Category: ethics

Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun on the Russian invasion

International Gymnast Online interview

The 18-year-old Kovtun, who finished 11th all-around at last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo and third all-around at last fall’s World Championships in Kitakyushu, has maintained his composure on and off the apparatus since the invasion of his homeland began February 24. …

IGO: Congratulations on your gold and silver medals in Cottbus, and your gold, silver and bronze medals in Doha. Given the situation in your country, how did you manage to maintain your focus to perform so strongly in those finals?

IK: Thanks a lot, I’m very pleased. I tried and fought to the bitter end. My family and my coach (Irina Nadyuk) support me. We are all walking the same path together. I was scared for my people, for our freedom, for relatives and friends, but the coach and my parents set me up and helped me to go through the competition proudly for our people and represent our country with dignity.

IGO: What is the situation like for your family in Ukraine right now? How they are living and managing to survive?

IK: Our families live in fear and hear air raid sirens all the time …

IGO:  What can people do to help Ukrainians, and especially Ukrainian gymnasts and their coaches?

IK: Almost the whole world is helping Ukrainians, both financially and morally. Many countries are taking our families to their homes and helping them in society. Gymnastics clubs in different countries are ready to accept our gymnasts with their families, and provide accommodation, meals and a place to practice. …

Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun: ‘God is with us and the truth is on our side’
https://twitter.com/intlgymnast/status/1501927265545957384

Valeri Liukin update

GymCastic reports that Valeri is not under consideration for women’s high performance director at USAG.

Liukin is under investigation by SafeSport for allegations of verbal and psychological abuse, and gymnasts McKenzie Wofford and Megan Marenghi spoke about their experiences at WOGA to the OC Register.

International Women’s Day

As Artistic Gymnastics is one of the domains where females are more popular than males, we have a role to play in helping girls and women gain equal opportunity everywhere else.

Rustam Sharipov calls for peace

Ohio State Head Coach Rustam Sharipov was a Ukrainian gymnast who won Olympic gold medals for Ukraine and the Unified Team.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Doha results – day 2

There will be very few future opportunities for Russians to compete internationally until Putin withdraws from Ukraine.

Beam
Vladislava Urazova 13.200
Nora Peresztegi HUN 12.733
Angel Wong Hiu Ying HKG 12.333

Floor
Maria Minaeva 12.666
Daniela Batrona UKR 12.666
Dorina Böczögö HUN 12.433

Vault
Artur Davtyan ARM 15.033
Nazar Chepurnyi UKR 14.833
James Bacueti AUS 14.666

P Bars
Illia Kovtun UKR 15.166
Milad Karimi KAZ 14.566
Ivan Kuliak 14.533

H Bar
Alexander Myakinin ISR 14.333
Robert Tvorogal LTU 13.933
Illia Kovtun UKR 13.933

https://twitter.com/intlgymnast/status/1500234162275504133

Russian gymnast wears military symbol in Doha

It looks like Ivan Kulyak decided to affix a Russian Army symbol for an Awards ceremony in Doha.

Khorkina has shared the same symbol on social networks.

She holds the rank of colonel in the Russian army and is married to a general.

As much as I’m sympathetic for those Russians who only want PEACE with Ukraine, this is why Russia must be banned until Putin withdraws.

The list of Putin supporters grows shorter each day.

Civilians in Ukraine are being killed by Russian bombs. We have to stand with Ukraine in every non-violent way possible.

Ukraine in Doha

Switzerland calls for ban of Russia & Belarus officials

“Athletes from Russia and Belarus together with their support staff have already been punished and excluded from all international competitions.

However, the consequences must be borne by everyone in the sport system – including the officials. Therefore, we call upon the FIG and European Gymnastics to immediately and until further notice exclude all Russian and Belarusian officials and to relieve them of their functions.”

Switzerland LetterDownload

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Doha results – day 1

This will be the last FIG Artistic competition where gymnasts from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete. FIG has banned the nation in protest of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Though I feel rotten for the athletes, I would have voted the same way. World peace is more important than sport.

Vault
Oksana Chusovitina UZB 13.433
Csenge Bacskay HUN 13.150
Viktoria Listunova 13.133

https://twitter.com/intlgymnast/status/1499042073802067979

Bars
Viktoria Listunova 14.566
Maria Minaeva 13.366
Daniela Batrona UKR 12.466

Floor
Artem Dolgopyat ISR 14.733 (reigning Olympic champ)
Illia Kovtun UKR 14.333
Aurel Benovic CRO 14.166

Pommels
Nariman Kurbanov KAZ 15.200
Rhys McClenaghan IRL 14.933
Harutyun Merdinyan ARM 14.600

Rings
Vahagn Davtyan ARM 14.700
Artur Avetisyan ARM 14.500
Nikita Simonov AZE 14.333

FIG bans Russia & Belarus

… further emergency measures against Russia and Belarus, following those announced on 26 February.

The EC took into account the latest recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the stance of the FIG Athletes’ Commission and the deep concerns and positions expressed by many national Gymnastics federations, and decided that:

Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, including judges, are not allowed to take part in FIG competitions or FIG-sanctioned competitions from 7 March 2022 until further notice.

FIG adopts further measures against Russia and Belarus

World Cup Doha will be the last meet.

Of course most of the worldly Russian coaches and competitors are not supporting their government. But all non-military pressure must be put on Putin.

stunning reversal – Russian, Belarusian athletes out of Olympics

Faced with threats of withdrawals and growing animosity in the Athletes Village, organizers of the Winter Paralympics on Thursday reversed course and expelled athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The about-face came less than 24 hours after the International Paralympic Committee announced it would allow Russians and Belarusians to compete when the Games open on Friday, but only as neutral athletes with colours, flags and other national symbols removed because of the invasion of Ukraine. …

CBC

Russia will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

While I feel awful for innocent athletes who qualified all the way up until Opening Ceremonies now being dropped, I probably would have voted the same way.

Military response risks nuclear war. Therefore those who do not support Russia invading other nations must protest in every other non-violent way. Putin loves sport and will certainly take this ban seriously.