gymnast twin sisters Dina and Arina Averina, Victoria Listunova and swimmer Vladimir Morozov.
Without complexes
The well-known swimmer was even confused as to why his actions offended someone and became the basis for complaints: “Look, I offended them by supporting my country and the president. I don’t even know how to react to that.”
After participating in a propaganda concert, Rilov pretended to be a victim and received a disqualification: “The disciplinary commission of WA opened a case against me because I went on stage and sang the Russian national anthem at a concert dedicated to the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia and I was wearing clothes with “Z” letter. I don’t understand what I did. I’m being accused of offending other athletes by supporting my country and my president. According to the world and WA, I’m not allowed to attend concerts in my country’s capital – that’s some kind of madness!” Rilov does not hide his confusion with the Russian media Sports.ru.
Previously, in a conversation with one of Russia’s leading sports publications “Sport Express”, Rilov expressed the opinion that his “hunting” has started because he is the best swimmer in the world at the moment, the face of this sport. “I think the bottom line is that I’ve become the face of the sport, so twice as much is being asked of me. If it wasn’t me in Luzhniki, but another swimmer, they probably wouldn’t notice it at all. I attracted a lot of attention at the Olympics , which has now changed every aspect of my life.”
Shortly after the concert, the world’s leading manufacturer of swimming trunks and other necessary equipment for swimming, “Speedo”, announced that it was terminating the contract with the athlete.
“In light of his presence at the Luzhniki Stadium event, Speedo confirms that it is terminating the sponsorship agreement with Yevgeny Rilov with immediate effect,” company representatives told Inside the Games, a publication covering the Olympic Games.
“We condemn the war in Ukraine in the strongest possible way and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, our athletes and teammates affected by the conflict,” Speedo said in a statement.
“Speedo” donated the unpaid amount in the contract to help Ukrainian refugees.
