Ukrainian Judo Athletes React to IOC Decision Allowing Russian and Belarusian Competitors

The decision of the International Olympic Committee to authorize Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral banner came as a surprise to Ukrainian athletes. In the middle of a transfer for an internship, between train and plane, judokas Artem Lesyuk, participating in the 2020 Olympics in less than 60 kilos, and Bogdan Iadov, 2022 European champion in less than 66 kilos, answered questions from RMC Sport. Having the Russians face them in eight months in Paris seems unimaginable to them.

How did you feel when the International Olympic Committee’s decision was announced?

Artem Lesyuk: I don’t have the words, I can’t understand what the IOC did. This is a bad, very bad decision. It is not normal. Every day, every hour, every minute, someone dies in my country. It is very hard to understand that a significant part of the world does not feel what is currently happening in my country.

Bogdan Iadov: I was not surprised because it has been a while since Thomas Bach began to mention this possibility. All Ukrainian athletes were hoping for a contrary decision but we cannot say that it is surprising.

Can you imagine facing Russians and Belarusians? The International Judo Federation has already authorized it, for example.

Artem Lesyuk: I was very surprised because the international judo federation knows our position, that of our federation. They know very well that there are Russian or Belarusian athletes. We are going to boycott, forfeit the world championships, the European championships. The International Judo Federation doesn’t care if we don’t fight.

Bogdan Iadov: I was shocked by this announcement. It is not normal. The war continues in our country. People die in our country every day. It is not imaginable for me to participate in the Olympics with Russian and Belarusian athletes opposite.

How do you see life in the Olympic Village with the Russians and Belarusians in a building not far from yours?

Artem Lesyuk: I can’t imagine living in a building in the Olympic Village, near the Russians. This seems completely crazy to me. Russian and Belarusian athletes have no place in the world of sport. They cannot participate. They must stay at home if they support the action of their government. That would be really weird.

Can Ukraine still boycott these Olympic Games?

Artem Lesyuk: I don’t know what will happen if there is a boycott. I can’t imagine that. I know we will do everything in our power. If my government says we can align, then OK. If this is what needs to be done for my country, for my people, we will miss the Olympics but I can’t imagine that. The Olympic Games are the biggest competition in an athlete’s life. I can’t imagine missing them. If my country says we can’t go I would say OK. I don’t want to imagine this decision. It would be the worst moment of my life to miss the Olympics.

Comments collected by Morgan Maury

2023-12-10 15:41:23
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